%only "thanks" seems to work. 
\definenote[thanks]%[numberconversion=set 2]
\setupnote[thanks][rule=off]
\setupnotation[thanks][numberconversion=set 2] % or set 1
   
%\setupnote[footnote][location=bottom] % does not work
   
%% all notes, footnotes etc.
\setupnotation[
 alternative={left,bottom},
 hang=fit, % if commented, hanging is larger
 indenting={yes,small},indentnext=yes, % please, indent everything, should be default
]
   
\setupinteraction[state=start,color=black,contrastcolor=black]
   
\setuphead[subject][align=flushleft,style=\bfb]
   
\starttext
   
\subject{Grande lista de autores}
   
\placecontent[alternative=c]
     
\startsection[title={Whatever}][author={A. Uthor},subtitle={I’d like to say}]
This is a section.
\stopsection
   
\startsection[title={Segunda seção}][author={Fulano de Tal},subtitle={Uma segunda seção de teste}]
This is a section.
\stopsection
   
\startsection[title={Terceira seção}][author={Alberto de Paiva\thanks{asdf}},subtitle={Uma terceira seção de teste}]
This is a section.
\stopsection
   
\startsection[title={Três autores}][author={Sicrano de Tal\thanks{Universidade de Tangerinas} e Alberto Steinenberg\thanks{Universidade de Nilfgaard}},
subtitle={Uma seção de teste com dois autores e comentário}]
This is a section.\footnote{Só de teste.}
\stopsection