V4V Chicago 2026

A two-day Bitcoin gathering in Chicago built around food, music, freedom tech, local commerce, and real-world value exchange.
SEPTEMBER 14-15, 2026
PORTAGE PARK, CHICAGO
Hosted by Chicago Bitcoin Collective + Fork & Coin

What to expect

Bitcoin bodega launch

Dinner & Drinks

Live Music

Workshops & Education

Community

A Value for value experience

V4V Chicago is a two-day gathering for builders, creators, and freedom lovers in the Bitcoin community. Hosted by Chicago Bitcoin Collective and Fork & Coin, this event is build on the spirt of Value for Value.

We believe in exchanging value freely -- through time, talent, and tressure. V4V Chicago brings together the best of Bitcoin culture with workshops, music, great food, and a vibrant community.

What is value for value?

Value for Value (V4V) is an economic model that supports creators and communities by aligning incentives through direct value exchange. At V4V Chicago, we live it -- not just talk it.

EVENT Schedule

Monday Sept 14

Doors Open
2:00pm

Doors open for Full Stack ticket holders.

Introduction to Value for Value + V4V Chicago
2:30pm

Jon, Brady, and Kevin welcome everyone and introduce the Value for Value model behind V4V Chicago. Intro Talk · 30 min.

V4V — Food and Culture
3:00pm

Host Avi Burra · Panel: Chef Foise, Stephen Brass, RevHodl. Panel · 45 min.

V4V Music — Meet the Artists
3:45pm

Host Brandon Karpeles · Panel: Noa Grumen, Abel James, OpenMike. Panel · 45 min.

Bitcoin Bodega Intro
4:30pm

Jon, Brady, and Julio introduce the Bitcoin Bodega marketplace. Demo/Q&A · 30 min.

Dinner at Fork & Coin
5:00pm

Brass Family Farm beef, tallow fried Brussels, mashed potatoes, and parsnip. Bitcoin Bodega & Market action continues.

Doors at Avondale Music Hall
7:00pm

Bus departs F&C for Avondale Music Hall. Tier 1 guests board the charter bus; Tier 2 guests make their own way.

Bus Trip 2 to AMH
7:20pm

Second bus departs Fork & Coin for Avondale Music Hall.

Big G
7:30pm

Set until 8:10pm.

Abel James
8:25pm

Set until 9:00pm.

Scardust
9:15pm

Headline set.

DJ Set / End of Show
10:30pm

Tuesday Sept 15

Doors Open — Bitcoin Coffee, Light Breakfast
8:00am

Jon, Brady, Julio, Kevin. Food on the bar.

Intro for the Day — The V4V Freedom Tech Stack
9:00am

Jon. Talk · 15 min.

Open Protocols and Why Freedom Tech Matters Now
9:15am

Vitor Pamplona, NosFabrica. Keynote · 15 min.

The Mathematical Layer of Bitcoin Sovereignty
9:30am

Brian Hirschfield, Magic Internet Math Academy. Keynote · 15 min.

Bitcoin Self-Custody and Securing Payments in Practice
9:45am

Host: Kevin Pallikunnel · Panel: Keith Mukai (SeedSigner), Keith Gardner (Branta). Panel + Q&A · 30 min.

Introducing Wavelength — AI Meets the Lightning Network
10:15am

Hannah Rosenberg, Lightning Labs. Talk/Demo · 30 min.

Coffee / Snack Break
10:45am

Brainstorm — Your Personalized Web of Trust
11:00am

David Strayhorn, Avi Burra, Vitor Pamplona. Demo + Q&A · 30 min.

Building a Nostr-Based Marketplace
11:30am

Eric FJ, Conduit Marketplace.

Lunch Break — Bitcoin Bodega & Market Open
12:00pm

Burgers, beef tallow fries and chicken. Vendor tables, merch, and zap creators at the Bitcoin Bodega.

Parallel Workshops
1:00pm

Workshop area, afternoon — every 30 min from 1:00 PM. Running alongside the afternoon talks, downstairs between the Kitchen and the Courtyard.

1:00 PM — Paul — Mesh Networking

1:30 PM — Keith Mukai — SeedSigner

2:00 PM — Hannah Rosenberg — Wavelength

2:30 PM — David Strayhorn — Brainstorm

3:00 PM — Keith Gardner — Branta

3:30 PM — Phil Gomez — Fedi

Punk Solved Everything But the Money
1:30pm

Shadrach Smith, Archipelago Foundation. Talk + Q&A · 30 min.

The Nine Forms of Capital — A V4V Perspective
2:00pm

Rev.Hodl (Local Bitcoiners) · Reed. Talk + Q&A · 30 min.

Building Open Community and V4V Circular Economies
2:30pm

Host: Staci Costopoulos (Conduit Market) · Panel: Phil Gomez (Fedi). Panel · 30 min.

V4V in the $5T Healthcare Industry
3:00pm

Host: Jon Gordon · Panel: Ronnie Samuel (SOUND HSA), Dr. Victor Levitan. Panel · 30 min.

Bitcoin, Energy, AI and Compute
3:30pm

Host: Brandon Karpeles (TBC), HODL Tarantula (TBC). Fireside Chat · 30 min.

Happy Hour in the Courtyard — V4V Close
4:00pm

Fork & Coin Bar Remains Open
5:00pm

SPEAKERS

  • Jon Gordon - SOUND HSA / NosFabrica / Fork & Coin / CBC
  • Brady Pugliese - Fork & Coin / CBC
  • Keith Mukai- Seed Signer
  • Ronnie Samuel - SOUND HSA / Practice Pilot
  • Vitor Pamplona - Amethyst /Brainstorm
  • Phil Gomez - Fedi
  • Brandon Karpeles - Sovreign
  • RevHodl - Local Bitcoin
  • Avi Burra - Brainstorm / PlebChain Radio
  • Keith Gardner - Branta
  • OpenMike - Tunestr
  • Shadrach Smith - Archipelago Foundation
  • Eric FJ - Conduit
  • Hannah Rosenberg - Lightning Labs
  • Abel James - Artist
  • Brian - Magic Internet Math Academy

Bands & Artists

  • Big G
  • Abel James

Headlining Artist | Scardust

Ticket Options

Select your ticket options below.

CONCERT ONLY

$21

A simple way to join the live music portion of V4V Chicago
Includes:
  • Entry to the Monday live music experience

DINNER + CONCERT PASS

Monday

$90

For guests who want the full Monday evening experience
Includes:
  • Monday opening dinner at Fork & Coin
  • Monday live music experience
  • Transportation, if applicable
  • Access to the Bitcoin Bodega marketplace on Monday

FREEDOM TECH FORUM

Tuesday

$50

The complete V4V Chicago Experience
Includes:
  • Tuesday workshops
  • Tuesday lunch
  • Access to the Bitcoin Bodega marketplace on Tuesday

FULL STACK PASS

Monday / Tuesday

$121

The complete V4V Chicago Experience
Includes:
  • Monday opening dinner at Fork & Coin
  • Monday live music experience
  • Transportation, if applicable
  • Tuesday workshops
  • Tuesday lunch
  • Access to the Bitcoin Bodega marketplace
  • Full event programming
  • Limited Availability*
BITCOIN BODEGA

Shop directly with bitcoiners

A modern corner-store experience. The Bitcoin Bodega is an open marketplace for friendly businesses, artist, and creators to showcase and sell their goods and services to a like-minded community using the V4V model.

APPLY TO JOIN THE BODEGA
SponsorsHIPS

CURRENT SPONSORS

BECOME A SPONSOR

V4V Chicago is supported by companies, founders, and community partners who believe in building a real Bitcoin circular economy in Chicago.

BECOME A SPONSOR

Sponsorship opportunities are available for brands that want to support the event and connect with the CBC/Fork & Coin community.

Available sponsorship tiers include:

  • Title Sponsor
  • Supporting Sponsor
  • Bitcoin Bodega Sponsor
  • Community Sponsor
FAQ

Your questions, answered

Here are some common questions you might have. If you have further questions about the event, feel free to reach out to use at: info@forkandcoin.com

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