2026-06-14 –, Hauptbühne (Saal 1)
Uniting technical and cultural perspectives on stewarding p2p, self-hosted, and decentralized technologies, from a diverse panel of builders with expertise spanning "the stack".
From the networked level (Adam's work with wireless networks at Freifunk) to infrastructure (Bradley's AI compute node and Liz's cryptographically secure storage) to protocol (Calle's OS bitcoin protocols Cashu and Bitchat), "the stack" designs itself toward secure self-sovereignty.
This panel explores the unique challenges of each use case, and the tensions that can arise from contradictions in intent and implementation across levels of the stack – for example, accessibility and openness vs. privacy.
Identifying and understanding these points of tension and interdependence through a systemic lens empowers us to build more resilient infrastructure, from tooling to hardware to the community of contributors to maintain it.
Panelists: Adam Burns, Bradley Clark Royes, Liz Steininger, Calle
Moderator: Beth McCarthy
Adam Burns is a technologist & Australian internet pioneer. He was the technical manager for Australia’s first national ISP assisting activists to communicate across south east Asia and Pacific Islands. He founded the first open community wireless network in Europe.
He designed the software behind the Pocket FM broadcast system deployed in crisis areas & IDP camps in the Middle East and Africa.
Published, interviewed, filmed and quoted in numerous publications and documentaries (including Steal This Film 214), he advocates for
open source, as well as equitable digital access and participation.
Bradley is a strategic designer and innovator working at the intersection of culture, AI-native systems, and human-centred technology. Currently the Node Manager for Foresight Institute's Berlin AI Node and leading AI Builders Berlin as Community Director, he brings experience design, blending applied research with grassroots organising and urban rituals.
Liz Steininger is the CEO/Managing Director of Least Authority, a leading Web3 security consulting company and builder of privacy enhancing technology products, including Private.Storage and Winden.App. Least Authority specializes in securing Web3 products, capability-based security and implementing advanced cryptography, especially zero-knowledge proofs (ZK) and multi-party computations (MPC). Beyond security audits for new technologies, Least Authority has also released the MoonMath Manual, a practical guide for developers to understand zero-knowledge proofs. The company focuses on cutting-edge security and empowering users to control their right to privacy.
Calle is the creator and lead maintainer of the Cashu open source protocol. Cashu enables users to easily use bitcoin in a private, offline, and programmable way. Calle is also the maintainer of Bitchat android, a cross platform meshnet app that enables users to chat and send bitcoin without an internet connection.
Beth McCarthy is a Berlin-based strategist, curator & experience designer. With her consultancy Abstract Machine Studio, Beth serves clients across the frontier tech, open web and new internet spaces, building ecosystem, culture and relational intelligence. She supports projects like DWeb Camp with strategic partnerships, Web3Privacy Now as Program Director, Funding the Commons with program curation, and other allies as an advisor.
Beth is passionate about digital rights and freedom, tech as a force for resilient communities, and designing for ethical humans and their systems.