Paralelní Polis - a retrofitted factory building in Prague - is a buzzing hub of digital rights activists, privacy-focused cypherpunks, and crypto-faithful ideologues. This unique space serves as a representation of how the world could be - built on decentralized and rebellious technologies, which are intended to stay out of the purview of governments, rules, and central banks. A parallel world, where new ideas, tools, and methods of collaboration are forged in the fires of rebellion and hope.
In 2007, a Czech group of guerrilla artists hijacked a live webcam of the Krkonoše mountain range, typically used during the weather segment of the country's national television station, and broadcasted a faked nuclear bomb detonation. This daring act became a signature move of the collective known as Ztohoven, whose disruptive pranks over the course of decades were meant to agitate and push against conventional societal norms. Today, Ztohoven calls a retrofitted factory building in Prague, Paralelní Polis, or 'parallel world', their home. The term was originally coined in the 1970s by Czech philosopher Václav Benda to describe a hidden counterculture that was alive and thriving despite a ruling communist regime.
Paralelní Polis is a unique space where cryptography prevails over control, cryptocurrency over fiat, and dangerous concepts are treated as living ideologies. It is a beacon of the Web3 movement, which is devoted to freedom, privacy and self-sovereignty. Here, ambitious innovators like Dan Ligocký, who produce events with strong ties to the ethereum community, collaborate and explore decentralized technologies. Moreover, the factory-like forum also hosts an array of visitors, from the Czech prince William Lobkowicz to ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin. It is a place where technology, philosophy and activism intersect, and where rebellious dreams of a different world can be formed and brought to life.
Located in Holešovice, a district nestled between the left bank of the Vltava River and Letná Hill, the Czech Republic's hub of crypto anarchy is a far cry from its former bygone days of slaughterhouses and steam mills. Now it is a creative center where art galleries and ateliers thrive. Across the city in Hradčany, about three-and-a-half miles southwest of Polis, stands a vast 750,000 square foot castle complex that looks as if it has been plucked right out of the Renaissance-era. Its imposing Gothic spires tower over the Czech capital, a reminder of a time when inherited nobility held great significance for Prague's inhabitants.
Formerly home to Bohemian royalty and Holy Roman emperors, the castle complex in the Czech Republic is now presided over by the country's president. William and Ileana Lobkowicz, two young nobles, have made the palace their own by organizing crypto-centric events such as the annual Non-Fungible Castle conference. Their plan to use NFTs as a way to finance restoration projects was put on hold due to the bear market. Nevertheless, this summer the Lobkowicz family extended their crypto outreach by accommodating some of the most prominent coders in the ethereum sphere for a one-day workshop, followed by a tour and gala dinner featuring discussion on Europe's new crypto law and the combination of generative AI and blockchain technology.
To get to the palace from Polis, visitors should take a three minute stroll to Maniny station, where Tram 25 departs every ten minutes. This tram ride brings people up the hill to Prašný Most, right next to the castle grounds. In Prague, steel tracks and trolley rails mark the cobblestoned streets, framing the old-world charm, along with steel and glass trams, which form a picture of life in the city. As the two locations, 25 minutes away from each other, represent both the traditional and the underground sides of the Czech people. From soaring towers, grand chandeliers and original frescoes to the Bohemian secret, Prague has experienced centuries of being a “pawn” between powerful nations, and as a result its inhabitants have acquired a strong personality and the skills to stand up to world rule.
Josef Tětek, a crypto economist and bitcoin analyst at hardware wallet provider Trezor, observed that "Czechs are naturally skeptical of authority, a consequence of the turbulent 20th century in which Czechs faced monarchy, Nazi occupation, and communist rule." This skepticism, Tětek suggested, is illustrated in the Czech Republic's decision not to adopt the Euro, despite having been a member of the European Union since 2004.This story of the Czech people's anti-establishment stance can be likened to an anti-fairytale; instead of a prince in a high castle, it is a dispersed collective of coders and hackers from around Prague congregating in Polis to share knowledge and lead the way.Polis' Prague headquarters is a striking contrast to its grand, vibrant neighbours; its exterior of dark stucco is a stark contrast to the inner workings of the structure – winding, winding corridors that twist and turn inwards to a fortress-like interior.
The 'parallel world' concept has proven to be popular. Franchises of Polis have formed in Vienna, Barcelona, and two Slovak cities, highlighting the attraction of anarchy. The Vienna branch even calls itself a living example of how "the Paralelní Polis cryptoliberation virus is spreading."These hubs usually include work desks for hire, conference halls for hackathons and blockchain-specific meet-ups, as well as sections for trying out advanced technologies like 3D printing and laser cuts.At Bratislava, bitcoin and ethereum meetups go hand-in-hand with classes on biohacking — or how to enhance the human body with tech to create a superhuman. Košice's Polis franchise is particularly noted for its lectures and technical support, where locals can get insights into how blockchain and cryptocurrencies can benefit their business.Another constant across all these branches is the so-called Institute of Cryptoanarchy. Under this sub-franchise, free resources and classes are available to those wishing to learn more about the unregulated internet and the instruments — blockchain-based virtual currencies and anti-spyware encryption protocols — that can help propel a decentralized economy.
Crypto education works to promote adoption and gain more supporters to the cause. Today's foe is different from the Nazi and communist forces that ruled in the twentieth century. Instead of a regime powered by the military, the coders view their opponents as a far more subtle villain. The Austrian center characterizes the threat not as a "distant totalitarian world", but as the way governments today attempt to control the distribution of information. Part of their objective is explained on the website: "Global states and their security forces control access to information and use the defense of intellectual property as an excuse to impose complete censorship to control the resources that are available".
As the crypto industry in the U.S. is facing difficulties and regulatory pressure, the majority of the developer community has shifted to international tech hubs such as the Czech Republic to work in a more free environment. One of the reasons that Prague has become a pivotal location is due to its strong background in Austrian School Economics, a belief originated in 19th-century Vienna and still popular in the Czech Republic. This concept of classical economic liberalism was brought forth by Carl Menger and Friedrich Hayek, and is distinct from American political liberalism. According to Austrian School Economics, society and economy will thrive when individuals operate with their own self-interest in mind, as opposed to government control or intervention.
Mindaugas Tětek, speaking to CNBC, noted that since 2016, those who champion this particular school of thought have produced articles and books about bitcoin specifically tailored for the Czech audience. He continued to point out the close relationship between bitcoin and Austrian economists, remarking, "The Austrian school is very compatible with bitcoin adoption. A key belief is that money and state should be separated." As Tětek explained, the sentiment that the Federal Reserve cannot save the economy is shared by both sides, and this has created an ideal environment for bitcoin, which functions independent of a central monetary system.
The Czech Republic is an incredibly conducive environment for the bitcoin sector, with Prague serving as a hub that draws leading talent. It was here that the world's first hardware wallet was created, and also where the first mining pool originated. Furthermore, Alza, the country's largest retail chain, will accept bitcoin payments, as will hundreds of other smaller businesses. Chaincamp, a purely Czech bitcoin conference, is known around the world and draws a crowd of over 2,000 people annually, even in bear markets.
Tětek concluded, “The bitcoin community in the Czech Republic is very healthy in comparison to the size of the population. The most popular Czech bitcoin YouTuber has 90k subscribers, and Chaincamp is one of the biggest bitcoin conferences worldwide.”
Tětek, who has a background in Austrian economics and political philosophy, stated that the Czechs are innately inclined to tinkering, as demonstrated by the birth of such bitcoin ventures as General Bytes and Trezor coming out of the Prague hacker community. General Bytes, one of the larger entities in the crypto ATM field, in addition to providing ATM software for Bitcoin operators, was recently a part of the dual conferences ETHPrague and BTCPrague which transpired in the nation's capital during the same week.
BTCPrague laid claim that the event, which boasted more than 100 speakers, many companies, and open-source projects featured at the expo area, and reportedly 10,000+ participants from European countries and further afield, was a success. CNBC, however, was unable to verify those figures. From Michael Saylor of Microstrategy to cryptographer and cypherpunk Adam Back, and economist and author Saifedean Ammous, some of the most prominent names in the bitcoin world were in attendance. Attendees from around the world gathered in the industrial building to discuss the potential growth of Ethereum, given that the project has now begun a multi-year path towards full-scale decentralization, prepared for an influx of new users as the world's second-most valuable digital asset.
Supplementary events to the two cryptocurrency conferences occurred throughout the city. At a steakhouse in Old Town one such event went on late into the night debating the advantages and risks of Bitcoin. One subject of discussion was if the Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler is a secret Bitcoin advocate as it is the only digital asset he has not tried to strictly regulate within the industry. Additionally, Ethereum fans visited a modern houseboat in Holešovice for a special beer sampling put on by Czech Craft brewery Václav featuring 12° Pils Vaclav and the 17° Sexy Hafanana.
In a SatoshiLabs building located two miles north-east of Polis, Trezor held a morning session with top Bitcoin founders, including Matěj Žák, Jan Čapek, Christoph Kassas, and YouTuber Jakub Vejmola, who discussed matters such as expansion in the bear market and preparedness for any U.S. Treasury rules which would restrict cryptocurrency exchanges. Čapek discussed his team's protocol which could permit miners to pick their own work templates while releasing the pool from legal liability.
Notable people such as Jameson Lopp, Stephan Livera, and Robert Breedlove were also present. ETHPrague, put on by Duct Tape Production alongside the Ethereum Foundation, took place at Polis and drew attendees from all over who discussed ETH's future growth as it begins its years-long journey to decentralization and increased usage.
The multi-day conference attracted some of the most important minds in the area, like Buterin, a celebrated coder, and Stani Kulechov, founder and CEO of Aave and Lens. The event featured a variety of lectures and panel discussions, from MiCA and self-regulation in decentralized finance to the intricacies of layer two protocols built on Ethereum. People from multiple countries, including technologists, lawyers, and politicians, attended these working sessions to explore the potential of this sector. Ondrej Polak, executive director of the recently-formed Czech Blockchain Association, remarked on the atmosphere of the gathering, stating that he was pleasantly surprised by the helpfulness and kindness of the participants, as well as their commitment to the idea of "building homes, not empires". He described himself as an optimist and AI advocate.
Ligocky expressed similar sentiments regarding ETHPrague, describing the event as solidifying his conviction that "the future of the internet is being redesigned by a vibrant international collection of dreamers, coders, and business owners." He went on to say that "the collective atmosphere and shared goal was profoundly motivating, as we collaborate to realize the never-ending potential of this decentralized space." Ligocky also proclaimed that ETHPrague was only the beginning, noting they were organizing more gatherings throughout Europe for folks embracing the same outlook.
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