Bitcoin Medellín: Education, Community, and Latin America’s Growing Bitcoin Movement
A Conversation with Rainer Michael Preiss
Medellín has become a meeting point. For travelers, builders, and increasingly for ideas. Last year, Bitcoin Medellín proved that a serious conversation about money can happen here, without noise or speculation. It also revealed something important: a growing Colombian audience saying, “I’ve heard about Bitcoin, and I want to understand it properly.” This conversation starts there.
Janusz: Medellín. A city often described through magical realism, but also very real, very alive, very dynamic. It’s a place where people meet, talk, and build things. And something interesting started here last year. Now we are coming back with another iteration. Before we even talk about Bitcoin, tell me what really happened here.
Rainer: Last year was the first time we did Bitcoin Medellín. Honestly, it was a first year, so we didn’t know exactly what to expect. We were figuring things out as we went. But people showed up. Speakers came. Attendees stayed, talked, and connected. It wasn’t just about talks. It was about people meeting people. We have an incredible lineup for next year. And so many people had a great experience this past January. And I think our name is getting out there that Bitcoin Medellín is a really good conference. It’s small, it’s close knit, you can get to know the speakers, you can get to know the other attendees.
Janusz: And what was interesting is that it didn’t stay local in a narrow sense. A local event in Medellín suddenly attracted people from outside the city, outside the country, even outside the region.
Rainer: Yes. For a first year, that was actually a big success. We had people coming from many countries. From Latin America, from the US, from Europe. It showed that Medellín can be a meeting point. People are willing to travel here not just for tourism, but to have conversations and build community. The cool thing is it’s very easy to go to Medellín and Colombia because the city has so much to offer. So people are excited to go to a Bitcoin conference, but also just as excited to go to Medellín and Colombia.
Janusz: At the same time, there was already a Colombian audience in the room.
Rainer: Yes. Maybe around a quarter of the attendees were Spanish speaking and locals from Latin America. That was important. It showed us that there is real local curiosity. People saying, “I’ve heard about Bitcoin, but I want to understand it properly.” And now we’re getting more Spanish speakers to come, more Colombians to come. I think that’s the most exciting for me this year.
Janusz: So the first year proved two things at once.
Rainer: Exactly. First, that the event resonates beyond one city or one country. And second, that there is a Colombian and Latin American community that wants education, not hype.
Janusz: And that naturally sets the direction forward.
Rainer: Yes. One of the biggest focuses this year is having more Spanish speakers and more Spanish panels. More resources for locals. The whole point of this conference is to grow the local economy and teach people about Bitcoin in a solid way. We’re partnering with Paystand. They’re one of our main sponsors and partners this year. Alexandra, who is part of the Paystand executive team, she is from Colombia. So she is putting together a women’s brunch, a VIP dinner. She’s getting together local Colombian news publications, Colombian social media influencers. So it’s really exciting to see the Colombian Bitcoiners participate and also help us out to show their country, their city.
Janusz: Many people here have heard about crypto. Some made money, some lost money. Some associate it with gambling. When you talk about education, what do you really mean?
Rainer: Right now, there is a big crypto market, but not enough education. People are gambling on altcoins without understanding what they are doing. Education means starting from the basics. What is money. Why inflation matters. Why saving is hard. Then explaining Bitcoin calmly, without pressure. It’s not only money. I think being a digital nomad since 2018, almost seven years now, I saw all the wealth gap around the world, all the places that I’ve been to, and I always thought why is it that Americans and people that own real estate and stocks in America only have access to this type of financial freedom. I said that’s not fair.
Janusz: So it’s not about convincing anyone.
Rainer: No. It’s about understanding. People can decide for themselves. That’s why we focus on education and community building, not speculation. Bitcoin is hope, but it truly is. When you look at these emerging markets, especially Colombia and other countries in LATAM, this is the way out of the financial system where you’re not going to be restricted. You look at Venezuela, you look at Lebanon, you look at Argentina, you look at all of these countries that have suffered from these traditional finance systems. This is the one and only time in history that the people, the masses, can control their own destiny and financial freedom.
Janusz: Let’s talk about Medellín itself. You’ve lived in many places. Why does this city work so well for something like this?
Rainer: Medellín has something special. It’s international, but it still feels very human. People are open. Conversations happen easily. You meet people in random places. There’s a strong sense of community here. That’s why digital nomads, entrepreneurs, and locals connect so well. The city is really cool. The weather is awesome. It’s an ex-pat and digital nomad hub already.
Janusz: I had a similar feeling. At some point, you realize you’re just happy here. Not excited. Just happy walking the street, going to salsa, meeting friends.
Rainer: Yes, exactly. It’s not about saying it’s the best city in the world. But it’s a mix of things that pushes you forward. It inspires you. You grow here. We’re going to have a lot of fun, some salsa, some bachata, some dancing, some exploring.
Janusz: Last year, one thing that stood out was the diversity of people. Not just hardcore Bitcoiners, but women, families, people from different backgrounds.
Rainer: That was important for us. Education without women doesn’t work. Women shape families and communities. That’s why this year we’re doing a Women in Bitcoin event, a brunch, and more spaces where people can learn comfortably and ask questions.
Janusz: You’re very personally involved in this. You could do many other things. Why take this on?
Rainer: Because I live here and I want to give back. Also, last year changed me. Seeing Colombians curious, asking questions, and seeing international speakers listening instead of preaching. That showed me this matters. Honestly for me, last year, I think I told you the story. So I’m not the founder. John McGraw and his wife Liz, they’re the founders. They’re from Florida. They run basketball tournaments across the United States. And they were the ones to put Bitcoin Medellín together. And one of my friends from London, he said, “Hey, there’s this Bitcoin conference in Medellín. I know you’ve lived there for about five years now. You should go volunteer and help out.” And I thought, as a Bitcoiner, as someone living in Medellín in Colombia for a long time now, I would love to give back to the community. Both the Colombian community that has helped me live here and grow and enjoy over the last five years, but also the Bitcoin community.
Janusz: You come from traditional business and finance. How do you talk about Bitcoin without it sounding like marketing?
Rainer: By not selling it. I just share information. This is knowledge. Take it or leave it. No pressure.
Janusz: If someone from Medellín walks into this event for the first time, with no background, what should they expect?
Rainer: They should expect normal people. Talks in Spanish. Clear explanations. A place where you can ask basic questions or just listen. It’s not a closed club. It’s about learning.
Janusz: Give me one sentence that captures the idea.
Rainer: Bitcoin Medellín is an educational event in Medellín, focused on Spanish language and local communities, open to anyone who wants to understand Bitcoin and money better.
Janusz: Last thing. We still need one real moment from last year. One scene that shows why this matters.
Rainer: Yes. A real local voice. Someone who came curious and left with a different understanding. That kind of moment is why we are doing this again, and why this year goes even deeper into education for Colombians. Thank you so much. I’m going to see you in January. Take care. See you soon.
About Bitcoin Medellín
Bitcoin Medellín is an annual educational conference held in Medellín, Colombia, bringing together the international Bitcoin community with local Latin American audiences. The conference focuses on education, community building, and making Bitcoin accessible to Spanish-speaking communities. With a strong emphasis on real understanding over speculation, the event creates space for meaningful conversations about money, financial freedom, and Bitcoin’s role in emerging markets.
For more information, visit Bitcoin Medellín.