{"id":92176,"date":"2020-10-19T00:34:02","date_gmt":"2020-10-18T21:34:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/former-patrons-cant-drown-sorrows-as-first-ever-bar-to-accept-bitcoin-closes\/"},"modified":"2020-10-19T00:34:02","modified_gmt":"2020-10-18T21:34:02","slug":"former-patrons-cant-drown-sorrows-as-first-ever-bar-to-accept-bitcoin-closes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/former-patrons-cant-drown-sorrows-as-first-ever-bar-to-accept-bitcoin-closes\/","title":{"rendered":"# Former patrons can’t drown sorrows as first-ever bar to accept Bitcoin closes"},"content":{"rendered":"

“# Former patrons can’t drown sorrows as first-ever bar to accept Bitcoin closes <\/strong>”<\/p>\n

A legendary bar and restaurant in Germany that was reportedly the first to ever accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment has permanently closed.<\/p>\n

According to an Oct. 18 Reddit<\/a> post from Joerg Platzer, founder of Room 77, the first brick-and-mortar business to accept Bitcoin (BTC) is<\/a> no longer accepting customers and has shuttered its doors. In a goodbye message riddled with references to Douglas Adams\u2019 The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy<\/em>, Platzer said \u201cthanks again for all the fish and the generous tips\u201d after more than 15 years in business occupying \u201cthat little joint in Berlin Kreuzberg.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a great time,\u201d said<\/a> Platzer. \u201cHaving a lot of fun and making many friends. It is clear by now that nobody will stop Bitcoin anymore. Sound money on a global scale will soon make it unfeasable [sic] to wage wars and it will create economic equality amongst mankind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Room 77, \u201cthe restaurant at the end of capitalism\u201d located in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin, Germany, was reportedly the first brick-and-mortar location in the world to accept Bitcoin as a form of payment. Platzer claimed to have received the first crypto payment in May 2011 for a pint of beer. <\/p>\n

Given that the average price of beer in Germany is roughly $4.10 and Bitcoin had just reached parity with the U.S. dollar at that time, the patron could have easily paid for their drink with more than 1 BTC \u2014 now priced at $11,432. That\u2019s a high-quality beverage.<\/p>\n

Source: <\/em>Room 77<\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Crypto Twitter users were quick to jump on the news<\/a> with their pilgrimage stories to the legendary Bitcoin bar. Cointelegraph reported that even Bitcoin educator Andreas Antonopoulos had turned local business owners onto crypto after a chance meeting in the bar.<\/p>\n

\u201cA visit to Berlin was never complete without stopping by Room 77,\u201d said<\/a> Bitcoin Core developer Eric Lombrozo. \u201cThis place will always remain part of Bitcoin history.\u201d<\/p>\n

Phil Lucsok shared<\/a> memories of his first time spending crypto in the real world:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I first got some Bitcoin, I just wanted to spend it somewhere AFK. I got to Room 77 on an early spring afternoon in 2013 and ordered a coffee since I didn\u2019t want beer or food, just wanted to spend some decentralized currency for the first time in my life.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Platzer did not provide a specific reason for the closure, but former patrons are speculating it may be related to restrictions due to the pandemic. Last week, authorities announced<\/a> a curfew requiring bars in Berlin to shut down between 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM and restrict gatherings to no more than 25 people indoors.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Though the ban was later lifted<\/a>, many businesses worldwide are experiencing a drop in revenue as tourism drops and more people stay indoors.<\/p>\n

\u201cBlame it on COVID or blame it on gentrification,\u201d said<\/a> crypto economist Jon Matonis on Twitter. \u201cEither way, this Kreuzberg landmark has served as a Bitcoin watering hole for over 10 years, with thousands making the obligatory pilgrimage.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n