Nobody Is Attending the World’s Largest Bitcoin Conference

The premier Bitcoin event of 2023, Miami’s annual conference, is struggling to attract attendees, possibly due to high ticket prices and decreased excitement in the crypto industry.

Bitcoin2023, the premier event of its kind, is currently taking place in Miami. However, the world’s largest Bitcoin conference is having trouble getting attendees through the door. 

Is Bitcoin2023 a Washout?

According to its website, the conference is expecting only 15,000 in-person attendees as the conference kicks off today. That’s down from 26,000 last year.

Photos from the event also look sparsely attended. And Twitter commentators have bluntly acknowledged disappointing turnout. One of them, Bitminer Factory, wrote in a Tweet on Thursday morning: “The lower attendance at #Bitcoin2023 compared to last year reflects the impact of the crypto winter. However, it’s important to note that true believers are still here.”

First Bitcoin2023 Since Crypto Winter

Does the crypto winter really deserve a lion’s share of blame for the less-than-stellar numbers? Perhaps that is a simplification.

The crypto industry is well-known for being awash with money, even in bad times. But now, the cost of tickets may be putting people off. The price for a general admission ticket is set at $999, while an “Industry Pass” that grants exclusive access to the “Official Networking App” is available for $2,299.

While the price range is not vastly different from other events in the industry, potential attendees are likely feeling less flush than they did in the spring of 2022. A factor that organizers might have taken into consideration.

Excitement about crypto is likely down from last year, too.

The price of Bitcoin is only around $1,000 less than it was a year ago. Although, last June, the markets were still recovering from a seismic crash caused by the collapse of Terra/Luna. The original cryptocurrency had reached its all-time high only the previous November.

This year’s Bitcoin2023 shows no signs of the star power of Serena Williams or world-famous psychologist Jordan Peterson. Instead, attendees can enjoy an obscure member of the Kennedy dynasty, also-ran presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard, and outlandish conspiracy theorist Eric Weinstein. 

The good news: Michael Lewis, the renowned business author who had direct personal exposure to the collapse of FTX, will also be in attendance.