The yearly Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas serves as a crucial gathering for the Bitcoin community, where enterprises present innovations, declare collaborations, and give talks that influence the story of digital currencies. For numerous attendees, the extensive amount of information can be quite daunting. Having participated in several conferences and being acquainted with the attending firms through my work at UTXO, I’ve showcased significant panels and anticipated advancements for 2025, emphasizing Bitcoin’s Layer 2 (L2) and BTCfi realms.
The complete agenda can be accessed via this link: https://b.tc/conference/2025/agenda
Here’s a summary of expected announcements and panels, organized by main themes:
BitVM2 Announcements
Since the launch of BitVM in 2023, leading Bitcoin development teams have been diligently working to convert centralized sidechain concepts into authentic Bitcoin rollups and permissionless L2s. At the 2025 conference, anticipate these teams to present the initial versions of BitVM2 bridges, sharing vital information about their functionality. Once operational, BitVM2 bridges could facilitate a multitude of decentralized BTC applications, available to every Bitcoin holder. May 2025 could represent a major shift, hinting at the downturn of centralized “crypto” and DeFi ventures in favor of a Bitcoin-centric economy. As the saying states, on a sufficiently long timeline, everything converges back to Bitcoin.
L2 Partnerships
Bitcoin L2s confront a significant hurdle: competing with established crypto entities while gaining the confidence of Bitcoin enthusiasts. The conference will likely reveal prominent partnership announcements, especially at the infrastructure level, tackling persistent obstacles to BTCfi acceptance. These alliances could enhance the credibility and capabilities of L2 solutions, setting the stage for wider endorsement.
Lightning and Taproot Assets Innovation
The recent declaration that Tether (USDT) will return to Bitcoin through issuing its stablecoin on Lightning rails utilizing Taproot Assets has ignited considerable anticipation. Expect substantial updates from organizations within this domain, especially concerning Taproot Assets and stablecoin integration. The Lightning Network is set for supremacy, and 2025 might be the year it joins the mainstream.
Opcodes and Governance Discussions
With increasing backing for covenant activation on Bitcoin and recent discussions regarding mempool policy on social media, governance conversations will be pivotal. These panels are expected to be intellectually engaging, offering profound insights into Bitcoin’s fundamental mechanics and potentially explosive debates for those monitoring these discussions. Participating in these sessions will likely be the most fulfilling experience of the week for anyone aiming to grasp Bitcoin’s future.
Must-Attend Panels
Here is a selective list of panels corresponding to the aforementioned categories, along with my expectations for each. (Note: These forecasts represent my individual views and are not conclusive. This compilation is not comprehensive but underscores high-signal sessions for attendees with time constraints.)
Panels and Keynotes with the greatest likelihood of a significant announcement tied to Bitcoin L2s and BTCfi products: in other words, this is where noteworthy insights will emerge
Governance Discussions
Bitcoin L2s and BTCfi products
L2 and Lightning discussions
