Bitcoin and its underlying blockchain technology have shown tremendous growth in 2015. Several leading investments banks and companies are investing in bitcoin-based start-ups. However, the level of interest among banks and tech companies regarding blockchain technology has been much more. Various initiatives such as the R3 blockchain consortium, Hyperledger suggest that banks are slowly embracing the technology.



“2015 became the “Year of the Blockchain” when legacy institutions such as banks and regulatory agencies began to understand the potential of the distributed ledger” - Bretton Woods White paper



2016 has taken off and is expected to bring much more for bitcoin and blockchain enthusiasts. The recently held World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2016 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, already saw bitcoin and blockchain technology as the hot topic with IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde presenting the paper entitled, “Virtual Currencies and Beyond: Initial Considerations” during the panel "Transformation of Finance".



Here is a look at the upcoming bitcoin and blockchain conferences scheduled for this year (some inputs taken from CoinDesk):



Santander Innoventures Distributed Ledger Challenge



Five of the most innovative companies in financial technology will compete for a $15,000 cash prize and the opportunity to partner with Santander. A panel of financial technology executives and venture capitalists will determine the winner at an exclusive event in New York City on January 27.



Bitcoin and Blockchain Leadership Forum



The meeting will be held on January 28 in London. The mandate of the forum is to help society navigate the impact of the shifts to come. It aims to help broader society navigate the transition to the future Bitcoin and Blockchain world by explaining the changes generated by major Bitcoin and Blockchain trends and the new possibilities in plain language and through engaging, accessible media, meetings, workshops, research services and working groups.



Blockchain in Capital Markets Operations



The conference is scheduled to take place in New York on 28th January. It will discuss the opportunities and challenges that the blockchain concept is now presenting to the industry.

The Block Chain Conference

The Block Chain Conference, produced by Lighthouse Partners, is scheduled to take place on February 10th, 2016 at the Mission Bay Conference Center, located on the UCSF Mission Bay Campus in San Francisco. It is expected to play an important role in accelerating the development and deployment of block chain-based approaches by global businesses, and highlighting relevant use cases for several vertical industries.



d10e



The conference will be held in Amsterdam, on 17th and 18th February. It seeks to unite “American and European entrepreneurs, investors, makers, and dreamers obsessed with everything from bitcoin and blockchains to 3D printing and drones”. In July, d10e will come to San Francisco for its 5th show exploring the future of decentralization.



Financial Cryptography and Data Security 2016



It is a major international forum for research, advanced development, education, exploration, and debate regarding information assurance, with a specific focus on commercial contexts. The conference covers all aspects of securing transactions and systems. The conference will take place in Barbados, from 22 to 26 February.



Disruptive Innovation: Blockchain

The Mankoff Company, a marketing consultancy, has announced its next Blockchain event – ‘Disruptive Innovation: Blockchain’ – to be held in Chicago on 24 February, 2016.



D.C. Blockchain Summit



The Chamber of Digital Commerce recently announced that the first D.C. Blockchain Summit will take place on March 3, 2016 at Georgetown University. The summit aims at providing the DC community, government, technologists, finance experts, nonprofits, and students a chance to explore opportunities and challenges surrounding blockchain technology in the nation's capital.



Bitcoin and Blockchain Africa Conference



Bitcoin Events will be hosting the Blockchain & Bitcoin Africa Conference 2016 in Johannesburg on the 3rd & 4th March 2016.



3rd Annual European Payment Forum



To be held in Amsterdam on 3rd and 4th March. Among other things, the forum will discuss Blockchain and ledger technology – how wide is adoption, unprecedented banking collaborations such as R3 initiative, use cases and much more.



Blockchain Conference San Francisco



To be held on March 7th. “Expect a day of inspiration, talks, panels, demos and plenty of time to engage with attendees and speakers”, the website reads. The conference will investigate the upcoming challenges and opportunities provided by bitcoin and the blockchain technology as well as their impact on the current social, economic and political order.



Coinfest 2016



It will commence on April 5–the rumored birthday of Satoshi Nakomoto–and conclude with the end of the weekend on Sunday April 10.



Bitcoin Conference Russia



Bitcoin Conference is going to be held in the country on April 8th 2016 at Digital October, Moscow, Bersenevskaya naberezhnaya, 6, str. 3, NewsBTC reported. Smile-Expo, a Moscow-based exhibition company, will be hosting the conference that hopes to attract participation from government representatives, financial experts, banking representatives, entrepreneurs, developers, investors, lawyers and others. It aims to discuss the future of Bitcoin and blockchain technology in Russia through constructive dialogues and debates.



Inside Bitcoins New York



Continuing the largest Bitcoin and Blockchain technology event series worldwide, Blockchain Agenda with Inside Bitcoins is heading to NYC April 11-12, 2016. Seminars will cover a range of topics, including bitcoin 2.0, institutional investing, blockchain based startups, and more.



Blockchain & Distributed Ledger Technology



American Conference Institute has developed its premiere National Forum on ‘Blockchain & Distributed Ledger Technology: Innovation, Operation and Legal & Regulatory Implications’. The first conference of its kind, it will bring together an unparalleled faculty of in-house counsel and compliance professionals, senior executives from industry-leading companies, high-level regulatory and enforcement officials, and top outside counsel who will provide you with the insights and tools necessary to navigate the legal, compliance, technical, operational and business hurdles arising from these new technologies. The conference will be held in New York, on April 13-14.



Quantech Conference



To be held in London on 20th and 21st April. It will discuss the various aspects of blockchain technology and the challenges and opportunities facing the finance industry due to the growing influence of new technologies.



Consensus 2016



CoinDesk will present its 2nd annual blockchain technology summit, Consensus 2016, in collaboration with Digital Currency Group (DCG), the blockchain industry’s most active investor, and Coin Center, the industry’s leading public policy research and advocacy center. This May 2-4, professionals from leading industry startups, investment firms, financial services institutions, academic and policy groups will congregate at the New York Marriott Marquis for Consensus 2016.