Walking into Bedford's Corn Exchange with an open mind, I left feeling like I'd been handed a question I couldn't ignore.

— the self-described 'largest international Bitcoin event in the world' — brought speakers, campaigners, economists, politicians and entrepreneurs from all over to our town

Walking into Bedford’s Corn Exchange with an open mind, I left feeling like I’d been handed a question I couldn’t ignore.

CheatCode 2025 — the self-described ‘largest international Bitcoin event in the world’ — brought speakers, campaigners, economists, politicians and entrepreneurs from all over to our town, but why?

While the posters said Bitcoin, the real theme of the event was far more grounded: freedom, opportunity, and fixing the things we’ve been told can’t be fixed.

As a journalist, I’ve covered many events. But few have brought together such a diverse and passionate group of people. Some had been involved in Bitcoin since the early days, others were brand new.

Some were cautious, some all in. But what united them was a shared curiosity: what if money worked differently? What if financial freedom wasn’t just a privilege for the lucky few?

The human rights campaigners stood out most, and I’ll remember them for a long time.

In two panels, chaired by Alex Gladstein of the Human Rights Foundation, speakers from Palestine, Venezuela, Bolivia, Russia and Rwanda shared how Bitcoin had become a tool for survival.

Not for speculation, not for memes, not for billionaires — but for getting food, medicine, and donations where governments and banks had failed, or actively blocked them.

Carine Kanimba, daughter of Paul Rusesabagina (of Hotel Rwanda fame), explained how her family faced intimidation, asset freezes and surveillance. In that moment, Bitcoin wasn’t abstract or intangible, it does have a real-world impact.

It was a lifeline.

Leopoldo López, the former Mayor of Caracas, told the audience, “We’ve had 20,000% inflation… a backpack full of notes to buy a sandwich.” He said Bitcoin was “not a slogan. It’s real. We’ve helped tens of thousands of people this way.”

It was an incredibly moving, sobering, and perspective-altering hour.

What is crypto? Bitcoin, the rest, and why they’re not the same

Bitcoin was created by an anonymous person or group using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009, and it was the first decentralised digital currency, an alternative to traditional, government-controlled money.

It’s limited in supply (only 21 million will ever exist) and operates on a peer-to-peer network without a central authority.

Supporters believe it offers financial sovereignty, censorship resistance, and long-term value like “digital gold.” The Winkelvoss Twins call it “Gold 2.0”.

The term crypto is often used to describe the broader ecosystem of digital currencies and blockchain-based projects. However, many Bitcoin advocates draw a clear distinction between Bitcoin and the rest.

So-called ‘shitcoins’ are a tongue-in-cheek label for the thousands of other cryptocurrencies that have emerged — some experimental, some fraudulent, many with short lifespans, and most with an unlimited supply to make the person who created them as much money as possible.

While a few offer genuine innovation, most lack Bitcoin’s security, decentralisation, or purpose. For Bitcoiners, lumping it all together under ‘crypto’ can be misleading—like comparing the entire Internet with every single website ever made, regardless of quality or purpose.

Investing in Bedford

The range of speakers throughout the day was also impressive. Peter McCormack’s opening remarks made it clear that this wasn’t just about tech or money—it was about building something better, starting with local action. Real Bedford—his club—is a symbol of that.

The Bedford Future Fund, helping young people with talent but no money, is another.

So too is the growth of local Bitcoin acceptance in town centre businesses. Twelve now accept it, from coffee shops to clothing stores, not just for novelty but also because it saves fees, improves speed, and gives access to new customers.

The Fireside Chat with the Winklevoss twins — Cameron and Tyler — added further insight into why investors are looking to put money into Real Bedford. They weren’t here to speculate on price or pitch crypto projects.

Their $4.5m investment in Real Bedford is long-term, focused on football success and community impact, including the women’s team and youth support. “We think Real Bedford will grow 10x,” they said, “if not more.”

The energy and optimism in the room were palpable. But so too were the tensions.

Conspiratorial crap

While there was a strong sense of hope and collaboration, some moments gave me pause. The Fireside Chat with Liz Truss — the UK’s shortest-serving Prime Minister — felt jarring.

Her constant references to “the deep state”, a supposed