Santa Monica Introduces Bitcoin Office and Upcoming Festival

Santa Monica, located in California’s Silicon Beach, is taking steps to integrate Bitcoin into its community with the support of a nonprofit focused on workforce education.

Establishment of the Bitcoin Office

The City of Santa Monica has established a Bitcoin Office to educate the public, recognize economic opportunities, and strengthen its reputation as a center for Bitcoin innovation. This initiative is in collaboration with Proof of Workforce, a nonprofit aimed at advancing Bitcoin education among workers, unions, and pension plans.

The Santa Monica City Council unanimously approved the creation of the office on July 11. The official webpage for the office was launched on August 8. While the site currently lacks detailed initiatives, the city plans to host a Bitcoin-themed festival in October.

Focus on Education and Collaboration

The Bitcoin Office is described as an educational initiative that seeks to coordinate efforts through the Proof of Workforce Foundation. The foundation emphasizes a disclaimer on its website, advising visitors of the inherent risks associated with cryptocurrency investments.

“In addition to providing education, the Bitcoin Office’s mission is also focused on identifying and facilitating Bitcoin industry partnerships that actively support Santa Monica’s economic recovery and cultivate new employment opportunities.”

Founded in 2023 by Dominick Bei, a Santa Monica firefighter and former union president, the Proof of Workforce Foundation is classified as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit. Its mission is to help unions, workers, and organizations explore how Bitcoin can contribute to their goals. Notably, the nonprofit does not disclose its donors and is not charging the city for its services.

Reviving the Bitcoin Festival

Santa Monica is also reviving the Bitcoin Peer to Pier Festival, taking place on October 18. This festival appears to be a response to the cancellation of a previously planned event by Swan Bitcoin. On August 5, Swan announced that it would no longer hold its Pacific Bitcoin Festival due to organizational changes.

The two-day event originally organized by Swan will be substituted with this reimagined festival on October 18, which aims to engage the local community in the Bitcoin space.