Learn about the origins of Sats âNâ Facts, the challenges of organizing Bitcoin-focused events across Asia, and how these efforts are shaping adoption across the region.
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quoting naddr1qvâŚjan4Bitcoin is redefining finance, and in AsiaâThailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and beyondâdevelopers, entrepreneurs, and communities are fueling this revolution. YakiHonne, a decentralized social payments app built on Nostr, sat down with Gio (Sats N Facts âĄđĽĽ (npub1yrnâŚk5cx)), a core member of Thailandâs Sats âNâ Facts community, to explore their mission of fostering open-source Bitcoin development. In this interview, Gio shares the origins of Sats âNâ Facts, the challenges of hosting Bitcoin-focused events in Asia, and how these efforts are shaping adoption across the region.
YakiHonne: Can you tell us about yourself and how Sats âNâ Facts came to life? What sparked your Bitcoin journey?
Gio: Iâm originally from Europe but have called Thailand home for six years. My Bitcoin story began while working at a commercial bank, where I saw the fiat systemâs flaws firsthandâthings like the Cantillon Effect, where money printing favors the connected few, felt deeply unfair. That discomfort led me to Andreas Antonopoulosâ videos, which opened my eyes to Bitcoinâs potential. After moving to Bangkok, I joined the open-source scene at BOB Space, collaborating with folks on tech projects.
Sats âNâ Facts grew out of that spirit. We wanted to create a Bitcoin-focused community to support developers and builders in Asia. Our recent conference in Chiang Mai brought together over 70 enthusiasts from Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and beyond, sparking collaborations like a new Lightning Network tool. It was a milestone in connecting the regionâs Bitcoin ecosystem.
YakiHonne: What inspired the Sats âNâ Facts conference, and how did you attract attendees?
Gio: The event was born from a desire to create a high-signal, low-noise space for Freedom Tech in Asia. While the U.S. and Europe host major Bitcoin events, Asiaâs scene is still emerging under commercial stunts. We aimed to bridge that gap, uniting developers, educators, and enthusiasts to discuss real innovationsâno altcoins, no corporate agendas. Our focus was on open-source projects like Bitcoin Core, Ark, Cashu, fostering conversations that could lead to tangible contributions.
Attracting attendees wasnât easy. We leveraged local networks, reaching out to Bitcoin communities in neighboring countries via Nostr and Telegram. Posts on X helped spread the word, and we saw developers from Laos join for the first time, which was thrilling. Sponsors like Fulgur Ventures, Utreexo, and the Bitcoin Development Kit Foundation played a huge role, covering costs so we could keep the event free and accessible.
YakiHonne: What challenges did you face organizing the conference in Asia?
Gio: It was a steep learning curve. Funding was the biggest hurdleâearly on, we struggled to cover venue and travel costs. Thankfully, our sponsors stepped in, letting me focus on logistics, which were no small feat either. As a first-time organizer, I underestimated the chaos of a tight timeline. Day one felt like herding cats without a fixed agenda, but the energy was electricâdevelopers debugging code together, newcomers asking big questions.
Another challenge was cultural. Bitcoinâs still niche in Asia, so convincing locals to attend took persistence; there was no local presence for some reason. Despite the hiccups, we pulled it off, hosting 60+ attendees and sparking ideas for new projects, like a Cashu wallet integration. Iâd tweak the planning next time, but the raw passion made it unforgettable.
YakiHonne: How does YakiHonneâs vision of decentralized social payments align with Sats âNâ Factsâ goals? Could tools like ours support your community?
Gio: Thatâs a great question. YakiHonneâs approachâmerging Nostrâs censorship-resistant communication with Lightning paymentsâfits perfectly with our mission to empower users through open tech. At Sats âNâ Facts, weâre all about tools that give people control, whether itâs code or money. An app like YakiHonne could streamline community funding, letting developers tip each other for contributions or crowdfund projects directly. Imagine a hackathon where winners get sats instantly via YakiHonneâitâd be a game-changer. Iâd love to see you guys at our next event to demo it!
YakiHonne: What advice would you give to someone starting a Bitcoin-focused community or event?
Gio: First, keep it Bitcoin-only. Stay true to the principlesâcut out distractions like altcoins or hype-driven schemes. Start small: host regular meetups, maybe five people at a cafĂŠ, and build trust over time. Consistency and authenticity beat flashiness in the medium and long term.
Second, involve technical folks. Developers bring credibility and clarity, explaining Bitcoinâs nuts and bolts in ways newcomers get. I admire how Andreas Antonopoulos bridges that gapâtechnical yet accessible. You need that foundation to grow a real community.
Finally, lean on existing networks. If you know someone running a Bitcoin meetup in another city, collaborate. Share ideas, speakers, or even livestreams. Nostrâs great for thisâour Laos attendees found us through a single post. Relationships are everything.
YakiHonne: Does Sats âNâ Facts focus more on Bitcoinâs technical side, non-technical side, or both?
Gio: We blend both. Our event had workshops for coders alongside talks for beginners on why Bitcoin matters. Open-source is our heartbeat, though. If youâre starting out, dive into projects like Bitcoin Core or Lightning. Review a pull request, test a Cashu wallet, or join a hackathon. One developer at our event built a Lightning micropayment tool thatâs now live on GitHub.
Thereâs no shortage of ways to contribute. Community calls, forums, residency programs, and platforms like Geyser Fund are goldmines. YakiHonne could amplify thisâimagine tipping developers for bug fixes via your app. Itâs about iterating until you create something real.
YakiHonne: Your work is inspiring, Gio. Sats âNâ Facts is uniting Asiaâs Bitcoin communities in a powerful way. Whatâs next for you?
Gio: Thanks for the kind words! Weâre just getting started. The Chiang Mai event showed whatâs possibleâconnecting developers across borders, reviewing and launching code and testing upcoming technologies. Next, weâre planning smaller hackathons and other events to keep the momentum going, maybe in Vietnam, Indonesia or Korea. Iâd love to integrate tools like YakiHonne to fund these efforts directly through Nostr payments. Long-term, we want Sats âNâ Facts to be a hub for Asiaâs Bitcoin builders, proving open-source can thrive here.
YakiHonne: Thank you, Gio, for sharing Sats âNâ Facts incredible journey. Your work is lighting a path for Bitcoin in Asia, and weâre honored to tell this story.
To our readers: Bitcoinâs future depends on communities like Sats âNâ Factsâand you can join the revolution. Download YakiHonne on Nostr to connect with builders, send Lightning payments, and explore the decentralized world. Follow Sats âNâ Facts for their next hackathon, and letâs build freedom tech together!
