Bitcoin Showed Up In DC — And Washington Took Notice

By Zack Cohen, Bitcoin Policy Institute

Thank you for your support. The entire Bitcoin Policy Institute would like to thank everyone who came, participated, spoke, or supported the event. For months, we prepared for the third Bitcoin Policy Summit. The events in Washington were beyond our expectations.

We had more than 1,000 participants: journalists, human rights activists, builders, government officials, student leaders, staff from agencies, reporters, energy experts and students. And what they found was not a party dressed up as a conference, but a serious two-day working session that reflected how far the Bitcoin conversation has come – and where it’s going.

Bitcoin is a concept that has been ignored or misunderstood by Washington for a long time. The policymakers were able to easily dismiss it or ignore. The 2025 Summit, however, sent out a very different message: Bitcoin will not disappear. Bitcoin is not an esoteric concept. The topic is at the forefront of discussions about digital rights and innovation, national strategy, and economic strength.

The Welcome that Sets the Tone

Our friends from PubKey co-hosted a full welcome party to kick off the week. To outsiders, DC may seem like a rigid town — buttoned-up, formal, slow-moving. If you’ve spent any time in DC, then you already know that the city runs on its relationships. Relationships are created in such places.

More than 450 people gathered together in an area buzzing with karaoke live, cocktails strong (thanks to Unchained who created the Old Fashioned Bull Run & Miner’s Mule) and conversation. The room was loud. It was loud. Most of all it was energy. The Bitcoiners were here.

The room was filled with people

The Summit brought:

• 1,000+ total attendees
• Over 300 Public Policy Professionals
• There are 35 offices in the Congress, with 12 Members of Congress.
• The Federal Government Employs 100+ Employees
• There are 50+ journalists in the media
• 49
• Livestreams reach 90 000+ viewers

The event was attended by national security experts as well financial regulators, analysts from think tanks, developers of open-source software, leaders in nonprofits, and many others. Bitcoin coalition is growing, and that was clearly evident.

The Topics We Discussed

The themes of the program were clear: National security, privacy, energy, financial inclusion, legislative strategy. There were keynotes and panels as well as lightning talks to allow for technical depth and a broad view.

Zack Shapiro explained the basics of his work in this segment. BPI’s national strategy framework — a vision of American Bitcoin leadership grounded in open-source values, resilience, and forward-looking policy. Then, a sharp panel on Senate prioritiesBITCOIN ACT

Alex Leishman presented a talk that was rich in data on the American Bitcoin advantage — why our institutions, capital markets, and rule of law position the US to lead. Alex Gladstein brought to life the human right lens, and reminded everyone that Bitcoin is still the most powerful freedom technology of the 21st century.

Patrick Witt, the Deputy Director for the President’s Council on Digital Assets (Presidential Council on Digital Assets), reiterated that administration’s strategic interest in Bitcoin, highlighting ongoing progress:

“There will be the forthcoming report on the interagency activities. We’ve already taken some steps with the SPR. The question now is, how do we follow that up with an accumulation plan? There’s no shortage of opportunities and work to be done. So after we leave here, I’ll get right back to it.”

Bitcoin Core 10th developer Matt Corallo joined BPI co-president Grant McCarty, and two Democrats from New York and NJ to talk about the importance of a Bitcoin Core. making the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act bipartisan. 

Rep. Torres commented at one point in the panel. 

“The value of Bitcoin is more secure than the value of gold because you can always find more gold, but the supply of Bitcoin in the world is going to remain fixed in perpetuity.”

Rep. Gottheimer recently joined Rep. Torres as a bill co-sponsor. Together, they explained their decision and stressed the importance to protect innovators while preserving the integrity and open-source ecosystem.

BPI’s Zack Shapiro sat down with SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce Discussions on ETF structures, qualified custody and the future of Bitcoin native financial infrastructure. It was detailed, honest, and substantive — exactly what this moment calls for.

Office Hours and the Q&A Room

We introduced structure office hours this year: One-on-one meetings where participants could meet with our fellows. In an informal setting, these conversations covered mining, privacy and regulation as well as monetary strategies.

The Q&A Room added another layer of depth. Cygnal CEO Brent Buchanan led a walkthrough. recent poll The results of the survey were based on 800 potential midterm voters. Bitcoiners have become a constituency in politics. You can ignore them, but at your peril.

Anna Chekhovich led an introduction to Bitcoin 101 for policymakers. She explained the fundamentals of Bitcoin using plain English, drawing on her experience in global human rights.

Bitcoin on the Hill

BPI’s Day on the Hill The largest organized effort of Bitcoin supporters to engage directly with legislators. In 118 confirmed congressional meetings, over 120 attendees took part.

• The Senate has 48 offices
• There are 70 offices in the House.
• Meetings of more than 10 members
• The offices of 68 Democrats, and 50 Republicans
• Representatives from 28 States, DC and one U.S. Territory

It wasn’t a performance. It was strategic. These were many members of Congress’ first conversations with Bitcoin enthusiasts who are serious and mission-driven.

Reflections

The tone of the event was a major highlight. The Bitcoiners wore suits. The suit was worn not as a mask, but to signal. The purpose of our visit was to take this engagement seriously. The excitement in the room wasn’t hype — it was grounded in focus, preparation, and a shared sense that this moment mattered.

DC responded. The staff and policymakers were open but they also engaged. The questions they asked were good. They were attentive. Bitcoin and Washington are getting closer together.

The presence of Gen Z was the biggest surprise. It wasn’t just the number of young people in the room—it was their presence. The young people were attentive, intelligent, curious and eager to participate in the discussion. It was the very first time I felt that my peers were not watching me from the sideslines. They were in it—asking questions, driving dialogue, shaping the future. The best part is that we are just beginning.

The Beginning is Only Just the Start

Bitcoin Policy Institute has a unique opportunity to host an event that is accountable to its own mission. Bitcoin does not ask for a special treatment. This isn’t a lobby for freebies. The argument is made on merit, arguing why the issue matters for American sovereignty and freedom.

The case is now much harder to ignore.

We’ll be back next year.

Zach Cohen has written a guest article. The opinions expressed by Zach Cohen are theirs alone and not those of BTC Inc. or Bitcoin Magazine.