Product Launches
Solana Debuts Programmable BP Badge Ahead of Breakpoint 2026 in London
By News Desk ·
Key takeaways
- Solana announced the BP Badge on October 28, 2026, a programmable hardware kit for Breakpoint 2026 attendees.
- The badge runs on an ESP32-C5 chip at 240 MHz with 16 MB of flash, a 320×240 color TFT display and Wi-Fi 6.
- Breakpoint 2026 runs November 15–17 at the Olympia Convention Centre in London, the event's first European venue.
- Tickets are priced at $550 for general admission, $250 for developer passes and $100 for students.
Solana unveiled the BP Badge on October 28, 2026, a programmable hardware development kit for attendees of Breakpoint 2026, which runs November 15–17 in London. Crypto Briefing reported the announcement, which came through Solana's official channels.
What the BP Badge Runs On
The badge is built on the ESP32-C5 platform, a RISC-V chip running at 240 MHz, with customized firmware Solana calls "Solana OS." The device carries 16 MB of flash storage and a 320×240 color TFT display using an ILI9341 panel. Navigation comes via a D-pad paired with action buttons, alongside eight WS2812B RGB LEDs and a microSD slot for extra storage.
Power comes from a 1000 mAh LiPo battery charged over USB-C. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6, BLE 5 and an 802.15.4 radio, and the physical footprint measures 117 × 78 mm. Solana published detailed specifications and flashing instructions on the event's website.
Attendees can use the badge to build and install apps, complete quests, trade digital cards with people nearby using proximity-based exchanges, and collect pages from the "Hitchhiker's Guide to Solana." The in-game incentive system runs on a currency described as !LAMPs. According to the research findings, no specific crypto tokens are currently tied directly to the badges or the associated game mechanics.
Breakpoint's First European Stop
Breakpoint is Solana's annual flagship event, aimed at bringing together developers and ecosystem participants. The 2026 edition runs November 15–17 at the Olympia Convention Centre in London, the first time the conference has been held in Europe. Ticket pricing comes in three tiers: general admission at $550, developer passes at $250 and student tickets at $100.
Solana's Recent Product and Partnership Moves
Solana activated an on-chain governance system, Solana Governance Proposals, on July 2, 2026, according to akta.pro company records. The system requires 100,000 SOL delegation to submit proposals, a 15% support threshold and a 66.67% supermajority for passage, introducing staker sovereignty via delegator override.
In June 2026, MoneyGram joined the Solana Developer Platform as an infrastructure partner and validator, bringing a global remittance network onto Solana for compliant, API-driven cross-border payments, the same records show. Solana also signed an MoU with the Alatau City administration in Kazakhstan that month to develop a digital asset ecosystem and blockchain hub, with estimated $6 billion in combined investment potential under the Alatau Crypto Cluster initiative.
Earlier Steps Toward Breakpoint London
Solana's October 16 changelog confirmed Web3.js v3.1, an update aimed at improving interoperability with tools like Solana Kit, Wallet Adapter and Anchor to reduce friction in wallet interaction and transaction construction, TradingView reported on October 26, 2026.
Solana also expanded its November Breakpoint London lineup with Revolut Chair Martin Gilbert, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former Chancellor Sajid Javid, TradingView reported on October 28, 2026.