Tether, the largest company in the digital asset industry, and the Swiss city of Lugano announced the elite line-up of thought leaders who will headline the third annual Plan ₿ forum. This year’s line-up includes the Assange family, who will be addressing the profound significance of freedom of speech and the far-reaching implications it holds worldwide.

The Forum offers its participants two days of insightful panels and events that underscore the importance of the democratization of finance via cryptocurrency adoption. The inclusion of the Assange family adds particular significance, in light of the recent release of Julian Assange, the Australian editor, publisher, and activist whose name is synonymous with defending freedom of information. Julian’s work with WikiLeaks has been at the forefront of these discussions, raising crucial questions about transparency and information access. As passionate advocates for freedom, the Assange family will discuss the future of communication and censorship in our digital age.

After two hugely successful events in prior years, attracting more than 1,700 attendees in the first year and over 2,200 attendees in the second, Tether and the Mayor of Lugano, Michele Foletti, will be joined once again by other illustrious names such as Filip Karađorđević, CSO at JAN3, Adam Back, CEO at Blockstream, Nick Szabo, legendary cypherpunk, Jameson Lopp, CTO at CASA, Elizabeth Stark, CEO and Co-Founder at Lightning Labs, and Fadi Elsalameen, Adjunct Senior Fellow of Bitcoin Policy Institute and American Security Project.

The event will take place on 25-26 October 2024 with the aim of celebrating Bitcoin and blockchain technology’s role in securing financial freedom for individuals. It also plays an important role in boosting cryptocurrency transactions taking place in the city.

Since March 2022, Tether and The City of Lugano collaborated on the Plan ₿ initiative to make Bitcoin and USD₮, de facto legal tender in the city. Through this initiative and the Forum, Tether and The City of Lugano have driven efforts to boost awareness around digital assets, online privacy, freedom of speech, and peer-to-peer communications, to ultimately shape Lugano into the blockchain epicenter of Europe.

Over the past two years, Lugano has also hosted students and entrepreneurs from across the globe for the Plan ₿ Summer School, an intensive 10-day blockchain education program co-organized with some of the region’s most prestigious universities. In February, Lugano launched its first incubator dedicated to supporting blockchain start-ups with the mission of attracting the most innovative Web3 pioneers and developers.

Lugano is also home to the vibrant Plan B Co-working Hub, which fosters innovation in blockchain, crypto and peer-to-peer communication technologies. The Hub serves as a platform to facilitate discussions and collaborations for professionals, students, and individuals new to these cutting-edge technologies.

Through these endeavors, the Swiss City of Lugano has positioned itself to be the heart of blockchain technology in Europe.

“We are thrilled to announce the third annual Plan ₿ forum with such illustrious figures such as the Assange family. The past conferences in Lugano were a massive success that blew all expectations, and we are so excited to do it again this year,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. “ By bringing together leading voices in the industry, we aim to foster discussions that will shape the future of communication, commerce, and the broader blockchain ecosystem.”

As a result of the Plan B initiative across Lugano, Bitcoin, USD₮, and LVGA are accepted at shops and restaurants across the city, enabling residents and travellers to use cryptocurrency to purchase goods ranging from coffee to yoga lessons. Many of these merchants have held cashback promotions, offering customers rewards as high as 30% for those paying with cryptocurrency.

“It has been an honor to welcome so many great speakers and guests from across the world to our city these past two years, and we are thrilled to once again host the third Plan ₿ forum in October 2024,” said Michele Foletti, Mayor of Lugano. “Our collaboration with Tether has been instrumental in driving awareness around the transformative power of digital assets, and we look forward to continuing this journey towards making Lugano a blockchain epicenter in Europe.”

Ticketing details for the third Plan ₿ forum can be found at https://planb.lugano.ch/planb-forum