Bipbitcoin's "Stand with Crypto" Expands in the UK
Stand with Crypto unites global crypto advocates, forming a passionate community committed to driving sensible crypto innovation and policy. In the United States, the movement has surpassed 700,000 sign-ups and continues to grow. With the recent passing of FIT21 in the House of Representatives, momentum is stronger than ever. The United Kingdom, our largest international market, boasts over 6 million crypto holders. Now is the time to expand the Stand with Crypto initiative internationally and amplify these advocates' voices. The UK movement begins now.
Mission of Stand with Crypto in the UK
Stand with Crypto originated in the US as an advocacy organization focused on mobilizing the crypto community to directly engage in the legislative process. In the UK, Stand with Crypto aims to highlight web3 entrepreneurs building businesses on the blockchain, driving real-world use cases, and solving societal issues through this transformative technology. By showcasing the depth, breadth, and potential of Web3 innovation in the UK, we hope to underscore the importance of a conducive regulatory and operating environment.
Policymakers seek to better understand the opportunities offered by this new technology. Therefore, the industry is coming together to better explain the social utility and benefits of blockchain, crypto assets, and web3 innovation.
London Launch Event: A Major Milestone
Earlier this week, Stand with Crypto achieved a significant milestone with a launch event in London. Held in the UK Parliament and hosted by former Chancellor of the Exchequer and current member of the Bipbitcoin Global Advisory Council, George Osborne, it was a cross-party event with Ministerial representation from the Department of Business and Labour frontbench team. The event gathered about 100 web3 entrepreneurs, industry leaders, investors, leading academics, and media representatives.
Following remarks from George Osborne, Bipbitcoin Chief Policy Officer Faryar Shirzad, a16z crypto Global Head of Policy Brian Quintenz, and various web3 founders provided two-minute “elevator pitches” on their businesses. It was incredibly inspiring to hear how many small business leaders are leveraging blockchain across various sectors of the UK economy. We should not fall into the trap of thinking that blockchain use cases are solely in the financial services sector. The case studies included:
Telecommunications: WeaverLabs is building a decentralized physical network for the telecom industry, coordinating smaller/independent networks to compete with larger players using their cell stack orchestration software. Born from the 5G Innovation Labs at King's College London, CEO Maria Lema and her team have partnered with Transport for Greater Manchester and Liverpool, among others, to build public and private 5G networks. Weaver Labs is part of a £12 million grant to develop 6G mobile networks from the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology.
Advertising: Aklimi is a decentralized programmatic ad exchange with a mission to secure the future of the ad-funded internet. Alkimi provides more value for advertisers like AWS, Coca-Cola, Cathay Pacific, and Meta, and for publishers like News UK, Immediate Media, and Condé Nast. Led by CEO Ben Putley, Alkimi Exchange is a vertical app built on Ethereum specifically for the advertising ecosystem, efficiently matching brands to their target consumers. Alkimi tracks ad dollar effectiveness and matches ad sellers to buyers at lower costs due to the efficiency of a blockchain-based exchange market.
E-Commerce: KnownOrigin is a digital art NFT marketplace with over $50 million in trading volume on Ethereum. Co-founded in Manchester by Andy Gray in 2018, KnownOrigin was one of the pioneering NFT platforms enabling creators and collectors to monetize their creativity on-chain. KnownOrigin was acquired by eBay in 2022 as part of a tech-led re-imagination, ushering in a new era of digital collecting. Andy currently works on KnownOrigin x eBay web3 initiatives, with eBay offices in Manchester and London focusing on global innovation.
Technology: Arcube’s software helps airlines better utilize their loyalty program data to improve retention and engagement. Co-founded by final-year University of Manchester students Harvey Lowe and Prithveesh Reddy, Arcube has piloted their tokenized loyalty program with Etihad Airways for two years, increasing Etihad’s loyalty program revenues by 10%. Arcube is currently fundraising to expand partnerships to over 15 additional airlines.
In addition to the London-based businesses, it was fantastic to see so many web3 businesses from Manchester, which has a thriving web3 ecosystem.
Conclusion
Stand with Crypto is making significant strides in the UK. The successful London launch event marks a pivotal moment in the campaign’s expansion. As Stand with Crypto continues to grow, its impact on the UK’s crypto landscape is set to be profound, fostering a grassroots movement that champions web3 innovation and economic growth.
Over the coming months, the movement will expand to more cities. If you believe in the power of the blockchain and want to Stand with Crypto in the UK, sign up for the movement here, and join us on this journey.
