The Invercargill Cryptocurrency NZ meetup, situated at 46.41 degrees south, holds the title as the world’s most southern Bitcoin/crypto meetup.
Jeremy Rees, the Invercargill host, explained why he started the group.
"I've been in the crypto world for many years," Jeremy said.
"When I moved back, I realised there wasn't a meetup here, so I contacted and got it sorted.”
“Invercargill is a small place, and it has been great getting to know those interested in crypto and making new connections."
A glimpse inside the world's southern-most Bitcoin/crypto meetup
He described attendance patterns.
"We've had up to 20 at some events, and other times it can just be two of us," Jeremy said.
"Each meetup is different, with some very experienced attendees, others with a little knowledge, and those with no knowledge at all, but a great interest."
Jeremy highlighted what sets the local scene apart.
"Invercargill is a small place, but it's also a safe place. There's usually one or two degrees of separation."
"So in Invercargill, your integrity can go a long way, and those without it, get found out quickly."
"We want to let people know it isn't all hidden away, but it's ready to be used in the day to day."
In 2025, no regular crypto meetups appear in public records from southern South American cities such as Ushuaia (~54°S) or Punta Arenas (~53°S) that compete for the title.
Antarctica has seen isolated events, with no known active meetup community.
Cryptocurrency NZ Hits 12 Monthly Meetups
Cryptocurrency NZ now coordinates 12 meetups each month across New Zealand, from Auckland in the north to Invercargill in the south.
The network includes locations such as Wellington, Hamilton, Rotorua, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, New Plymouth, Christchurch, Dunedin, Blenheim, Nelson, Invercargill and Palmerston North.
This setup results in 144 events annually, providing unregulated spaces for Kiwis to explore cryptocurrencies, finance, decentralized governance and other related innovations.
Total attendance across all Cryptocurrency NZ events has reached 6,709, with 590 gatherings held to date and 10 sponsorships supporting the initiative.
Cryptocurrency NZ community manager Kodi Sinclair described the Invercargill meetup as a strong example of grassroots and national collaboration.
"Working alongside Jeremy Rees, the approach has been very much community-first," Sinclair said.
"Jeremy brought local insight, relationships, and on-the-ground coordination, while we support with broader network reach, promotion, and alignment with our national initiatives."
Sinclair said the Invercargill event fits the group's goal of expanding crypto education beyond major centres.
"A lot of innovation and curiosity exists in regional communities, but access to reliable information and in-person engagement can be limited," Sinclair said.
"By supporting meetups in places like Invercargill, we’re aiming to make crypto more approachable, reducing misinformation, and fostering local communities that can sustain themselves over time."
Looking forward, Sinclair indicated southern and rural areas remain a priority.
"We absolutely see this as a model we want to continue building on," Sinclair said.
"Southern regions and rural areas more broadly are a focus for us."
"We’re keen to support more locally-led initiatives, by helping new organisers get started."
"The long-term vision is a distributed network of communities across New Zealand, rather than everything being concentrated in a few major cities."