In a significant development that highlights the growing influence of cryptocurrency in Washington, a "vibrant bitcoin community" bar, Pubkey, is set to open a new location in the nation's capital, potentially replacing a beloved Republican venue. According to local news site PoPville, Pubkey has taken over the lease of Hill Country, a popular Texas barbecue restaurant and music venue that recently announced its closure after 14 years in Penn Quarter.

Pubkey, which opened in 2022 near New York University's Manhattan campus, has gained a reputation for its casual atmosphere, featuring a subterranean dive bar-slash-podcast recording studio, a pub grub menu designed by an Eleven Madison Park alum, and a unique requirement that patrons pay with cryptocurrency. The bar has also become a hotspot for crypto enthusiasts, with high-profile visitors including former President Donald Trump, who made a symbolic visit during the 2024 campaign and used $998.70 worth of bitcoin to buy smash burgers for the entire bar.

Pubkey owner Thomas Pacchia confirmed the plans to open a DC location, although he declined to specify the exact location. The new venue will feature podcast studios, event space, and other amenities, with Pacchia expressing hope that it will draw a bipartisan crowd. "Anybody that wants to come and talk about Bitcoin is welcome. Literally, anyone," he said. Notably, Democrats such as Rep. Ritchie Torres and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand have also visited Pubkey, indicating a potential for the bar to become a hub for crypto discussions across party lines.

The closure of Hill Country, on the other hand, marks the end of an era for Republican staffers and lawmakers who frequented the bar for its live country music, smoked brisket, and decently priced well liquor. The bar has been known to host high-powered GOP lawmakers, including Rep. George Santos, who was once spotted singing "I Will Survive" on a Wednesday karaoke night in 2023, despite being under federal and Congressional investigation for fraud and lying about his background.

The arrival of Pubkey in Washington comes at a significant time for the crypto industry, which has gained massive influence with the Trump administration. Key crypto players such as David Sacks and Elon Musk have supported Trump's reelection, and the president has launched his own memecoin, appointed Sacks as a "crypto czar," and announced a potential cryptocurrency strategic reserve. The rise of crypto has inadvertently stoked competition between the nativist MAGA right and the global economy-focused tech right, a tension so palpable that Vice President J.D. Vance recently had to call for a truce between the two.

As the crypto industry continues to grow in influence, the opening of Pubkey in Washington marks a significant milestone in the nation's capital. Whether it displaces the Republican bar or not, Pubkey's arrival is a clear sign that the crypto faction is gaining ground, both literally and figuratively, in the heart of American politics.