We started out as a humble dive bar trying to restore community in the wake of COVID. And soon enough, we'll be expanding to a city near you.
In case you missed it: PubKey has come a long way, and @MTSlive got the inside scoop on our origin story.
"Dive bars were closing. These important third places were shutting down. A group of four of us had this idea to start PubKey, specifically focused on the Bitcoin community, and then from there, it sort of took off."
"In 2024, just before the election, we hosted President Trump. He made the first known Bitcoin transaction from a President."
"And then we realized that the conversation was really migrating to DC with the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act. And it just seemed important for a place like PubKey to go to DC to allow another venue for staffers and interns, the people that actually do the work in DC, to go to learn about frontier tech issues."
- Thomas Pacchia (@tpacchia) in conversation with @theojaffee and @MTSlive
My local dive? PubKey
My go-to hot dog? Chicago
My preferred currency? Bitcoin
My girlfriend? Chinese
Come to the pub Jensen, we're willing to hear your side.
Bitcoin is for the people. No matter what side of the aisle you're on, if you're willing to fight for freedom technology, you are always welcome at PubKey.
"The real breakthrough that we've had in talking to politicians is just explaining the corporate tax loss [of the BitLicense] for New York State, in addition to jobs and office space. It's a no-brainer to repeal this thing."
And PubKey has been "outspoken about the Samourai Wallet situation as well."
"Banks ultimately have the protection of the government because they are way too powerful, way too big to fail. For the government to turn around and pick on software developers... and throw them in jail and take their lives away—little kids in the mix as well—it's pretty sad."
- Thomas Pacchia (@tpacchia) in conversation with @watchbmtv
Theo Jaffee (@theojaffee) visited us at our DC location! Here's his long-awaited review:
"I thought it was great! It was definitely vibey."
"It was supposed to be this very online event, and all of the upstairs was just normal-looking people watching college football... and then it turns out the thing was in the basement."
Thomas Pacchia: "We have range there. It's the Internet's dive bar. A lot of these people are seeking physical contact, different forms of social engagement... and you can solve a lot of problems with two beers."
- Thomas Pacchia (@tpacchia) in conversation with @MTSlive
ANOTHER FRIDAY, ANOTHER RABBIT HOLE RECAP.
Join @tpacchia and @MartyBent as they talk everything midterms, the Democratic sweep, reported Trump Media-linked bitcoin transfers, the Binance hack... and more!
Click below to watch the stream.
https://t.co/SBuDDv01EZ
When we say we're an "orange bar," we really mean it.
We went on @watchbmtv last week to explain how PubKey helps politicians (from both sides of the aisle) better understand policy for the digital age:
"A lot of the policymakers are not necessarily diehard Bitcoiners and understand all of this stuff."
"What policymakers hear is dollar signs. That's work that they don't have do. When it's simplified, they don't have to do the research to understand these issues— they can take that off their list and focus on something else."
- Thomas Pacchia (@tpacchia) in conversation with @watchbmtv