Plan ₿ Forum is the major annual conference of the city of Lugano dedicated to the Bitcoin, blockchain technology and financial freedom issues, bringing together decision-makers, developers, entrepreneurs and enthusiasts. The event is organized as part of the municipal initiative Plan ₿ — an alliance between the City of Lugano and crypto industry players to encourage the use of Bitcoin in the local economy.
Ultimately, Lugano, a small town Swiss on the shores of an alpine lake, today acts as a melting pot: between the utopian ideal of free finance and municipal pragmatism, it tests a path towards the monetary future. The Plan ₿ Forum is more than a conference: it is a step towards the urbanization of Bitcoin.
Dates : October 24 & 25, 2025.
Location : Lugano Congress Center / Villa Ciani / Ex-Asilo Ciani — Piazza Indipendenza 4, Lugano, Switzerland.
Estimated times : from 09:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m. (UTC+1) both days.
Guests, speakers & programming
Expected speakers include well-known names in the Bitcoin ecosystem (e.g.: Elizabeth Stark from Lightning Labs, Adam Back from Blockstream, Saifedean Ammous, Samson Mow, Etc.).
The event offers:
- Keynotes on state adoption of Bitcoin, economic and social issues
- Panels discussion between experts, entrepreneurs and institutional actors
- Masterclasses, in-depth thematic workshops
- Exhibitions of startups and sponsors
- Bitcoin Gallery / Crypto Art
- 1:1 Networking Sessions, meetings with investors and project leaders.
In parallel, during Plan ₿ Week (from October 20 to 23, 2025), satellite events will take place, such as workshops, local meetups and moments of discovery of the crypto fabric of Lugano.
A “Spazio 21” section (October 24-25) includes free events in Italian, aimed at the local Italian-speaking community.
Another notable element: on October 24, a Run For Hal (5 km run) is scheduled at Villa Ciani Park to support the Hal Finney ALS Research Fund.
Prices & access
Tickets are available through the official platform. Here are some examples:
- Peer Ticket : basic rate at CHF 241,74.
- Combo Peer : combined version at a higher price of 299 CFH to also be able to attend the event which will be held in El Salvador (January 30-31, 2026).
- Cyberpunk Ticket : premium / VIP version (≈ 2,428.33 CHF).
Passes provide access to all keynotes, panels, masterclasses, exhibitions, and networking sessions. The VIP/Cyberpunk version includes additional privileges: dedicated reception, front-of-house seating, exclusive meals with speakers, access to the VIP lounge, and more.
Students can benefit from a preferential rate: the Peer pass is offered at 99 CHF (upon approval of a student certificate).
Please note: Tickets can be paid for in FIAT and cryptocurrencies, of course.
Typical sequence & highlights
Here is a typical structure (not exhaustive) of the process:
- Opening & Introductory Address
- Plenary Keynotes : major themes of Bitcoin, monetary future, sovereignty.
- Thematic panels : regulation, national adoption, technology
- Masterclasses / workshops in depth (eg: Lightning, security, DeFi)
- Exhibition periods : startups present their solutions, sponsor stands
- Crypto Art Gallery : artistic installations around the Bitcoin theme
- Networking & 1:1 meetings
- Side Events : Run For Hal race, “Spazio 21” sessions, local meetups
- VIP evenings, dinners with speakers (for premium tickets)
- Closure & future prospects
Each participant will thus be able to navigate between content dissemination, exchanges with peers, discovery of innovative projects and immersion in the logic of “living Bitcoin” within the organizing city.
Why participate — and things to know
Major interests
- Connect directly with influential figures in the Bitcoin world
- Discover emerging projects, new services, technical innovations
- Attend strategic debates on national adoption and monetary policies
- Testing concrete applications on site (crypto payments, local experiences)
- Using the Plan ₿ initiative as a testing ground: Lugano is an “urban laboratory” for crypto adoption.
Useful practices & tips
- Book your ticket early — VIP passes are limited.
- Check the refund and transfer conditions
- Plan accommodation in Lugano well in advance (high demand).
- Find out about crypto acceptance on site (shops, restaurants)
- Check the translations/languages of the conferences (English is the majority, but some events are in Italian)
- For students, quickly put together a proof file to obtain the reduced rate
- Keep an eye out for announcements of satellite sessions or surprise events during Plan ₿ Week
Useful sites for making your reservation:
- You can use a travel site like Travale or, BitcoinTravel to buy your plane ticket in cryptocurrency.
- You can also book and pay for your hotel on these same platforms.
- To get to Lugano, there is an airport or a train station if you want to get there from Milan for example or from Geneva.
