Adam Back: The Final Soft Fork and Connection to Satoshi

At the Plan ₿ Forum 2026 conference in Lugano, Adam Back delivered a speech covering key aspects of Bitcoin's development and philosophy.

The Last Soft Fork

A central theme of the talk was the necessity of a single final soft fork to complete the protocol's evolution. The role of the Simplicity programming language was also examined, as it opens up new possibilities for confidential transactions within the network.

Privacy and Value

Adam Back explained why anonymously held bitcoins possess additional value. He also analyzed why Bitcoin initially lacked sufficient privacy features and how modern artificial intelligence technologies are changing security requirements for cryptocurrencies.

History and Satoshi Nakamoto

The speaker shared how Satoshi Nakamoto had contacted him even before the project launched, and why he did not join the development from the very beginning. The discussion concluded with topics on separating money from the state, cypherpunk ideals, and the influence of public companies on the market.