Knut Svanholm

In 2017, the crypto boom pulled in millions with promises of fast gains, flashy whitepapers, and endless innovation. ICOs exploded, coins pumped—and then most of them vanished. Along the way, people lost not just money, but precious Bitcoin.

This panel revisits the 2017 cycle with fresh perspective:

What were the traps that even smart people fell into?

Why wasn’t it obvious at the time?

What makes Bitcoin fundamentally different from crypto then—and now?

We’ll explore the patterns that repeat every cycle, why "crypto" continues to distract from Bitcoin’s mission, and how to protect yourself and your community from the same mistakes.

Because history doesn’t repeat—but it does rhyme.

Is Bitcoin ruled by miners, users, or node runners—or is it something more emergent and social? As debates around miner centralization and proposed economic changes (like demurrage) gain traction, one question becomes unavoidable: who should hold the power in a decentralized system? This debate explores the delicate balance of incentives, the risks of changing core rules, and whether Bitcoin’s strength lies more in its code… or its community.