Fourth annual Washington summit, hosted by the Bitcoin Policy Institute and PubKey DC, expands from Bitcoin policy and stablecoins to AI, data centers, energy infrastructure and national security

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Freedom Tech DC, an invite-only policy summit, will convene members of Congress, including Sens. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Ted Budd (R-N.C.); technology, finance and energy industry leaders such as Block CEO Jack Dorsey; and experts and policymakers such as Patrick Witt, executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets at the White House, Sept. 22-23 at the National Press Club and PubKey in Washington, D.C. The summit will tackle the nation’s most pressing emerging technology challenges — from open-source and open-weight AI and compute to data center development and energy grid resilience, national security and cybersecurity, and the roles of Bitcoin and U.S. dollar-backed stablecoins in the future of money.

The summit arrives at a pivotal moment for America’s technology and financial sectors, as AI adoption and regulation, data center development, cybersecurity and privacy, cryptocurrency market-structure legislation, and the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve all rise to prominence ahead of the 2026 midterm elections — topics that experts, lawmakers and BPI staff and fellows will confront directly on stage.

Additional speakers include Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of Strategy; Reps. Nick Begich (R-Alaska) and Lance Gooden (R-TX); Alex Gladstein, Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation; Ian Mason, Chief Information Officer at the Federal Trade Commission; Katie Arrington, former Chief Information Officer at the U.S. Department of War; Matt White, former Global Head of Applied Innovation at The Linux Foundation; and BPI Executive Director Conner Brown and Head of Research Sam Lyman, among others.

Programming runs across two days: Day one, “Establishing the Stakes,” features programming at the National Press Club, followed by an inaugural DC Beefsteak reception at PubKey DC. Day two will focus on “Hands-On Policy Work,” with daylong programming and a closing party, both at PubKey DC. Highlights include:

• BPI’s President David Zell will speak virtually with Jack Dorsey on the case for building on open-source primitives like open-weight AI and Bitcoin.
• BPI’s Head of Government Affairs Ken Egan and Patrick Witt will offer a candid look at how the digital asset industry approached Washington, what worked, what didn’t, and how those lessons should shape the next major technology policy fight: setting the rules for AI.
• Other panels include: a fireside chat with the CTO of the FTC’s Office of Innovation; “Openness as National Strategy” with Matthew Pines (Physical Superintelligence), Matt White (formerly Linux Foundation) and Ben Brooks (Black Forest Labs); “America’s Open-Source Future” with Senator Lummis; and  “The case for the American Reserve Modernization Act” with Rep. Begich; and remarks from Sen. Budd and Rep. Gooden.

Formerly the Bitcoin Policy Summit, Freedom Tech DC’s expanded focus reflects the Bitcoin Policy Institute’s (BPI) growth as it takes on freedom technology policy issues, expands its leadership team, and becomes a founding partner in the State Department’s new Freedom Tech Excellence Program. More information is available at https://www.btcpolicy.org/summit.

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About the Bitcoin Policy Institute
The Bitcoin Policy Institute exists to prepare America for the rise of Bitcoin and transformative technologies. We publish best-in-class research, engage directly with senior policymakers and their staff, convene key Washington and industry stakeholders, and fund academic scholarship that ties technical expertise into the legislative process. In four years, we’ve authored the White House’s strategic case for a Bitcoin reserve, been cited by name by Beijing’s leading monetary think tank, and been recognized by the Vice President for advising the administration.

About PubKey
PubKey Bar and Media Haus is a dive bar, restaurant, and gathering place where big ideas for sound money, monetary policy and technology are taking shape. Inspired by the historical role of taverns as free-thinking hotbeds for revolutions, PubKey launched in New York’s West Village in 2022 to bring together the leading financial, policymaking and cultural voices to ideate, innovate, debate and collaborate in a space where conversation can flow as easily as the drinks. PubKey DC (410 7th St. NW) opened in December 2025 as the true “embassy” for bitcoin, AI and conversation located in the heart of the nation’s capital. At 12,000 square feet, PubKey DC is home to podcasting and media studios, the Bitcoin Policy Institute, private events, Gemini Live @ PubKey event series, comedy, fundraisers, art parties and more.

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SOURCE Bitcoin Policy Institute