@21ratesHQ & @MadBitcoin_ — Bitcoin Finance #002! @Gypsy_Bit

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Bitcoin Culture Hub
@btcculturehubOct 31, 2025

The Spaces brought together Aldona (Mad Bitcoin Summit) and Jody and Avi (21Rates) with host Kyle (Bitcoin Culture Hub) to discuss accelerating Bitcoin adoption via in‑person events and transparent product discovery. Aldona outlined the Madrid-based Mad Bitcoin Summit (May 9–12) focused exclusively on Bitcoin for institutions, treasuries, and mining—with practical workshops, curated networking, and side events—aimed at shifting Spain’s perception of Bitcoin beyond tech circles and bridging Europe, the U.S., and LATAM. Jody and Avi shared how the Prime Trust collapse shaped 21Rates’ mission to be a bitcoin‑native, Bankrate‑style platform offering objective reviews, a company directory, bitcoin‑only toggles, and weekly “Treasury Talks,” while expanding into international listings. The group explored distribution and education strategies—SEO, affiliates, high‑signal video, TikTok, Spanish content/dubbing—and the need for IRL channels and an internship bridge to help small teams scale. They addressed current audience demographics (U.S. male 35–44) and how to broaden appeal with clear use cases (ETFs, treasuries, personal finance). The panel stressed cautious treatment of altcoins/DeFi, preference for Bitcoin‑only or clearly non‑inflationary designs, and concluded with personal “why” stories—hope, truth, and freedom—plus near‑term updates: Aldona’s new institution‑focused podcast series and 21Rates’ forthcoming interviews.

Bitcoin Culture Hub Space: Mad Bitcoin Summit (Madrid) and 21 Rates

Participants and roles

  • Host (Bitcoin Culture Hub): Moderator leading the discussion; coordinating speakers and audience Q&A; traveling to Chicago; emphasized distribution and retail adoption (especially Gen Z), and the Culture Hub’s “opportunity engine.”
  • Aldona (speaker 2): Founder of Mad Bitcoin (podcast and summit in Madrid). Background: 20 years in banking/finance; now focused on institutional Bitcoin education and adoption in Spain.
  • Jody (speaker 1): Co‑founder of 21 Rates; former Prime Trust employee; product/design lead; hosts “Treasury Talks.”
  • Avi (speaker 4): Co‑founder of 21 Rates; business/strategy; New York‑based; co‑host of Bitcoinemy podcast.
  • Additional names referenced: Kyle and Chris (Culture Hub team), David, Jeff Grant (guest on 21 Rates’ podcast), Tim Cosman and Ed July (supporting Aldona’s summit), Matt Cole (Strive), Arcadia B (Mexico), H100 (guest in Treasury Talks), Relai (Europe; to be listed).

Mad Bitcoin (Aldona): vision, event, and adoption strategy

Origin and mission

  • After years as a banker, Aldona concluded traditional finance structures and incentives were failing individuals and businesses, especially in Spain (high taxes, regulations, declining life quality despite greater effort).
  • Inspired by MicroStrategy earnings calls and Michael Saylor’s framing, she began educating peers about Bitcoin, launched the Mad Bitcoin podcast, and decided to build an in‑person summit to reach a broader audience with practical, non‑technical knowledge.
  • Core mission: bring Bitcoin “out of the basement”—changing perceptions that Bitcoin is only for tech insiders. Make it accessible, useful money for everyday people and a strategic asset for institutions and SMEs.

The Mad Bitcoin Summit (Madrid)

  • Dates and venue: May 9–12 (two days of side events on Saturday–Sunday; main event Monday–Tuesday) at Madrid’s largest convention center.
  • Focus: Bitcoin‑only, with emphasis on institutional adoption, corporate treasury, and mining. Distinct from “tech‑heavy” conferences—prioritizes practical tools and workshops over purely theoretical sessions.
  • Speakers and partners: ~30 speakers already lined up; announced support from Ed July and Tim Cosman; ongoing efforts to add high‑profile names and form strong partnerships.
  • Audience goals: target ~1,500 attendees; create a repeatable annual destination—position Spain as a premier hub for institutional Bitcoin treasury events.
  • Programming approach:
    • Practical workshops enabling attendees to return to their companies and implement Bitcoin strategies (treasury, risk, operations, compliance, mining, vendor selection).
    • High‑quality networking across private/public companies, potential investors, and service providers.
    • Side events to leverage Madrid’s culture, food, and social environment for relationship building.

Adoption in Spain and Europe: gaps and opportunities

  • Spain lacks large, international Bitcoin‑only events; most conferences are crypto‑wide. Knowledge from the global Bitcoin space is not penetrating the local market.
  • Europe’s Bitcoin corporate adoption is more driven by private sector than by large public companies (contrast with US). Spain’s economy is dominated (~80%) by SMEs struggling under regulatory and tax burdens.
  • Narrative change needed: focus on real use cases (payments, treasury, savings, mining economics, risk management) rather than abstract “blockchain” techno‑jargon that alienates mainstream audiences.
  • Language barrier is material: demand for Spanish‑language content is strong. Aldona translated content until YouTube rolled out automatic dubbing; expects this to accelerate reach.

Go‑to‑market, distribution, and success metrics

  • Distribution tactics: collaborate with each speaker for cross‑promotion; attend other events; organic outreach; emphasize Spanish language content; leverage social platforms.
  • Success looks like:
    • Filling the venue (~1,500 attendees), achieving strong satisfaction, and driving repeat attendance year‑over‑year.
    • “Orange‑pilling” as many people as possible (especially SMEs and institutional decision‑makers) with practical, applicable knowledge.
  • Anticipated audience mix: international attendees likely Bitcoin‑only; Spanish audience a mix (many still conflate “crypto” categories—Bitcoin, stablecoins, altcoins—without distinctions). Education will emphasize differentiation and why Bitcoin’s properties matter.

Challenges and needs

  • Partnerships and sponsorships: the largest operational challenge due to budget scale; systematic outreach underway (Aldona, Tim Cosman, Ed July), with a commitment to make partner participation valuable.
  • Securing “big name” speakers to add gravitas and drive visibility.
  • Ticket sales: not a primary concern; expect typical late surge in the final weeks.

Aldona’s “why”

  • Personal journey from traditional finance to Bitcoin brought hope, autonomy, and the courage to speak truth without fear of institutional retaliation.
  • Bitcoin doesn’t fix everything but fixes a lot—especially broken monetary incentives. Mission: help individuals and struggling businesses discover a viable alternative path to prosperity and freedom.

21 Rates (Jody & Avi): origin, product, and distribution

Origin story and lessons learned

  • Both worked at Prime Trust; the custodian’s collapse (loss of multisig access; funds locked) underscored the risks of trusting institutions and weak processes.
  • Takeaway: trust self‑custody and code; institutions and procedures can fail. Motivation to bring transparency and objective information to help users make better Bitcoin financial decisions.

Product and content strategy

  • 21 Rates: an independent, Bitcoin‑native evaluation platform for financial products touching Bitcoin (lenders, custodians, credit cards, exchanges, etc.). Goal: help users protect and put their Bitcoin to work, and offer clear comparisons (akin to Bankrate, but deeply Bitcoin‑specific and community‑oriented).
  • Community‑driven: open to feedback via DMs; building “a website for the people.”
  • Media and programming:
    • Bitcoinemy podcast (formerly Block Fuel when scope was broader).
    • Weekly “Treasury Talks” (Thursdays, 4pm ET) featuring treasury‑focused firms and services (recent guests include H100, Arcadia B in Mexico).
    • Expanding learning resources; adding international services (e.g., Relai in Europe).
    • Company directory: 177 Bitcoin companies listed; integrating interview clips (e.g., Matt Cole from Strive) to build trust.

Design principles and differentiation

  • Distribution matters: industry moves fast; they leverage AI to source information but avoid low‑quality “AI slop.” Emphasize authentic, video‑rich content and direct interviews with companies.
  • Product design:
    • Continuous user feedback (friends, non‑Bitcoiners, broader market).
    • Instrumentation (e.g., Hotjar) to see where users get stuck and iterate.
    • Guarding against founder bias; validating ideas with diverse users.
  • Bitcoin‑only toggle: clear separation between Bitcoin‑only firms (Swan, Strike, River, Unchained) and broader exchanges (Coinbase, Kraken, Gemini). Users can filter based on preference and values.

Stance on tokens, DeFi, and financialization

  • Skeptical of ICOs and token‑printing dynamics that corrupt incentives (easy fundraising, VC exit liquidity, retail dumps). Prefers products that avoid monetizing users via inflationary tokens.
  • Open to innovation if designed with Bitcoin’s properties (e.g., Bitcoin‑pegged instruments that resist inflation), but cautious about DeFi platforms and alt‑layer narratives until clarity is high.
  • Observations: Asian conferences show higher speculative interest; expect market lessons to converge as launchpads and rapid token issuance burn users.
  • Macro outlook: “financialization of Bitcoin” is underway (treasury services, lending, cards, life insurance denominated in Bitcoin, real estate), drawing in TradFi participants seeking yield and structured exposure.

Audience, channels, and international reach

  • Current user profile: mostly US‑based, 35–44, white male investors (e.g., Tesla/Palantir)—a reflection of the Bitcoin Twitter echo chamber.
  • Growth plan: expand into TikTok and other platforms; emphasize personal finance education and real use cases relevant to Gen Z (inflation hedging, asset ownership, long‑term savings); meet users where they are (including ETF comparisons, fee structures).
  • International: actively listing Mexico‑based services (Arcadia B), aiming to add European options (Relai), and broaden coverage where custody/regulatory barriers don’t apply.

Avi’s “why”

  • One word: “truth.” Bitcoin’s fixed supply (21 million) versus gold’s continual supply increase (~2%/year) and fiat’s unconstrained printing articulate a truthful monetary foundation.
  • Community: drawn to curious, truth‑seeking people who question status quo; Bitcoin friendships and conversations have become most valuable.

Cross‑cutting themes and collaboration

  • Adoption requires narrative change: move from tech jargon to practical outcomes (treasury management, inflation protection, business resilience, savings, payments).
  • Distribution is the constraint: creators and builders need multi‑platform strategies (TikTok, Reddit, YouTube, podcasts) tailored to each channel’s voice.
  • Language localization is crucial: Spanish‑language content significantly expands reach in Spain and LATAM.
  • Institutional bridges: Spain as a geographic/cultural bridge (Europe, LATAM, US) can host international Bitcoin treasury‑centric convenings and catalyze cross‑market knowledge transfer.
  • Community infrastructure: Culture Hub’s “opportunity engine” aims to connect builders with interns/volunteers/researchers to solve resourcing bottlenecks, especially for small teams like 21 Rates.

Action items, commitments, and near‑term plans

  • Aldona (Mad Bitcoin):
    • Finalize and announce additional speakers and partners (including high‑profile names) for May 9–12.
    • Launch a new institutional/treasury‑focused podcast series next week with a well‑known Spanish Bitcoiner as co‑host; Spanish content emphasis.
    • Continue outreach for sponsors; position value for institutional partners and SMEs; expand Spanish‑language education.
  • 21 Rates (Jody & Avi):
    • Continue weekly Treasury Talks (Thursdays, 4pm ET).
    • Expand international listings (Relai in Europe), enhance company directory, and deepen video integrations/interviews.
    • Grow TikTok and cross‑channel presence; refine personal finance educational content for broader demographics.
    • Maintain Bitcoin‑only toggle and cautious stance on tokenized products; emphasize clarity and user protection.
  • Culture Hub (host/team):
    • Keep running Finance Spaces three times weekly; advance the “opportunity engine” to match startups (e.g., 21 Rates) with interns/volunteers.

Key takeaways

  • Spain needs a credible, international Bitcoin‑only institutional summit; Aldona’s Mad Bitcoin aims to fill the void with practical, treasury‑focused content and deep networking.
  • 21 Rates is building a trusted, Bitcoin‑native evaluation and learning platform to help users choose financial products confidently—prioritizing transparency, usability, and distribution.
  • Adoption depends on the right narrative delivered in the right language on the right channels. Practical education, Spanish localization, and cross‑market collaboration are central.
  • Both initiatives are early, energetic, and community‑driven—focused on truth, beauty, and real‑world utility rather than hype.

Notable highlights

  • Mad Bitcoin Summit: May 9–12, Madrid; target 1,500 attendees; side events Sat–Sun, main Mon–Tue; Bitcoin‑only, institutional focus; workshops for practical implementation.
  • 21 Rates: 177‑company Bitcoin directory; Bitcoin‑only toggle; weekly Treasury Talks; expanding TikTok and international listings; Bitcoinemy podcast (new interview with Jeff Grant forthcoming).
  • Aldona’s message: Bitcoin restores hope and agency; keep learning, don’t give up.
  • Avi’s message: Seek truth; fixed supply and sound money; build with and for a curious, principled community.