The fourth annual Plan ₿ Forum concluded this weekend in Lugano, Switzerland, marking a milestone for Bitcoin adoption and decentralized innovation.
Organized by Plan ₿, a collaboration between Tether and the City of Lugano, the two-day event (October 24–25) drew more than 4,000 participants from 64 countries, a 38% increase from last year and 140% growth since its 2022 debut. The event also reached a wider online audience, attracting over 800,000 livestream viewers on Rumble, reinforcing Lugano’s emergence as a global hub for blockchain and digital asset development.
Expanding the Frontiers of Decentralization
This year’s edition went beyond traditional finance, showcasing how Bitcoin’s ethos of decentralization is influencing sectors such as artificial intelligence, digital media, and neuroscience. Among the most symbolic moments was the reinstallation of the Satoshi Nakamoto statue at Parco Ciani — a restored piece by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi. The statue was unveiled by Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino, FundStrat co-founder Tom Lee, and Lugano Mayor Michele Foletti, symbolizing Bitcoin’s enduring legacy.
The initiative also announced the expansion of the statue project beyond Switzerland, with replicas now located in El Salvador and Japan, part of a plan to bring the symbol of Bitcoin to 21 cities worldwide, reflecting the cryptocurrency’s capped supply of 21 million coins.
🗿 The Satoshi Statue lives on!
Months ago, the world’s first Satoshi Nakamoto statue was unveiled in Lugano as a symbol of Bitcoin’s unstoppable idea, created by visionary artist @satoshigallery.
Soon after, the statue was vandalized, essentially a metaphor for what Bitcoin… pic.twitter.com/MJfxc8OqQ0
— JAN3 (@JAN3com) October 25, 2025
Bitcoin Tipping Coming to Rumble
A highlight of the forum came from Rumble CEO Chris Pavloski, who announced that the video platform will soon integrate Bitcoin tipping for its 51 million active users, in collaboration with Tether. The feature, currently in testing, will roll out globally between early and mid-December, allowing creators to receive Bitcoin directly via a built-in digital wallet.
The first on-chain tip was sent live during the event to Canadian creator David Freiheit. The integration builds upon Tether’s $775 million investment in Rumble last year, signaling a deepening connection between decentralized finance and independent media.
Tether Data Unveils QVAC Genesis I
Tether’s AI research division, Tether Data, made a significant debut with the launch of QVAC Genesis I, described as the world’s largest synthetic AI dataset, encompassing 41 billion tokens. The dataset is designed for training advanced models in STEM disciplines such as mathematics, physics, biology, and medicine.
Alongside it, the company presented QVAC Workbench, a local AI application enabling users to train and run models directly on their own devices, maintaining privacy and independence from centralized cloud infrastructure.
“This is a major step toward returning intelligence to individuals,” said Ardoino, emphasizing Tether’s broader mission to decentralize computation.
The launch follows last year’s open-source release of Tether’s Wallet Development Kit (WDK), which provided developers with tools to build secure digital wallets.
Merging Bitcoin and Neurotechnology
In one of the forum’s most thought-provoking sessions, Paolo Ardoino joined Marcus Gerhardt, CEO of Blackrock Neurotech, for a joint presentation linking Bitcoin’s principle of financial autonomy to the emerging concept of cognitive freedom. Blackrock Neurotech’s work in brain–computer interfaces, which aims to restore movement and communication to paralyzed individuals, underscored how decentralized technologies can advance personal sovereignty in new domains.
Other prominent speakers included Bo Hines, incoming CEO of USA₮; members of the Assange family; Brandon Lutnick, Chairman of Cantor Fitzgerald; and Jack Mallers, founder and CEO of Twenty One Capital.
The forum also welcomed Zhaslan Madiyev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan, whose attendance reflected growing government engagement with digital assets and openness to dialogue around regulatory and technological collaboration.
Lugano’s Model for Bitcoin Integration
“This year’s Plan ₿ Forum reaffirmed Lugano’s place at the heart of blockchain innovation,” Michele Foletti, Mayor of Lugano, said in a statement. “Our goal from the beginning has been to make Bitcoin part of everyday life, turning it into a tool that people can use in shops, restaurants, and city services.”
According to Foletti, each year brings a noticeable increase in local businesses accepting Bitcoin, USDT, and LVGA, more citizens adopting digital wallets, and more visitors drawn to experience a truly open economy — demonstrating that Lugano can lead a financial transformation while keeping people at its core.
“Lugano is evolving into a working model of Bitcoin adoption and open technology,” added Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. “What we are seeing here is progress made visible. People are using Bitcoin for payments, AI is operating on personal devices, and cutting-edge technologies such as brain–computer interfaces are extending the boundaries of freedom. Plan ₿ brings together the builders and thinkers turning decentralization into something real, and that momentum continues to grow every year.”
Local Outreach and Upcoming Events
Complementing the main forum, Spazio 21, a free Italian-language event, engaged the local community with over 600 attendees on its opening day, underscoring the strong regional interest in Bitcoin education and adoption.
Following the success of the 2025 edition, the Plan ₿ Initiative announced two major events for next year:
Plan ₿ Forum El Salvador — January 30–31, 2026, in San Salvador: focusing on Bitcoin’s role in empowering emerging markets.
Fifth Annual Plan ₿ Forum Lugano — October 23–24, 2026: continuing discussions on financial freedom, innovation, and open technology.
A Global Momentum for Bitcoin and Freedom
With record-breaking attendance, landmark announcements, and growing global participation, the 2025 Plan ₿ Forum underscored Bitcoin’s expanding influence beyond finance. As Lugano cements its reputation as a model city for real-world crypto adoption, the initiative’s upcoming forums in El Salvador and Switzerland will continue shaping the global conversation on digital freedom, decentralization, and innovation.