I leaned across the table, my voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone, “MicroStrategy’s entire business is just buying Bitcoin… selling stock or borrowing money at low rates to buy even more Bitcoin. It’s both ridiculous and ingenious,” I said, almost like I was revealing that Santa wasn’t real. The pleb I was talking to nodded in assured agreement.
“It’s genius,” he confirmed.
But let’s back up. I headed to Calgary with zero expectations and a ton of curiosity. One thing I did know? The man behind the Sat Market, Art, is an absolute gem. Funny, affable, and downright passionate about community building, Art is the kind of guy who makes you believe that Bitcoin could change the world. Back in July at the Vancouver Block Party, I promised Art I’d make it to the next Sat Market. And guess what? A week before the event, I found myself scrambling to make good on that promise. It was happening — if not for a bit of last minute ad-hoc details.
A real surprise came when I bumped into my buddy Roger at the airport. He was on a one-day layover from Nairobi , jet-lagged but still shining with enthusiasm as evidenced by his sleepy excitement to debate an old Mao quote.
If you don’t know Roger, he’s the author of Would Mao Hold Bitcoin?, a deep dive into China’s complex relationship with the digital currency. Seriously, read it.
Bitcoin Dinner, Laughter & Eritrean Beer
The Calgary Bitcoiner Christmas dinner was held near what I would guess is the entertainment district of Calgary, with quaint lights strewen across the street. At the venue I was met by the organizer Jeff who I immediately connected with by laughing over one of my favourite Bitcoin memes.
“Biiiiitconnnneeectttt!”
The group of locals I met were kind, friendly, and welcoming. I even sampled an imported beer from Eritrea — a small African nation. I’ve taught a ton of Eritrean students whose families fled to Canada, and their written language is so unique — I use Google Translate to communicate with them all the time! So getting a taste of Eritrean culture in the form of beer? In Calgary. At a Bitcoiner Christmas dinner? Total bonus.
And shout-out to Roger’s friend Alex who brought a bunch of Stacker News hats. Naturally, we convinced Roger to stack it on his semi-famous “Bitcoin Propaganda Dept” hat. The result? Laughter, camaraderie, and a photo that captured it all.
The Sat Market: A True Bitcoin Market
The Sat Market on Sunday exceeded every expectation I didn’t even know I had. Kids running around, friendly smiles everywhere, handshakes, high fives, and everyone paying with Sats (Micro-Bitcoin on the Lightning Network)!
It wasn’t just about Bitcoin. It was about people. Real people, with a shared mission, trading goods and building community. It’s one thing to conceptualize, but another to feel.
Jerky, art, books, 3D-printed goods, woodworks, massages, tea, bread, honey, candles, a Bitcoin ATM, silver, home repair services… and more! People were excited to use their Sats.
The vendor next to me raised money, real money, for the HRF with every purchase!
It felt like a farmer’s market but with Bitcoiners building the future.
And the giveaways? WILD. More than $6000CAD/0.038BTC swag was handed out to the crowd, thanks to the amazing BTC Sessions and Art. Check out the 100oz Silver bar I got to hold too! (Was not a give away, but a 10oz was!)
That’s about $4600CAD/0.0299BTC of silver.
A Heart Full of Sats
I arrived with no expectations. I left with new friends, great memories, and a full heart. Oh, and a Bitcoin cutting board and candle amongst a pile of other awesome goods! 😂 The real kicker? Just as Ben was snapping a photo of the cutting board as we were laughing at some inside joke, he received a message from none other than Jeff Booth himself, asking if Vancouver’s mayor, Ken Sim, could appear on the BTC Sessions YouTube channel.
Four days prior I met Ken and spoke at the Council meeting in support of his motion to make Vancouver a ‘Bitcoin Friendly’ city.
You can’t make this stuff up.
What a week. What an event.
The Sat Market is the Future.
As I reflect back, the Sat Market isn’t just a place. It’s the future of community. Where the value-for-value principle isn’t just a slogan we throw around on Nostr — it’s how people want to live. It’s the kind of organic, Bitcoin-powered community we need more of!
If you didn’t catch it already: this is how communities are built. Bitcoin isn’t just changing the financial system. It’s changing the way we connect, trade, and live.
Medium: https://medium.com/@codedshadowsinitiative/beyond-bitcoin-how-calgarys-sat-market-is-building-a-new-kind-of-community-c6ca1903b8b6
-JD