The End of Paralelni Polis: Second Culture Permanently Closes in Prague
The "crypto house" at Dělnická 43 is permanently closing its doors. After a decade as a symbol of freedom, Bitcoin culture, and hacking, the era of Paralelní Polis and its successor Second Culture comes to a definitive end due to financial pressures and property owner decisions.
The Final Curtain for Dělnická 43: Second Culture Closes its Doors
Today, Monday, March 2, 2026 – The era of the "crypto house" in Prague continues no more. According to exclusive information obtained by the Kryptomagazin.cz editorial team, operations at Second Culture at Dělnická 43 are coming to a definitive halt. This location, which the majority of the crypto community continued to regard as "Polis" despite its 2024 renaming, is not undergoing a rebranding or a strategic pivot this time.
Status Update: Unlike previous transitions, this is not a "managed collapse." It is the end. For good. At the time of this publication, no official public announcement regarding today's closure has been released on Second Culture's website or social media channels.
The sad reality of the situation is documented in the images below.
A Symbol of Freedom and Technology
Paralelní Polis was never just a café, a coworking space, or a mere event venue. For the Czech and European crypto scene, it served as a vital symbol: a safe harbor for bitcoiners, hackers, cypherpunks, entrepreneurs, and absolute newcomers alike. It was a unique convergence point where technology, culture, and politics met—a space where freedom was not just a topic of discussion on stage, but a concept tested in practice.
The project opened its doors in October 2014 in Prague's Holešovice district. Founded by the Ztohoven art group, it carried the ambitious goal of operating "state-free" and without any government support.
It achieved something for cryptocurrencies that seemed like science fiction at the time. Bitcoin Coffee and the lecture hall became some of the first places in the Czech Republic where paying with bitcoin was the norm. In fact, for a long time, fiat currency payments didn't even make sense within those walls.
From Polis to "Second Culture": The 2024 Transition
The first major shift occurred in the fall of 2024, when it was announced that Paralelní Polis would end "in its current form." The decision was driven by long-term financial pressures and inevitable project exhaustion.
The founders implemented a model described as a "managed collapse." While the non-profit entity Paralelní Polis continued to exist, it ceased to operate the building itself. The physical operations were transformed into a coworking space under a new brand: Second Culture.
Second Culture positioned itself as a coworking venue and continued to honor the building's legacy by openly accepting cryptocurrency payments (e.g., BTC, LTC, XMR) until recently. Yet, for many, the address retained the aura, memories, and identity of "Polis."
Why It Is Ending Now
Now, even that successor chapter has closed. According to our sources, it became impossible to sustain Second Culture financially and operationally. Furthermore, we have verified information indicating a decisive stance from the property owner:
The building owner no longer wishes for activities associated with cryptocurrencies to continue in the premises.
Consequently, there is no talk of further transformation. The consensus is that the chapter at Dělnická 43 is closing for the last time. The space is expected to undergo changes that will ensure the "crypto house" as we knew it will never return in this form.
The Legacy: Lectures, Community, and Traditions
For more than a decade, this building acted as an incubator for radical ideas and community building. Its impact ranged from daily debates "over coffee" to massive summits that attracted attendees from across the continent.
Key Pillars of the Community
- Hackers Congress Paralelní Polis (HCPP): The flagship event combining hacking, decentralization, and freedom. In 2024, it was held as the "last one under the banner of Paralelní Polis."
- DARK PRAGUE: The successor project to the "core" Hackers Congress, continuing the tradition of high-level discourse.
- Community Rituals: Events like Bitcoin Pizza Day defined the local scene. These traditions, fortunately, are not bound to a specific building—they are bound to the people.
Looking Forward: A New Home for Kryptomagazin.cz
For our team, this closure is personal. Kryptomagazin.cz maintained offices in Polis. It was not just a symbolic address; it literally gave us a base, contacts, inspiration, and energy. It was the "top spot" where one could simply walk in and meet key figures from the crypto world. We must now find a new base of operations.
The Good News: The community survives the building. According to our information, major events like Pizza Day, Hackers Congress, and DARK PRAGUE are expected to continue in new locations. We will inform you as soon as specific dates and venues are confirmed.
Timeline of Dělnická 43
- October 2014: Grand opening of Paralelní Polis in Prague-Holešovice.
- Fall 2024: Paralelní Polis ends operations in its original form; the building transitions to the Second Culture coworking brand.
- March 2, 2026: Second Culture ends operations. The definitive closure of the "crypto house" at this address.
Farewell to an Icon
Polis held global significance precisely because it wasn't polished corporate space. It was real. Sometimes chaotic, sometimes stubborn, but always visionary. Most importantly, it was alive.
Today the doors are closing, but the ideas that germinated here since 2014 do not end with them.
I am the founder of the portal Kryptomagazin.cz. At the time, there was virtually nothing about cryptocurrencies on the Czech scene, so I decided to change that. I like the idea of decentralization, a bit of cypherpunk philosophy, and crypto-anarchy. The crypto industry is my world — I move and work in it every day, so I can no longer call it a hobby or pastime. I will always be happy to welcome you to your crypto magazine :)