The City Council unanimously approved the Bitcoin Office’s webpage on July 11, and it made its appearance on the city’s website on August 8. While the webpage does not outline specific initiatives yet, the city has announced plans to host a Bitcoin festival in October.
Educational and economic goals
The Proof of Workforce Foundation, operating as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, manages the Bitcoin Office as a community-driven initiative, according to its X profile. The foundation’s mission includes not only educating the public about Bitcoin but also facilitating industry partnerships to aid Santa Monica’s economic recovery and create new job opportunities.
Dominick Bei, a Santa Monica firefighter and former firefighters’ union president, founded the Proof of Workforce Foundation in 2023 with the goal of assisting unions, workers, and organizations in leveraging Bitcoin to support their goals. The foundation’s operations are cost-free for the city, and it does not disclose its donors.
Reviving the Bitcoin Festival
In addition to the Bitcoin Office, the city is promoting the Bitcoin Peer to Pier Festival. Swan Bitcoin originally planned to sponsor this event, which is a revival of a previously planned festival. Swan Bitcoin had announced the cancellation of its Pacific Bitcoin Festival on August 5 due to a recent staff reduction.
