Swiss Bitcoin Conference

Once again this year, from April 24th - 27th, the Swiss Bitcoin Conference in Kreuzlingen near Lake Constance was the meeting place for over 800 German-speaking Bitcoin experts, enthusiasts and all those who want to become such - and we from 21energy were right there in the middle of it all.

With the motto "Study Bitcoin!", the conference focused on education and aimed to raise awareness about the differences between Bitcoin and altcoins, women in the Bitcoin space, challenges and numerous further current topics.

Insightful presentations, panels & discussions

We were not only able to exchange ideas with colleagues and interested parties about the latest and future-oriented aspects in engaging discussions. Two presentations by our founders also gave participants new insights, sparked ideas and initiated lively debates.

In the panel on Bitcoin Mining & Energy Transition: The perfect alliance? Lukas Waldner, together with Niko Jilch, Dominik Galic, Sascha Grumbach and Christian Naef, offered insights into the omnipresent topic of environment & energy.

Maximilian Obwexer provided in-depth information on the topics of mining and heat recovery in his presentation.

"Bitcoin mining can effectively utilize waste heat, which in certain cases can lead to more cost-effective and environmentally friendly heating." - Maximilian Obwexer

Experiencing the Ofen & Ofen Pro up close

Interested visitors were also able to experience the function of our Ofen and Ofen Pro up close at our exhibitor stand and get a first-hand impression of the incredibly quiet Bitcoin heaters.

Proud winners of the Bitcoin Award

As a special highlight, we also received the Bitcoin Award in the Mining 2024 category and would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the fantastic feedback.
A big thank you also to the organizer Sascha for his efforts and congratulations on the successful conference. We would love to be back again next year. 

It was a pleasure to share our visions with the German-speaking Bitcoin community on this occasion and to jointly look enthusiastically into the future of Bitcoin!

The most important points of our presentations are summarized below

Presentation by Maximilian Obwexer

• Bitcoin mining is the securing of the Bitcoin network through thermodynamic processes.
• Everyone receives the same payment for the same work in Bitcoin mining.
• Without Bitcoin mining, there would be no Bitcoin, as it is responsible for validating transactions and creating new blocks.
• The hash rate in the Bitcoin network has increased significantly over the years, which requires enormous computing power.
• ASIC miners are specialized hardware for Bitcoin mining that are more efficient than conventional computers or graphics cards.
• Bitcoin mining can effectively utilize waste heat, which in some cases can lead to more cost-effective and environmentally friendly heating.
• In various countries, Bitcoin miners may even be able to earn money by using the heat generated.
• The energy transition aims to run everything on renewable energy, including heating.
• Bitcoin mining can help to balance out the volatility in the electricity grid with renewable energies.
• The demand for electricity varies throughout the day, which the PV systems cannot always cover.
• The integration of Bitcoin mining into existing systems such as power grid stabilization can generate additional revenue.
• The profitability of Bitcoin mining can be optimized by variable electricity tariffs, especially when electricity is cheap at night.
• The use of Bitcoin mining as heating can be profitable in new buildings without additional costs.
• The long-term security of the Bitcoin network depends on transaction fees after all Bitcoins have been mined.
• Despite halving, the profitability of Bitcoin mining remains stable in the long term and is supported by rising transaction fees.
• Bitcoin mining hardware is getting better and more durable, leading to higher profitability.
• The increase in efficiency of new miners is slowing down, but the long-term potential for Bitcoin mining remains promising.

Panel by Lukas Waldner

• Bitcoin mining can be sustainable by using surplus energy for heating purposes.
• Political acceptance of Bitcoin mining projects can be a challenge.
• One approach to sustainable Bitcoin mining is the use of waste heat for heating purposes.
• Decentralization of the Bitcoin network and use of waste heat are key areas for green mining.
• Bitcoin mining can help to create jobs and stabilize energy networks.
• It is important to present Bitcoin mining with concrete benefits for society in order to promote acceptance.
• The comparison between the emergence of electric cars and the rise of Bitcoin illustrates how pressure from the population can drive change in industries.
• Bitcoin mining can be seen as having a positive impact on CO2 emissions, particularly through the use of flare gas and conversion into usable energy.
• Communicating Bitcoin in the context of green technologies and energy efficiency can encourage companies to be more open to Bitcoin.
• Bitcoin mining can help reduce CO2 emissions by enabling alternative, sustainable heating methods for businesses.
• The complexity of Bitcoin requires a thorough understanding of various fields such as technology, economics, philosophy and social sciences in order to discuss and report on it constructively.
• Bitcoin mining can boost the profitability of renewable energies and accelerate their expansion.
• There are projects in which Bitcoin mining helps to supply energy to remote communities that would otherwise not have access to it.
• The use of Bitcoin mining to support renewable energies could be an important step towards the energy transition.
• Electric cars and their charging pose a challenge to the electricity grid, while Bitcoin mining may be better suited to managing energy consumption and generation.
• The financing of Bitcoin mining could come from transaction fees rather than block subsidies sooner than 2140.
• In the future, Bitcoin transactions could be used less for small amounts and more for larger transactions with additional information.
• Countries have different interests and motivations regarding Bitcoin, but some may be interested in moving away from the US dollar.
• Bitcoin mining is considered income in Switzerland and is therefore subject to tax regulations.
• Placing Bitcoin topics in large companies often requires the presentation of concrete figures and savings in order to arouse interest.
• The potential yield from Bitcoin mining can be calculated on the basis of electricity consumption and the expected Bitcoin price.
• The future of energy supply could be a combination of nuclear energy and renewable energies, depending on the preferences and needs of individual countries.