Bitcoin Works: We had it backwards
People first. Land later.
We tried to start with a place. The model says start with people and proof.
The arc so far
How it began
- Edinburgh meetups showed real interest
- We shaped a Bitcoin coworking concept
- I moved to Dubai and kept the UK crowd connected
What happened
- We did not open the space
- Lesson learned about order and leverage
Demand was real. Sequencing was off.
The simple idea from the Network State
Order matters
Start online with a clear mission
Build community around shared values and goals in the digital realm first
Coordinate small actions and show outcomes
Create momentum through visible wins and collaborative achievements
Touch land only when density makes it obvious
Physical spaces emerge naturally from established digital communities
Cloud first. Land when it multiplies the mission.
The land-first mistake that stopped us cold
Costs before community product market fit
We needed to commit significant financial resources before proving our model would work
Lease and legal risk before we had numbers
Long-term commitments created unnecessary exposure without sufficient user base
Too early to ask people to be in one city
Geographic restrictions limited our potential community before it could form naturally
Why online first unlocks momentum
Compounding upside
Global participation on day one
No geographic limitations means wider community and diverse perspectives.
Fast iteration on culture and tools
Digital-first approach allows for rapid testing and improvement cycles.
Tiny burn and lots of learning
Minimal financial overhead with maximum knowledge acquisition.
What participation will look like in the early stages
Agree to the Mission
Advance Bitcoin together as builders, contributors, and future builders.
Tiny weekly ritual
• 40-min peer Q&A check-in
• One member requests advice from 1-to-many members each week
• One member requests advice from 1-to-many members each week
Proof of Work
Members show commitment and contribution through:
- Weekly P2P check-in participation
- Quarterly collaborations started (sparked by group engagement)
- New member referrals
How it might evolve in the short term
1
10 mins a week
React, comment, post in the Signal group
For busy Bitcoiners working on multiple projects, but want to keep their network tight
2
40 mins a week
Join the weekly check-in
For those who want regular engagement without major commitment
3
One afternoon a month
Host a separate session online or in-person and share the results
Make a tangible impact with focused periodic contributions
4
Deeper track
Spin up a mini Fedimint or lightning node and share the runbook
For committed members ready to take leadership roles
Culture and community rails
How we behave
Give before you take
Contribute value to the community before seeking benefits; build a culture of generosity
Be kind and specific
Provide constructive feedback with respect and actionable details
Teach what you learn
Share insights and expertise to elevate everyone's understanding
Ship small, then ship again
Focus on incremental progress rather than perfect but delayed solutions
Privacy by default and transparent results
Protect individual information while celebrating collective achievements
In-person, light and optional
Tiny gatherings that complement the online loop
Monthly synced coffees
- One hour, same day across cities
- Bring one newcomer, share one show-and-tell
Proof: group photo, 3-bullet recap, next date set
Adopt-a-merchant (pairs)
- Two people, 45 minutes max
- One-page merchant handout from e.g. Musqet
- Return in 30 days to see if they actioned it
Proof: deal status update, selfie with new PoS
Show-and-tell nights
- Piggyback on an existing meetup or host in a café
- Three five-minute demos, short Q&A
Proof: links to demos, issues opened, sats zapped
How this evolves over time
Long-term vision
1
Year 1
Online society with real output
Build a cohesive digital community that produces tangible value through collaboration
2
Year 2
Network union that can deliver on demand
Develop capacity to mobilize resources collectively for targeted Bitcoin initiatives
3
Year 3 and beyond
Pop-up labs where density already exists
Create temporary physical spaces in locations with established community presence
4
Land later
Only when it multiplies impact
Establish permanent locations strategically to maximize community effectiveness
