Lugano’s Plan ₿ Forum Highlights Bitcoin Adoption Milestones

The fourth annual Plan ₿ Forum, a collaborative initiative between Tether and the City of Lugano, concluded with significant milestones in Bitcoin adoption and blockchain technology, according to tether.io. Held over October 24-25, 2025, the event attracted over 4,000 participants from 64 countries, marking a 38% increase in attendance from the previous year.

Record Attendance and Global Reach

The forum, which has become a pivotal platform for digital asset innovation, was livestreamed to over 800,000 viewers worldwide. Discussions extended beyond financial applications, covering decentralization’s impact on artificial intelligence, media, and neuroscience.

Symbolic Unveilings and Global Expansion

A notable highlight was the reinstallation of the Satoshi Nakamoto statue at Lugano’s Parco Ciani. Unveiled by Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino, FundStrat co-founder Tom Lee, and Lugano’s Mayor Michele Foletti, the statue represents Bitcoin’s global influence, with replicas in El Salvador and Japan.

Innovations and Announcements

Rumble CEO Chris Pavloski announced Bitcoin tipping integration for the platform’s 51 million users, set for a global rollout by early December. This initiative follows Tether’s $775 million investment in Rumble, enhancing the synergy between decentralized finance and digital media.

Tether’s AI research division introduced QVAC Genesis I, the largest synthetic AI dataset to date, alongside a local AI application, QVAC Workbench. This development aims to decentralize computation by enabling users to run models on personal devices.

Expert Insights and Future Plans

The forum featured industry leaders like Blackrock Neurotech’s CEO Marcus Gerhardt, who discussed the intersection of Bitcoin’s financial autonomy with cognitive freedom technologies. Other speakers included former White House consultant Bo Hines and Cantor Fitzgerald’s Brandon Lutnick, emphasizing Bitcoin’s role in promoting economic inclusion.

Mayor Michele Foletti highlighted Lugano’s progress in integrating Bitcoin into daily life, with increasing local adoption in businesses and services. Tether’s CEO, Paolo Ardoino, echoed these sentiments, noting the city’s transformation into a model of Bitcoin adoption.

Upcoming Events

Following the forum’s success, Plan ₿ announced two upcoming events: the Plan ₿ Forum in El Salvador on January 30-31, 2026, focusing on Bitcoin’s impact in emerging markets, and the fifth annual forum in Lugano on October 23-24, 2026, continuing discussions on financial freedom and innovation.

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