The Bitcoin Foundation will host Bitcoin 2013: The Future of Payments, the first major US summit entirely focused on Bitcoin and its growing impact on the payments landscape. More than 500 attendees are expected to convene in San Jose, California, to address key issues and best practices toward driving widespread user adoption by both businesses and consumers. The conference will also concurrently host a live hackathon, judged by venture capitalists in the payments space.

Bitcoin 2013 comes at a crucial time as Bitcoin continues to gain momentum toward establishing itself as a viable alternative in the payments landscape; it achieved all-time highs in transaction volume and new entrants in recent weeks.

“We are excited to be hosting industry leading Venture Capitalists, key technologists in and outside of Bitcoin, and top-tier regulatory thinkers at Bitcoin 2013,” said Peter Vessenes, Chairman and Executive Director of the Bitcoin Foundation.

“Bitcoin is a fundamental protocol for money over the Internet, and we are only beginning to glimpse its importance. Bitcoin 2013 brings together a wide assortment of incredible people, and we’re excited to see what they have to say.. A new Bitcoin company will get funded at the Hackathon, and we will even have a Bitcoin-themed cocktail at our kickoff night.”

Bitcoin 2013 sold out its exhibitor space this month, and has a few sponsorships left, according to Vessenes. The conference will offer in-depth overview of Bitcoin for novices and experts alike. Industry leaders from across the payments, technology, and regulatory space will come together to discuss topics ranging from “Improving Ease of Use” and “Bitcoin Security” to “Fraud Prevention” and “Issues of Regulatory Compliance.”

Registration for Bitcoin 2013: Future of Payments is open, and the full schedule of panels, topics, presenters, and speakers can be found by visiting http://www.bitcoin2013.com/.

About Bitcoin

Launched in January 2009, Bitcoin is a decentralized peer-to-peer payment system, entirely regulated by its users. Whereas legacy payment systems rely on third-party intermediaries for access, execution, and management, Bitcoin transactions are secured through a distributed computing network, seamlessly enabling direct monetary transactions. The supply of Bitcoins is regulated by software and cannot be manipulated by any government, bank, organization or individual. There have been more than 11 million Bitcoins created to date, with 21 million maximum possible. Visit bitcoin.org for more information.

About Bitcoin Foundation

The Bitcoin Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded to standardize, protect and promote Bitcoin cryptographic money for the benefit of users worldwide.