DCTRL, a renowned Bitcoin hacker space in Vancouver, has announced the closure of its centrally located underground venue after twelve years of operation. The primary reason for this closure is recent changes in the city’s zoning laws, which have imposed stricter regulations on building usage. Community members have expressed their intention to relocate to a new site in the coming weeks and update the organization’s vision.
DCTRL has held a prominent position within Vancouver’s Bitcoin community, serving as a hub where early Bitcoin adopters, hardware hackers, and crypto investors collaborated to foster innovation and culture in the industry. The city’s first Bitcoin ATM was also installed under DCTRL’s management, marking a significant milestone that contributed to Bitcoin’s surge in popularity and the establishment of multiple other ATM projects and Bitcoin manufacturing companies.
Founded by a group that united local technology, finance, and crypto communities, DCTRL hosted meetups, workshops, and experiments with advanced Bitcoin protocols such as Taproot, Stacks, Spark, and Arcade OS. The space gave Vancouver’s hacker culture a unique identity and attracted many notable figures from the global Bitcoin community.
One of DCTRL’s most distinctive features was “Bipsy,” a refrigerator powered by Bitcoin, which showcased innovative real-world payment possibilities and served as a source of financial support for the community.
Although DCTRL must vacate its current location, its community remains active and committed to continuing their work at a new venue. This transition marks a new chapter for this revolutionary hacker space, which has been a vital part of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency development in Canada.
Source: bitcoinmagazine
