The Florida Bitcoin and Blockchain Summit is coming to Tampa Bay, bringing with it a smorgasbord of enterprise and political leaders and that includes Cathie Wooden of ARK Make investments fame as its keynote speaker.
Held Nov. 4-5, the summit is billed as the primary “blockchain and fintech in Florida” centered occasion, highlighting the ever-expanding monetary expertise trade. Along with Wooden, who lately relocated her ARK Funding agency to St. Petersburg from New York, the occasion will carry collectively stakeholders from throughout the state and past to collaborate on a technique that drives progress within the rising trade.
Different notable audio system embrace Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and Nuke Goldstein, co-founder of the Celsius Community, which lately raised $400 million for its blockchain and cryptocurrency endeavors and is a lead sponsor of the summit. St. Pete Catalyst Writer Joe Hamilton may even have a sales space on the occasion, highlighting his Catalyst Metacities challenge that positioned first and second within the first two blockchain startup competitions entered.
Chris Krimitsos
Chris Krimitsos, the founding father of the Florida Bitcoin & Blockchain Summit, mentioned he realized this new trade wanted a house that might foster its progress. After a profitable take a look at run in Orlando, Krimitsos was decided to carry the occasion to the bay space. His colleagues on the Embarc Collective facilitated a reference to folks from Amelie Area, who welcomed the summit with open arms. With Goldstein’s sponsorship, the stage was set to launch the occasion.
“Now we’re constructing this wonderful momentum, bringing this complete trade to life,” mentioned Krimitsos. “It turns on the market’s a variety of blockchain firms in Tampa that most individuals don’t even know exist.”
Krimitsos mentioned the summit is the end result of years of arduous work to construct an surroundings that might not solely entice modern firms however modern folks. He believes this occasion unifies that group and can cement St. Pete and Tampa as leaders inside the blockchain trade.
“It actually simply helped solidify your complete state’s standing as most likely one of many prime tech incubation hubs,” mentioned Krimitsos, “with all these wonderful, modern firms coming collectively.”
Cathie Wooden, CEO of ARK Make investments, would be the keynote speaker on the Florida Bitcoin and Blockchain Summit Nov. 4-5.
Krimitsos calls Wooden relocating to the world a once-in-a-lifetime alternative. Not simply because she determined to make St. Pete her dwelling but in addition as a result of she introduced her group together with her. Nevertheless, he believes the largest affect is illustrated by the willingness of her group to relocate to the Tampa Bay space.
“What I may inform is her group is happy to stay within the St. Pete and Tampa Bay space,” mentioned Krimitsos. “It simply goes to point out you that our space has matured in a means that it’s not solely attracting prime expertise – they’re comfortable to come back right here.”
As for the summit, Krimitsos believes having Wooden because the keynote speaker signifies the legitimacy of the occasion and what it means for the area.
“It’s not only a bunch of locals attempting to place one thing collectively,” he provides. “When Cathie Wooden is the closing keynote, you may’t debate it.”
Krimitsos mentioned he loves the blockchain and cryptocurrency industries as a result of they supply monetary inclusion for those that in any other case could not have a seat on the desk. Whereas he thinks it’s nice that individuals are making some huge cash within the sector, to him the driving pressure is democratizing expertise. He mentioned that individuals everywhere in the world can do enterprise with each other by Bitcoin, and identified how El Salvadorians can now use the foreign money to purchase a burger from their native McDonald’s.
Krimitsos calls blockchain an inevitable, transformative expertise that’s occurring proper earlier than our eyes, and mentioned those that have been within the trade since its infancy don’t care a lot about day by day fluctuations in costs. Coincidentally, Bitcoin reached an all-time excessive right now and is buying and selling round $66,650 per coin on the time of writing.
“We don’t care if it goes up and down within the close to time period, we’re taking a look at it reworking every thing that it touches in the long run – and that’s what retains us coming again,” mentioned Krimitsos. “We’re attracting the people who wish to actually change the longer term, and alter Tampa Bay for the higher. That’s who we cater to.”
Krimitsos mentioned that collectively, the blockchain firms featured on the summit want to rent over 100 folks – if no more. He mentioned these are high-tech and high-paying jobs that may entice prime expertise. He mentioned these jobs may hold him from shedding his daughters to a different metropolis as a result of shiny future the trade helps to create for the area. “It makes us a beacon of sunshine for these entrepreneurs and these innovators,” he provides.
“It’s good to know you’re in a area that’s on the pioneering aspect of issues,” mentioned Krimitsos. “Somewhat than a area that your greatest days are behind you.”
For tickets to the Florida Bitcoin & Blockchain Summit or to be taught extra concerning the occasion, go to its web site here.
