I started out trying to create a Bitcoin meetup via the Orange Pill app, but it quickly became clear that I wanted to reach a much broader slice of the local community than just people already comfortable with Bitcoin.

When many Americans can’t cover a $200 emergency, it’s understandable that there’s skepticism (or even hostility!) toward the idea of investing in “magical internet money.” I do believe Bitcoin is the money of the future, but it also feels obvious that people can’t engage with that future if they’re still struggling to meet more basic needs.

That realization is what led me to start convening a small local discussion in town focused on things like mutual aid, time-banking, skills-sharing, and rebuilding trust at a human scale. To me, this is about addressing the lower layers of Maslow’s hierarchy first; creating a sense of sovereignty and breathing room so that curiosity, experimentation, and yes, future sat-stackers, can emerge organically rather than defensively.

I wrote up a longer reflection and shared the video + notes from our recent discussion here, for anyone interested in the full context:

https://www.kamresearch.global/queen-city-sovereignty-salon-2/