BitBlockBoom is leaving the hotel ballroom circuit behind. The annual Bitcoin conference is relocating to the Fort Worth Stockyards for April 9-12, swapping fluorescent-lit convention halls for a historic cattle trading district with actual character.
The move puts the entire event at Stockyards Station, right in the center of a walkable area packed with restaurants, bars, and historic venues. Which is kind of the point.
BitBlockBoom was never meant to feel like a typical tech conference. It started as an alternative for Bitcoiners who felt out of place at corporate events with sponsored coffee breaks and panel discussions about “blockchain innovation.” The hotel venues worked logistically, sure. But they never really fit.
The Stockyards have a history that makes sense for this crowd. For decades, it’s where cattlemen and traders gathered to do business outside traditional markets. Independence, commerce, people building things their own way—it’s basically Bitcoin culture before Bitcoin existed.
The main venue sits right on Exchange Avenue, where longhorn cattle drives still happen daily. (Yes, actual cattle. In 2026) Offsite events will spread throughout the district, giving attendees space to keep conversations going after sessions end. No need for shuttle buses or complicated logistics—the two official conference hotels are walking distance from Stockyards Station.
Fort Worth Stockyards
Proof of Steak Kicks Things Off Early
Before the main conference even starts, there’s Proof of Steak—a pre-conference summit happening April 8 specifically for Bitcoin meetup organizers. The name’s a play on proof of work, obviously, but it’s also about getting local community builders in the same room.
Being a meetup organizer can feel pretty isolating. You’re usually the one person in your city trying to orange-pill nocoiners, find venue space, and convince people that yes, another Bitcoin meetup is actually worth their Wednesday night. Proof of Steak is designed to fix that.
The summit brings together organizers from around the world to share what’s working, troubleshoot problems, and figure out how to strengthen grassroots Bitcoin adoption. It’s not just for meetup leaders, though—miners, energy sector folks, and other passionate Bitcoiners are welcome too. Cross-pollination between different parts of the ecosystem tends to produce interesting conversations.
This warm-up before BitBlockBoom proper will be less formal, more focused, and built around the people doing ground-level work in their communities.
The Main Event Lineup
This year marks the conference’s ninth edition, with speakers including Unchained CEO Joe Kelly, Swan’s Cory Klippsten, Bitcoin educator Jimmy Song, and Custodia Bank founder Caitlin Long. Also on the lineup: Wyoming Secretary of State’s office representative Colin Crossman, bestselling author Lawrence Lepard, Parker Lewis from Zaprite, Riot Platforms VP Pierre Rochard, and Barefoot Mining’s Bob Burnett. Simply Bitcoin’s Rustin Peace returns as emcee.
“BitBlockBoom was built by people who didn’t feel like they belonged anywhere else,” organizers said in the announcement. “The Fort Worth Stockyards were built by the same kind of people.”
It’s a deliberate choice to stay smaller and more focused than mega-conferences that pull in 10,000+ attendees.
🎟️ Tickets are available now with a 10% discount using promo code BitcoinEventsHQ.
Given the venue shift and the addition of Proof of Steak, this year’s event looks like it’ll lean even harder into the anti-corporate positioning that’s defined BitBlockBoom since day one.
More info: https://bitblockboom.com/