Adam Back spoke at the Plan ₿ Forum 2026 conference in Lugano, discussing a possible "final" Bitcoin soft fork, the Simplicity programming language, and issues of privacy and security amid the development of AI. A recording of the first day of Plan ₿ Forum 2026 is available online.

Simplicity and Confidential Transactions

The focus of the talk was Simplicity as a tool to expand Bitcoin's capabilities, including confidential transactions. Back discussed how protocol updates and potentially one final soft fork could unlock new use cases.

AI and New Security Requirements

A separate section addressed how the development of artificial intelligence is changing security requirements for cryptocurrencies. Risks and protection strategies were discussed, as well as the role of privacy in network resilience.

Early Contact with Satoshi and the Decision to Join Later

Back spoke about how Satoshi Nakamoto contacted him before Bitcoin's launch, why he did not join the project's development at the start, and how these decisions influenced his view on the protocol's evolution.

Public Companies, Privacy, and the Value of BTC

The speaker touched on Bitcoin purchases by public companies in the context of cypherpunk ideals, the initial lack of privacy in the protocol, and arguments about the additional value of BTC held anonymously. The talk concluded with the topic of "separating money from the state" and the prospects for financial freedom.