El Zonte, the coastal community widely recognized as the birthplace of the Bitcoin Beach movement, will host the Global Bitcoin Circular Economies Summit 2026 on November 19–20, bringing Bitcoin community leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, and circular-economy builders from around the world to El Salvador.
Organized by Bitcoin Beach, the two-day gathering will mark the first conference-style Bitcoin event open to the public in El Zonte, transforming a community gathering that has developed over the years into a broader international summit.
The event will focus on Bitcoin as money and the development of Bitcoin circular economies, reflecting El Zonte’s unique role in the history of Bitcoin adoption. The community became internationally known for using Bitcoin in everyday transactions- including purchases from local businesses- years before El Salvador became globally associated with Bitcoin.
The November summit will feature workshops, panels, and fireside conversations, with participants sharing practical experiences of building Bitcoin-based communities and local economies. Confirmed speakers include Jeremy Almond, Co-Founder and CEO of Paystand; Alexandra Navarro of Paystand; Gerardo Linares, involved in Bitcoin education and community initiatives in El Salvador; and Evelyn Lemus, a Bitcoin educator and community builder.
Organizers say additional speakers will be announced as preparations continue, with the program centered on people who have implemented Bitcoin in real-world communities rather than limiting discussions to theory.
The summit will also form part of a particularly active November 2026 for Bitcoin and technology events in El Salvador, alongside the Bitcoin Capital Summit, Bitcoin Historico, and EmTech AI Conference.
For El Zonte, the event represents a return to the community’s roots while opening its Bitcoin experience to an international audience. The organizers are inviting participants to experience the summit directly in the coastal setting where the Bitcoin Beach story began.
Tickets are available through the event organizer, with organizers indicating that seating is limited.