In the mid 2010s, Tokyo was home to one of the world’s most active international Bitcoin communities.

Developers, entrepreneurs, hackers, and early adopters gathered every week. Some participants went on to lead major global companies and projects, while others built infrastructure that remains important to Bitcoin today. For better or worse, with events including the rise and collapse of Mt. Gox, Tokyo became one of the key cities in Bitcoin’s early history.

NOT A MEETUP is an attempt to bring that energy back reimagined for Tokyo in the 2020s.

Today, powerful technology companies are becoming increasingly intertwined with governments, finance, and surveillance infrastructure. Technology that was once expected to liberate individuals is often used instead to strengthen large platforms and institutions.

Open and decentralized technologies such as Bitcoin and Nostr point in another direction.

This event is not only about introducing new technology. It is about returning power to individuals and exploring the ideas, music, art, and independent culture surrounding that goal.

After the talks, the night continues with music, drinks, and open networking.

On my podcast ‘Bitcoin for Millennials’ I talked with Roberto Rios (aka Peruvian Bull), a macro analyst who examines the structural breakdown of the global monetary system and Bitcoin's emerging role as a neutral reserve asset.

We discuss Japan as the canary in the coal mine, BOJ interventions and the yen carry trade, how Japan transmits stress into US Treasuries and global liquidity, AI-driven layoffs as an inflation catalyst through deficits, and yield curve control as the late-stage fiat move that boosts Bitcoin.