JAIPUR, INDIA | October 24, 2026 — Bitmela Edition 01 is set to take place on October 30–31, 2026, at InterContinental Jaipur Tonk Road by IHG, bringing together Bitcoin enthusiasts, technology founders, AI innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, developers and industry professionals for two days of learning, discussions and community experiences.
Presented by its organizers as India's first Bitcoin festival, Bitmela aims to make conversations about money, technology and financial independence more accessible. The event takes a different approach to a traditional conference by combining expert discussions and practical learning with the atmosphere of an Indian mela, including food, entertainment, networking and community activities.
Under the theme "See Money Like You've Never Seen It Before," the inaugural edition will explore how Bitcoin, artificial intelligence, digital payments and entrepreneurship are influencing the way people understand, manage and interact with money.
The programme is designed for both experienced industry participants and newcomers who want to better understand emerging financial technologies without needing a technical background.
Bitmela Edition 01: Exploring Bitcoin, Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Money
Financial technology is changing how individuals and businesses save, spend, invest and make payments. At the same time, artificial intelligence is creating new possibilities for automation, decision-making and digital services.
Bitmela 2026 will bring these conversations together, encouraging participants to examine the opportunities, challenges and practical implications of new technologies.
Rather than limiting discussions to market trends or cryptocurrency prices, the festival will explore broader questions about financial freedom, privacy, digital ownership, responsible technology adoption and the role of money in everyday life.
Topics will include Bitcoin fundamentals, self-custody, financial education, digital payments, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, privacy, regulation and open-source development.
By connecting these subjects through accessible conversations and hands-on activities, Bitmela hopes to help participants develop a clearer understanding of the evolving financial landscape.
Global Industry Leaders and Innovators to Speak at Bitmela 2026
The festival will feature founders, technology developers, legal experts, entrepreneurs and educators working across Bitcoin, artificial intelligence and financial services.
Among the announced speakers is Vik Sharma, Founder of Cake Wallet, who brings experience in self-custody and privacy-focused financial technology. Seth for Privacy, Chief Operating Officer at Cake Wallet, will also participate in discussions examining the relationship between artificial intelligence, business operations and privacy.
Prasanna Sankar, Founder of Vorflux and Co-founder of Rippling, will discuss the potential economic and technological impact of artificial intelligence in his session, "Will AI Bring Back the Roaring Twenties?"
The legal and regulatory conversation will include Dr. Nishith Desai, Founder of Nishith Desai Associates, alongside Suril Desai and Harish BV, Co-founder and COO of Unocoin. Their scheduled discussion will revisit the legal developments surrounding cryptocurrency banking in India.
Other announced participants include Freddie New of BHODL, Kashif Raza, Founder of Bitinning, Manoj Arora, an author and financial freedom coach, and Ravi Handa, Founder of Handa Uncle.
The wider speaker programme also includes voices from Bitcoin communities, technology startups, payment platforms and financial education initiatives.
Together, these perspectives will connect international developments with India's own evolving relationship with Bitcoin, AI and digital finance.
Day One: Understanding Money, Bitcoin and the Impact of AI
The opening day on October 30 will focus on helping participants understand the technological and financial developments influencing businesses and individuals.
The programme will begin with an interactive discussion about how people perceive money, followed by a welcome session introducing the festival's wider objectives.
A session titled "Is Bitcoin Legal in India?" will address questions about the country's regulatory environment, including legal ownership and taxation.
Artificial intelligence will feature in discussions examining its possible economic impact and the practical consequences of integrating AI into business operations.
Other sessions will consider early retirement, financial independence, investment readiness and lessons from emerging digital payment ecosystems.
The programme will also explore what India can learn from African markets, where technology-led financial solutions have developed in response to local payment and accessibility challenges.
Alongside the main-stage discussions, participants can attend introductory Bitcoin sessions and practical workshops covering self-custody, digital privacy and wallet technology.
A dedicated developer activity will focus on building applications for Passport Prime, bringing a hands-on technical element to the conference.
Bitmela Launchpad: Turning Ideas Into Working Solutions
One of the festival's central innovation activities is the Bitmela Launchpad Ideathon, designed to encourage practical ideas at the intersection of Bitcoin, digital payments and artificial intelligence.
The initiative focuses on three development tracks: Bitcoin, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and agentic payments.
These areas reflect emerging opportunities in payment infrastructure, financial security and intelligent systems capable of performing transactions.
The programme selected five finalist teams for a four-week mentorship process, helping participants develop their ideas into working concepts and prepare for live presentations.
The finalists are scheduled to pitch their solutions on the Bitmela main stage on October 30, with winners expected to be announced the following day.
The organizers have advertised a prize pool starting at ₹2,00,000, alongside mentorship, exposure to industry professionals and opportunities to demonstrate working prototypes.
Although applications for this edition have closed, the Launchpad presentations will give festival attendees an opportunity to see how emerging financial technologies can be developed into practical products.
Day Two: Bitcoin Adoption, Digital Trust and Real-World Applications
The second day, October 31, will continue with discussions exploring Bitcoin adoption, financial infrastructure and its wider economic implications.
The programme will examine public attitudes toward Bitcoin in India, the potential role of Bitcoin mining in emerging markets and the regulatory developments influencing the country's cryptocurrency industry.
International speakers will share experiences from different financial environments, highlighting how local economic conditions can shape attitudes toward money, savings and digital payment alternatives.
Sessions will also explore Bitcoin's use in everyday transactions and its potential role in supporting more accessible financial services.
For developers and entrepreneurs, the Bitshala Stage will feature discussions on open-source participation, self-custody, Bitcoin community development, startup building and educational initiatives.
Product demonstrations will provide an opportunity to explore applications and tools being developed across the Bitcoin ecosystem.
Select small-group sessions will also examine artificial intelligence and Bitcoin mining investment, subject to the festival's access and capacity requirements.
Through these discussions, Bitmela aims to connect the technical foundations of Bitcoin with the practical questions facing users, businesses and developers.
Beyond the Conference: Gala Night, Entertainment and the Mela Experience
Bitmela's festival format is designed to make the experience more social and approachable than a conventional industry conference.
The first evening will feature a Gala Night hosted as Cake Wallet's launch party, giving eligible pass holders an opportunity to connect with speakers, founders and fellow attendees in a more informal setting.
On October 31, the experience will extend to the outdoor festival grounds, where attendees can enjoy food stalls, games, market activities and entertainment.
A comedy show is also scheduled as part of the second day's programme, followed by an evening celebration.
These activities reflect the event's approach to community building, creating opportunities for participants to continue conversations beyond formal presentations.
The combination of conference sessions, practical workshops and cultural experiences is intended to encourage connections between people with different levels of experience and professional backgrounds.
Connecting India's Bitcoin and AI Communities
India's expanding technology and startup ecosystem provides an important setting for discussions about Bitcoin, artificial intelligence and digital financial services.
As businesses explore automation and new payment technologies, professionals increasingly need opportunities to understand both the possibilities and limitations of emerging systems.
Bitmela seeks to contribute to that conversation by bringing developers, entrepreneurs, investors, educators and interested individuals into the same environment.
The festival's emphasis on practical education is particularly relevant for participants who are curious about Bitcoin or AI but may not have previously attended a technology-focused industry event.
By combining beginner-friendly sessions with technical discussions and business-focused content, Bitmela aims to create opportunities for learning across different experience levels.
The festival will also provide a platform for founders, developers and community builders to exchange ideas, demonstrate products and explore potential partnerships.
Sponsorship and Industry Collaboration
Bitmela Edition 01 is supported by organizations working across Bitcoin infrastructure, financial education, digital wallets and emerging technology.
Cake Wallet is confirmed as the festival's title sponsor.
Other announced partners include Bitshala Foundation, Valuete, Trezor Academy, Fulgur Ventures, Fedi, Coconut Wallet, NeoWealth, Travel with Bitcoin and Student of Bitcoin.
Their participation reflects the variety of organizations contributing to Bitcoin education, product development and community engagement.
Through these partnerships, Bitmela aims to connect industry expertise with learning opportunities and practical demonstrations.
Bitmela 2026 Tickets and Registration
Registration is available through the official Bitmela website, with ticket options designed for different levels of participation.
The Entry Pass, priced at ₹999, includes access to the conference programme and general festival activities, with lunch available separately.
The Mela Pass, priced at ₹4,999, adds lunch buffets on both days and event merchandise.
For attendees interested in the opening-night networking experience, the Gala Pass, priced at ₹14,999, includes Mela Pass benefits and access to the Gala Night gathering, subject to its limited capacity.
The premium Exec Pass, listed at ₹74,999, includes additional accommodation and VIP benefits but is currently sold out.
Ticket conditions, availability and applicable charges should be reviewed through the official registration platform before booking.
Event Details
Event: Bitmela — Edition 01
Dates: October 30–31, 2026
Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Venue: InterContinental Jaipur Tonk Road by IHG
Event Spaces: Main Ballroom and Outdoor Festival Grounds
Format: In-person Festival, Conference and Workshops
Key Topics: Bitcoin, Artificial Intelligence, Financial Education, Digital Payments, UPI, Self-Custody, Privacy, Entrepreneurship and Open-Source Technology
Organizer: Bitmela
Official Website: https://thebitmela.com/
Official Programme: https://thebitmela.com/schedule
Event Listing: https://bitnxt.io/events/bitmela-edition-01
Contact Email: hello@thebitmela.com
Join Bitmela 2026 in Jaipur
As artificial intelligence and emerging financial technologies continue to influence everyday life, understanding money is becoming an increasingly important conversation.
Bitmela 2026 aims to make that conversation more accessible by bringing together people who are building new technology, questioning traditional financial systems and exploring practical applications for digital money.
For Bitcoin enthusiasts, technology developers, founders, investors, students and professionals interested in the future of finance, the festival offers two days of insights, hands-on learning and community engagement.
From expert discussions and startup pitches to workshops, networking and cultural experiences, Bitmela is designed to bring different perspectives together in a setting that encourages both learning and participation.
Bitmela Edition 01 takes place on October 30–31, 2026, at InterContinental Jaipur Tonk Road by IHG, Jaipur, India.
For tickets, speaker details and the latest programme updates, visit the official Bitmela website.
