I would like to invite you and all your friends and colleagues to attend the Puerto Rico Blockchain Association’s “HODL Here” conference:
When: Monday, Dec 6th
Where: Vivo Beach Club
Cost: $400
Time: 8:30AM-5:30PM
Register for the conference here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/puerto-rico-hodl-here-tickets-165373638003
About: The purpose of the conference is to build community and awareness about the incredible Web3 opportunities happening in Puerto Rico. We are changing the narrative about the Island both locally and internationally. Puerto Rico is more than tax incentives, it is one the fastest growing knowledge sharing economies in the world. The Puerto Rico Blockchain Trade Association is focused on blending the native community with the newly arrived one to help the island build a sustainable economy. This conference is about sharing that vision and bringing companies, individuals, and government officials (new and native) together. We are inviting everyone and anyone who is interested in being part of a movement to help Puerto Rico prosper.
Below is the tentative schedule:
Monday
8:00-8:30am: Breakfast
8:30-8:35am: Welcome Remarks
8:35-8:45am: Speaker
8:47-9:20am: Why Puerto Rico?
Purpose: Introduction to PR and opportunities and spotlighting why people came back and have moved here
Moderator: Alana Mediavilla, Filmkik
Panelist: Erika Medina-Vecchini Endeavor PR
Panelist: Ella Woger Nieves, Invest PR
Panelist: David Johnston, DLTx
9:22-9:35am Speaker: Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC), "Puerto Rico's Path Towards Competitiveness"
Humberto Mercader, Assistant Secretary for Strategy and Policy
Carlos Fontan, Director of the Office of Incentives
9:40-10:10am: Let’s Talk Tax
Purpose: Explaining Act 20/22/60 and how it works
Moderator: Giovanni Mendez, GEO Tax
Panelist: Juan Carlos Stoleberg, Stoleberg Law
Panelist: Martin Parillo, Parillo Law
Panelist: Jeanelle Alemar, Jae Law
10:15-10:30: COFFEE BREAK
10:35-10:45am: Speaker
10:50-11:20: Building PR Community Through Blockchain
Purpose: How companies are building community on the island
Moderator: Scott Walker, Co-Chair PR Blockchain Trade Association
Panelist: Medha Parlikar, CasperLabs
Panelist: Tim Lewis, DEVxDAO
Panelist Max Howell, Tea, inc.
11:25-11:50 Becoming CryptoCurious
Purpose: Crypto’s impact on the everyday lives of Puerto Ricans
Moderator: Juan Carlos Pedreira, SBH Digital
Panelist: Luis Pomales, Vanderbilt Hotel
Panelist: Shirley McPhaul-Castro, PR Science, Technology and Research Trust
Panelist: Giomar Alvera, Uber
11:55pm-12:05pm Ben DiScipio, BLOOM
12:05-12:55pm: BLOOM Sponsored Lunch
1:00-1:20pm Speaker Andrew Keys, DARMA "The Future of the Internet & Global Economy"
1:22:-1:55pm: Government Regulation of Crypto
Moderator: Dan Spuller, Blockchain Association
Panelist Cleve Meisdor, Blockchain Association
2:00-2:30 Social Media & Blockchain with Frances Haugen
Hosted by Michael Terpin, Transform Group
2:35-3:30 Keynote Fireside with Hester Pierce
Hosted by James Haft, DLTx
3:30-5:30 Networking Pig Roast hosted by DEVxDAO
Additionally, beginning at 8PM, there is free PR Blockchain Week Kickoff party. Register for the party here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pr-blockchain-week-kick-off-party-tickets-215936641307
About the Puerto Rico Blockchain Trade Association:
The Puerto Rico Blockchain Trade Association (the Association) was established to build an inclusive cryptocommunity and propel Puerto Rico to the forefront of blockchain innovation. Be you a day trader or just cryptocurious, native or newly arrived, start-up or established corporation, this association is for everyone on the island.
We envision Puerto Rico as the destination for technology entrepreneurship and blockchain initiatives. Puerto Rico has demonstrated its commitment to spurring economic development, attracting new talent and business, and positioning the island as a leader in the cryptocurrency space by implementing Act 20/22/60. We want to build on that progress with three initiatives: community, education, and advocacy.
Community. “Together, we rise” is not just a tagline, but our guidepost. We are passionate about creating inclusivity and making crypto accessible to everyone. To that end, we are working with non-profits and partnering with local groups to share knowledge about blockchain and crypto.
Education. Our goal is to help build a local talent pipeline, ensuring Puerto Ricans have both the skills and opportunity to compete for future blockchain jobs on the island. Growing the knowledge economy is critical which is why we created “CryptoCurious” a free weekly workshop in Spanish designed specifically for locals on how the technology is relevant to them. In just two months, we have had over 350 native Puerto Ricans participate.
Advocacy. As blockchain and crypto continue to make remarkable growth, the first cities, states, and countries to make the adoption will emerge as both leaders and hubs for massive economic development opportunities. The Association’s goal is twofold: (1) protect Act 60 by demonstrating its value to the island; and (2) educate lawmakers, participate in regulatory discussions, and write commonsense legislation that will attract companies, talent and create new tech jobs to the island.
Keiko Yoshino, Executive Director
Keiko is focused on building an inclusive community and advancing a crypto-regulatory framework for Puerto Rico. She is an experienced public policy attorney and lobbyist from Washington, D.C. where she previously served as Legislative Director to both a City Councilmember and the Deputy Mayor of Planning and Economic Development.
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