HashHouse

At HashHouse, the Bitcoin Social Club, community and education go hand in hand. To learn more about the driving force behind the club, we sat down with its founder, Mary, who shared their vision, the journey of building HashHouse, and what the future holds for Bitcoin enthusiasts around the world.

Q: Thanks for joining us today! To kick things off, can you tell us a little bit about what inspired you to start HashHouse?

Mary: It’s my pleasure! The idea for HashHouse came from a very personal experience. I’ve been traveling for years, connecting with like-minded Bitcoiners around the world. Over time, though, I realized that long-term travel can be exhausting, especially when you’re constantly on the move. I wanted to create a home — a place where I could settle down and build a dedicated Bitcoin-only community right here in Tbilisi. There are a lot of general crypto communities, but nothing that was solely focused on Bitcoin and its core values. I wanted to create a space where Bitcoin enthusiasts could come together, exchange ideas, and build on the principles that make Bitcoin such a revolutionary force: financial sovereignty, privacy, decentralization, and freedom.

Q: What would you say sets HashHouse apart from other blockchain communities out there?

Mary: What sets HashHouse apart is our commitment to cypherpunk values — decentralization, privacy and the open, permissionless nature of the network. A lot of communities out there focus on the financial aspects or speculate on price movements, but we dive deeper into the philosophy behind Bitcoin. Our members come here not for shitcoin trading, but because they believe in the principles that Bitcoin represents.

Q: How does HashHouse incorporate cypherpunk principles?

Mary: At HashHouse, we embrace a privacy-first approach, encourage members to take their security seriously and keep their identities to themselves. Our space doesn’t require phones/sim cards for verification and access. Nyms and facemasks/gloves are welcome. We also have full spectrum signal jammers running to prevent electronic eavesdropping and offer services that are cypherpunk friendly, such as mailbox collection with no KYC for those who know what value that brings. We understand that privacy is a fundamental right, so we never ask personal questions and we don’t take pictures. This is a space where you can be who you are, without fear of surveillance or exposure.

Q: How do you design the events at HashHouse?

Mary: We try to make our events vibrant, easy, and engaging. We’re very mindful of balancing education with fun. Our Mondays are off, so people can relax or prepare for the week. Tuesdays are dedicated to Bitcoin 101 sessions, which are open for everybody, but with pre-registration due to limited spaces. Fridays are more relaxed and fun, with game nights and an open mic for anyone who wants to share their “aha” moments about Bitcoin. Thursdays are specifically focused on developers because Bitcoin’s foundation rests on the work of FOSS devs. While ETFs may create buzz, let’s be clear: Bitcoin Core is built by cypherpunks. We’re talking about legends like Hal Finney, Adam Back, Nick Szabo, and others who have shaped this technology. On Wednesdays and weekends, we dive deep into Bitcoin with workshops on topics like the mempool, self-custody, on-chain and Lightning Network wallets, understanding current monetary systems, P2P, multisigs, and more.

We also encourage artistic inclusion because Bitcoin reflects everyone. It’s not just about FOSS devs but also painters, musicians, and other creatives who contribute to the culture of freedom. We already have a Georgian artist who creates Bitcoin-themed posters, which you can find for sale in our shop.

Q: What do you want to achieve with the community?

Mary: Have you ever driven by a biker bar, where riders gather to share their passion for the open road? That’s the inspiration for HashHouse, a Bitcoin Social Club in Tbilisi, Georgia, distinctly tailored for Bitcoiners. Like bikers, Bitcoiners crave community after diving down the rabbit hole, often finding friends and family don’t get it. HashHouse is a unique haven for Bitcoiners to connect, whether local or traveling, using platforms like btcmap.org and Orangepill App. Our goal is to be the go-to stop for Bitcoin enthusiasts to share ideas, embrace cypherpunk values, and build a decentralized future.

Q: How do you handle altcoiners at HashHouse?

Mary: It’s definitely been a bit of a challenge. Bitcoiners usually like to hang around with Bitcoiners, but we need to think about expanding our community. Hence, the door is open to everybody. Our events are primarily focused on Bitcoin — about 80% of what we do revolves around Bitcoin — but we also allocate about 20% to alternative content. I was a shitcoiner myself, believing that all coins shared the values of Bitcoin, until I saw how different blockchains can be. Education is a fundamental human right, and everyone deserves the opportunity to learn.

That said, once people understand what Bitcoin brings to the table, they have the freedom to choose which coin to embrace. Our events are here to show the way we think is right, but ultimately, the choice is theirs, if they still choose to trade meme coins and stake on centralized exchanges after learning about Bitcoin, that’s their right. Bitcoin isn’t for everyone — self-custody is a big responsibility, and not everyone is ready for that level of control.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share before we wrap up?

Mary: I’d like to remind everyone that HashHouse is here for educational and socializing purposes only. We do not provide financial or legal advice — doing your own research is always key. Bitcoin learning is a long-term, self-taught journey, driven by curiosity. It’s not something that can be condensed into a single session or workshop. Bitcoin finds you gradually, then suddenly. If your values align with freedom and decentralization, you’ll get there. And, of course, we encourage everyone to remain anonymous and stack some sats.