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The Bitcoin Policy Institute is planting its flag in the nation’s capital with a new event designed to sit squarely at the intersection of technology and governance. Freedom Tech DC 2026, a two-day summit scheduled for September 22-23 in Washington, DC, will gather policymakers, technologists, investors, and academics under one roof to hash out the future of money, speech, and artificial intelligence.
The event builds on BPI’s prior Bitcoin Policy Summits but expands the aperture considerably, folding in topics like energy infrastructure, compute buildouts, and censorship resistance.
What the summit actually looks like
The main programming runs across two days at the National Press Club. Sessions will cover themes including maintaining access to advanced systems, energy and compute infrastructure, and the broader question of how free societies should govern emerging technologies.
Beyond the daytime programming, BPI has planned a black-tie gala and a closing party at PubKey DC, the Washington outpost of New York’s Bitcoin-themed bar.
An optional “Day on the Hill” on September 24 at the US Capitol will give attendees the opportunity to engage directly with lawmakers.
BPI’s broader policy push
On May 18, 2026, the institute published a report examining foreign influence on US artificial intelligence infrastructure. The timing was notable, landing amid ongoing congressional debates about supply chain security and the geopolitics of semiconductor manufacturing.
On June 17, BPI hosted a podcast featuring Congressman Nick Begich discussing potential strategic uses of Bitcoin by the US government, including strategic Bitcoin reserves.
BPI describes its approach as non-partisan, and the organization has been careful to frame its work around principles like openness and access rather than partisan political positions.
What this means for the Bitcoin policy landscape
The inclusion of AI and energy infrastructure topics alongside traditional Bitcoin policy discussions reflects a maturing strategy. BPI appears to be betting that Bitcoin’s long-term policy prospects improve when it’s positioned as part of a broader technology stack rather than treated as an isolated financial instrument.
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