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Bitcoin 2023 conference returns to Miami – May 18th to 20th

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Bitcoin 2023: Miami Florida – May 18th to 20th

I attended the Bitcoin 2022 in Miami last year, stayed at The Confidante, and absolutely loved it. I’m a big believer in the future of Bitcoin and if you have any interest at all in Bitcoin itself, or the entire ecosystem being built around it, I would highly encourage you to attend the conference which hosted over 26,000+ attendees, 400+ companies, and 400+ speakers. The diversity of people involved in the space is more akin to a Disney World trip than what is stereotypically considered a Tech-bro space so I have no doubt you’ll feel completely at home learning from speakers, vendors, and attending workshops.

Bitcoin 2023 will be held in Miami, May 18th to 20th. Today they dropped the prices on tickets and have a first day sale

The big days you want to make sure you are there are the 19th and 20th. The 18th is an industry day and the biggest speakers will more than likely pack the schedule on the 19th and 20th. The 20th also has a big music festival which I skipped last year, but had some big names.

You can buy tickets here… 

  • General admission tickets are currently $349
  • Industry Pass is currently $1,199
  • Whale VIP Passes at $5,499.
  • Prices will increase 07/08/22 at 11:59 PM PT

The Location

They’ve announced an initial list of speakers:

  • Michael Saylor
  • Zoltan Pozsar
  • Michelle Phan
  • Anthony “Pomp” Pompliano
  • Lyn Alden
  • Alex Gladstein
  • Stacy Herbert,
  • Obi Nwosu
  • Fode Diop
  • Vijay Boyapati

Jordan Peterson was one of the speakers at Bitcoin 2022

a group of people sitting in front of a large screen

How to use points to stay

I’ll be using points for lodging while my buddies and I attend the conference – the conference center is on 19th/20th and Washington. We stayed at the Confidante, but could potentially switch it up this go around to stay a bit closer. Odds are we will still use Hyatt points; however there are several options and I’m intrigued to stay at the Kimpton Surfcomber which is super close to the convention center and in the thick of the action.

I’m highlighting Hyatt and IHG in particular, but there are a ton of Marriott options. None that were really that appealing price/point wise when I just did the search, but

Chase/Bilt/Hyatt

You can populate Hyatt points from either Chase or Bilt. One thing to keep in mind – the Centric isn’t on the beach…

a screenshot of a map

The Confidante is where I stayed last year in a one bedroom ocean front suite. With rates cracking in at 17k a night… I’d stay here again in a heartbeat; however, the resort is feeling a bit run down and will change over to be an Andaz at some point. Note that the hotel will be under renovation until the Andaz rebranding finished in 2024 so keep that in mind. The location is further north, away from all the craziness, which could either be a good or bad thing.

a pool with yellow chairs and trees on a beach

Note that on 4 night stays the property is pricing in at 17k a night vs 20k if you stay just 3 nights. Either way, it’s a solid deal with rack rates over $600 a night, but it’s only 8k more to add on a 4th night.

a screenshot of a hotel roomThe Kimpton Surfcomber – IHG

  • Transfer from Chase or Bilt Rewards, or just buy them.

This hotel is smack in the middle of all the a hub-bub and I’d say less than a 10 minute walk to the convention center. IHG recently revamped their entire program and now comes with free breakfast for Diamond members, which I am, and I’m really intrigued to try out this property vs the Confidante. There are few other Kimptons, an Interncontinental, and loads of other properties as well. I’m highlighting this one specifically because of the proximity to the center and the deal you can get via points ( specifically buying them ).

a pool with chairs and umbrellas

As you can see, prices are comparative to the The Confidante; however, the points required are a lot more. Note, if you have the IHG Traveler, Premier, or Business Premier, you’d get a 4th night free on reward redemptions. Note..IHG often has points for sale at just 1/2 a penny a piece. A 4 night stay would be the same as below… about 210k points ( or $1050 if you bought them ). Buying them would be a great deal and drop the price to around $250 a night.

Overall

I am planning 100% to attend Bitcoin 2023 and if you see me down there – please say hello!

Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

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11 Comments

  • Nicole July 9, 2022

    What do you have to say about the incredible amounts of carbon emissions from bitcoin mining and even a single transaction using crypto currency?

  • Will July 9, 2022

    No need to debate these idiots Miles. We’re talking on the internet right now but I bet these old heads back in 91 were saying the same shit about the internet, they’ll eat their words or die beforehand the reality is crypto and blockchain tech is here to change the world but like anything it takes time, there will always be doubters kind of funny how it’s mostly old people or those who can’t even explain how block chain technology works lol who would have guessed

    • Miles July 9, 2022

      Hey Will – Lol, no need to debate you! Personally, I think pushback is great, it forces me to understand the space in more detail and articulate why I’m bullish. It’s funny the similarities to points and miles – nearly everyone I used to talk to about it thought it was a massive scam, but here we are…

  • Mickey July 8, 2022

    I think what continues to fascinate me when it comes to Bitcoin enthusiasts is the way they all speak about it. They truly seem to believe that Bitcoin will cure the world of all its ills, as if it’s the answer too all our problems. When someone challenges them on it, they say that person needs to educate themselves. It’s the same way they speak about Elon Musk, as if he’s the second coming. Fascinating. And incredibly creepy.

    • Miles July 9, 2022

      Mickey – I think there are varying degrees of enthusiasts, and there are certainly those who believe if adoption is universal it would be a panacea, i.e. fix the money, fix the world. Most of that belief is predicated upon government accountability and reversion back to something akin to a gold standard where final settlement is in an asset with fixed supply – of which bitcoin definitively is – a bottom up power distribution vs top down. Personally, I think this is a better system both ideologically and practically and Bitcoin is a superior asset to gold (it’s easy to authenticate, more divisible, un-confiscatable or permission-less, portable, and immutable). Regardless, I think many people are waking up to the dangers of discounting or denying the damage of financial profligacy, and ability to underwrite endless war, that is enabled by a central banks ability to freely print money with little to no recourse from its citizens. Digital money is coming, whether it be in the form of CBDCs or Bitcoin, and personally, I have more faith in a peer to peer, censorship free, decentralized system, than one where money can be perverted to impose a governments will upon you. I do find the entire space utterly fascinating, but like most new technologies or contrarian ideas, they’re oft disregarded as naive, creepy, or scammy to insulate and ensure the power of the old guard.

  • Tob July 8, 2022

    who pays for 5k worth of pass? joel osteen charges less than that though.

    • Miles July 9, 2022

      Most of these will probably vendors or those who wish to gain access to areas where capital could be raised, etc.

  • joss July 8, 2022

    a fool and his money are soon parted.

    • Miles July 8, 2022

      Very true words. If you’re making an educated, well informed decision to dismiss Bitcoin and understand the fundamental monetary properties of it, the technology and freedom associated with it…I completely disagree with you, but everyone has their own opinions. Personally, I think it’s the greatest asymmetrical investment since the advent of the internet, and if you understand what bitcoin does, can do, lightning, the layers built on top, it’s the purest form of money that has ever been created or used.

  • Gene July 8, 2022

    @ Miles — This will be the biggest gathering of Ponzo Schemers in history!

    • Miles July 8, 2022

      Have you done a much research on Bitcoin? Furthest thing from a Ponzi – can ponzis be built on BTC? Sure – we just witnessed it with Celsius. Are a lot of alt coins complete scams. You betcha. But, bitcoin is property, technology, immutable and self custodial, and I’d highly recommend you read The Bitcoin Standard or listen to Preston Pysh, Peter Mccormack, etc.

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