Midweek with Max: A Holiday Celebration and Looking Ahead to 2026

This week’s Midweek with Max marked a special moment for the Hemi community, serving as both a holiday celebration and the final episode of 2025. With a relaxed format, festive giveaways, and appearances from multiple team members, the conversation focused less on technical deep dives and more on reflecting on the year, celebrating the community, and setting the tone for what’s ahead in 2026.

Holiday-themed giveaways kicked off the festivities, including a limited-run Hemi holiday mug, meme contest winners, and a reminder that the hbUSD NFT design contest remains open. Several team members took a moment to speak directly to the community: 

Jeremy thanked participants for being the lifeblood of the ecosystem and reflected on how far Hemi has come in a single year. 

Jon Greenwood highlighted how rare it is to see a community reach real engagement and cohesion so early. 

JCV expressed appreciation for a community that not only sticks around but actively leans into technical discussions, curiosity, and experimentation. The message across the board was consistent: Hemi is not just being built for the community, but with it.

After some holiday ice-breaking, Max joined the call, sharing looks ahead and high-level updates on what’s coming next for Hemi. The team confirmed the OG role is now firmly targeted for February 2026, alongside the launch of a formal Hemi ambassador program designed to reward community members for helping spread the word and support ecosystem growth. 

Additional initiatives, such as new contests, expanded beta testing, and moderator-led activities, were also teased as part of a broader effort to make participation more meaningful and enjoyable in the coming year.

The next phase of Hemi will be focused on unlocking Bitcoin-native functionality, improving economic primitives, and continuing to harden the protocol. BitVM will serve as a major pillar of that future, alongside broader efforts around Bitcoin-backed DeFi, governance, and decentralization.

The session closed with a collective look forward. The team expressed excitement for what 2026 holds, not just in terms of technology, but in continuing to grow a community that shows up week after week, asks smart questions, and makes great memes. With that, the team extended their warmest winter wishes to all and looks forward to seeing everyone again next year.