World's first Bitcoin ONLY coffee shop
Welcome to Prague, Czech Republic.
Home to the world's first bitcoin cafe, Parallel Polis.
It is also home to Trezor - one of the most popular cold storage bitcoin wallets.
(Fun Fact: the word "Trezor" means "Safe" in Czech)
Prague is a small city in Czech Republic with just over 1 million people and has a thriving community of cryptoanarchists, hackers and individuals interested in blockchain, decentralized currency, online anonymity and personal freedom.
World's First Bitcoin only Cafe:
Allow me to introduce you to Parallel Polis, opened in 2014 was the world's first Bitcoin only cafe and founded by anarchic ethical hacker collective Ztohoven.
I was first introduced to this coffee shop over a year ago by a friend of mine. At the time, I wasn't very familiar with Bitcoin or cryptocurrency.
When I arrived the helpful barista showed me how to get started with creating a bitcoin wallet, using the ATM to convert fiat into BTC and funding my wallet - why? because this coffee shop only accepts cryptocurrency.
Background:
If you are not familiar with Czech Republic, you've probably at some point in time heard of Czechoslovakia which was part of the former USSR (Czechoslovakia has since separated into two distinct countries - Czech Republic and Slovakia).
Although it's complete speculation, I suspect the transition within recent history from Russian lead communist values to now social-capitalism has spawned this grassroots community supporting personal freedom through technology.
The Coffee Shop:
On the first floor there is the coffee shop
Here you can exchange fiat currency for Bitcoin (at one of the BTC ATM's) and pay for your coffee.
NFC Bitcoin Chip Implant
Don't want to carry your Bitcoin wallet around with you? Consider getting an implant?
When I first visited Paralelni Polis the barista proudly showed me her implant and how fast and quick it was to pay with it. Now this might be a little crazy for most people - but what is going on here is cutting edge. Or even over the edge for many people.
If you are into it - you can even get an NFC chip embedded into your hand and pay via bitcoin with the wave of your hand - isn't that cool?
The CoWorking Space:
Upstairs there is a beautiful coworking space where you can enjoy your coffee and get some work done.
Here you will find many like minded people working in tech. They also have a makers lab in the next room where you can rent 3D printers and they even have events and courses showing you how to build your own 3D printer.
The Institute of CryptoAnarchy
As much as I love coffee (it got me in the door), it's the community events and presentations they put on that I think the real value is.
Their philosophy is based on the idea that new technology brings with it the possibility of choice where we can achieve privacy, anonymity and decentralized currency that will help to preserve our personal and societal freedoms. Events related to transhumanism, anarcho-capitalism, bitcoin and hacker conferences are also held here (in Czech and English).
Not Just a Coffee Shop
This isn't just a coffee shop, its a community of individuals supporting privacy, personal freedom, decentralized currency and the technologies that advances these ideals. Ideals aligned to many of you within the Steemit community.
Are you Coming to Prague Yet?
Seriously, if you find yourself in Europe make your way to Prague.
Not only is Prague a beautiful city, but has a wonderful grassroots community supporting the perservation of personal freedom, decentralized currency and cutting edge blockchain technology.
Come join me for a coffee at Paralelni Polis!
You'll find me in the corner typing away on steemit (or in the co-working space upstairs) and sipping the best cryptocoffee in the world. Drop by and say hi :)
Hope to see you here soon :)
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OMG NFC chips are real? In check? People are proud of it? Some development on this planet is really strange! Before I get an NFC chip I'll go and life somewhere in the forest! Cheers :-D
Looks fantastic!
Prague must be an incredible place to visit.
Would like to see places like this here in Brazil. At least where I can pay with fiat and BTC.
I'm sure give enough time, there will be cryptocurrency coffee shops all over the planet, even Brazil. :)
Prague is a wonderful city - very Bohemian - I have had the pleasure of visiting it twice. Small point I want to raise though, Czechoslovakia was never part of the Soviet Union (USSR) but was a country in its own right, although it was communist and part of the so called 'Eastern Block' and therefore under the influence of the USSR.
Very cool to have a Bitcoin only Cafe - the start of things to come...
Thanks for a great post @altcointrends
Thanks very much - I love this city...That's why I moved here. Yes, very Bohemian. Thanks for the clarification - my point was the former USSR influence is still felt here - even after all this time :)
Enjoy. If I had to live in a city Prague would certainly be in my top 10!