Launched during the pandemic in 2020, Surfin’Bitcoin is in its third edition, that of confirmation. With 1,500 participants expected, more than 100 speakers, including 35 international, the show shows its ambition. But Jonathan Herscovici, one of the organizers and co-founder of the start-up StackinSat, keeps in mind the primary mission of the event. “Our vocation is always to democratize the BTC”, he assures.
A goal shared by NFT Biarritz, which is blowing out its first candle. “We are expecting around 400 people,” hopes Franck Dupont, creator of the show with his brother Damien. The two brothers have been working as developers and have been evolving in the world of cryptocurrencies for two years. “We don’t want to sell NFTs, but to help the public understand them,” says Damien Dupont.
Damien (left) and Franck Dupont, the two brothers behind NFT Biarritz.
Edouard Ampuy
For beginners and advanced
Between 64 and 100 euros, this is the price offered by NFT Biarritz to demystify the NFT through conferences on its history or its applications in different fields. Members of the International Federation of Association Football (Fifa) or the NBA, the American basketball league, will intervene to talk about this technology in the world of sport. But the pride of the organizers lies in the workshops. “You can come with your computer and work, we offer practical things to learn the basics, like creating your online wallet,” says Franck Dupont.
This year, Surfin’Bitcoin has spread its program over three days. A first day of free entertainment on Thursday, intended for BTC neophytes with, among other things, a treasure hunt through the city and 10,000 euros in bitcoins to be won. Friday and Saturday are available for 250 euros a day, and “are more dedicated to connoisseurs”, admits Jonathan Herscovici.
They address several themes, in English or French, with multiple speakers, including the Minister of Economy of El Salvador, one of the only two countries in the world to have adopted bitcoin as legal tender, or the eurosceptic and ultraliberal financier Charles Gave.
Recent events such as the cryptocurrency crash last June, the bankruptcy of the Celsius Network exchange platform or the fall of BTC close to 20,000 dollars do not undermine the confidence of the organizer, on the contrary. “It reinforces our belief in maximalism. All cryptocurrencies are crashing, but BTC remains above $20,000, which is huge. »
“Not the same values”
For their first day, the creators of NFT Biarritz are confident. “We had a lot of requests and enthusiasm, we had to refuse participants, reveals Damien Dupont. People love cryptocurrency on the side, partly thanks to Surfin’Bitcoin, it motivated us to create the show. »
A rapprochement that the organizer of Surfin’Bitcoin accepts somewhat reluctantly. Jonathan Herscovici is keen to distance both events. “Our relationship with them is purely business,” he reveals. At Surfin’Bitcoin we consider BTC to be the only revolution. We don’t share the same values, BTC can change lives while NFT is a gadget. “A speech that the Dupont brothers try to temper. “They have a maximalist vision, it was a shame not to open the perspective on broader subjects”.
“The Basque Valley”
But never mind, the association of the two shows brings visibility and offers Biarritz the image of a trendy city in the field of new technologies. A dynamic on which Jonathan Herscovici wishes to surf. “We have a lot of companies in tech, we want to continue to bring in talent,” he says.