New Conference to Highlight Isle of Man's Growing Bitcoin Economy

Lieutenant Governor and the British Queen's personal representative Adam Wood is set to headline the first annual Crypto Valley Summit on the Isle of Man next month.

The event, set for 17th and 18th September, will spotlight a diverse crowd of bitcoin thinkers, government representatives and business leaders will include BTC China founder and CEO Bobby Lee, House of Keys Member John Shimmin and GoCoin CEO Steve Beauregard.

Discussions will focus on local regulation, adoption within the community, and the unique challenges that startups may face in the local economy.

The event will come weeks after the Isle of Man government offered broad clarification of its regulations for digital currency.

Over the course of two days, various speakers and panels will touch on key issues facing bitcoin today, both on the island and abroad. Wood's opening remarks will touch on the broader nature of digital currencies and the potential they hold in the local economy.

Isle-based payments companies have adopted a restricted policy toward digital currencies, as shown by the recent bitcoin prohibition announced by Douglas-based online gambling payments processor NETELLER. Other highlights of the day will include Simon Dixon and Max Keiser, who will discuss crowdfunding and their crypto-themed fundraising platform StartJOIN, and Steve Brennan, Chief Executive of the Isle of Man's Gambling Supervision Commission, who will moderate a panel on the role of digital currencies in gaming.

The second day of the Crypto Valley Summit will feature Member of the House of Keys John Shimmin's keynote address on the local perspective on bitcoin and what the future might hold should digital currency adoption grow on the Isle.

BTC China chief Lee is expected to give a detailed breakdown of the bitcoin environment in China.

Notably, the second day will feature a two hour-long expert tables seminar, where delegates will have the opportunity to discuss and ask questions of the assembled business leaders and bitcoin thinkers.

With the local community moving toward a broader digital currency integration in the months and years, the Crypto Valley Summit is expected to set the course for future bitcoin developments on the Isle.