BOSTON –– While many in the world watch the fluctuating price of bitcoin, about 100 bitcoin enthusiasts gathered at Fidelity Investments this weekend, focused on enhancing the original cryptocurrency's capabilities without jeopardizing its stability.

“This is about getting bitcoin to the next billion people,” said Will Foxley, the host of OP_NEXT, touted as the first bitcoin scaling conference in five years.

Unlike typical crypto conferences that target retail investors or feature bustling corporate booths, OP_NEXT brought together developers primarily wearing hoodies, engaging in discussions to improve bitcoin’s functionality and resilience.

Paul Sztorc from Layer2 Labs emphasized, “Either we aggressively pursue innovation and progress as quickly as possible or we will eventually be replaced.”

The attendees expressed a clear preference for careful advancements in technology with discussions revolving around previous soft forks that have helped bitcoin evolve beyond its status as just a digital currency. The consensus is that while innovation is crucial, it should not come at the cost of destabilizing the network.

A notable exchange involved Brandon Black highlighting, “People got scared about soft forks unnecessarily.” Participants actively debated the future paths for technology upgrades, including the need for a methodical approach to ensure bitcoin’s longevity against burgeoning threats such as quantum computing.

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Among the discussions was the unresolved topic of covenants in Bitcoin, which some developers, like Jeremy Rubin, have championed while facing skepticism from other community members.

Ultimately, the conference highlighted a community that is determined to chart a careful pathway to enhance bitcoin while keeping its foundational principles intact.