Waking Up to a Bitcoin Surprise
On Feb. 27, John Backus, a dedicated advocate for Noisebridge, experienced a morning like no other. After tossing and turning with financial worries for the beloved anarchist hackerspace nestled in San Francisco, he checked the group’s cryptocurrency wallet only to find a staggering 17.513 Bitcoin—worth around $156,000—had magically appeared. The source? The U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, flush with goodwill after a simple tweet Backus sent out the day before.
The Tweet That Changed Everything
Backus illustrated the reality of the world’s quirks as he recounts: “I was brimming with excitement when I saw we had raised a humble $200 by nightfall. But when I saw a tweet from Kraken in the morning, it felt like I’d stumbled into a sci-fi movie.”
Sorting Through the Cryptic Tweet
What followed was a whirlwind of confusion as Backus, always the optimist, tried to decipher the ornate tweet. “I squinted at the screen; there were about thirty inputs and fifty outputs. I had to squint harder—were my eyes playing tricks? Well, there it was, the unmistakable Noisebridge address with a whopping 17.5 Bitcoin!” His rollercoaster of emotions peaked as he rushed to confirm the legitimacy through the Noisebridge Slack channel.
The Concerns Beneath the Hype
Cue the sigh of relief; however, one fortune doesn’t hide the reality of a roof needing repair. Backus highlighted that Noisebridge, founded on the spirit of collaboration, has survived solely on donations over the last twelve years. The money was finally starting to trickle in after struggles with accessibility, safety codes, and especially—drumroll please—a sprinkler system that apparently wants an upgrade by the tune of $150,000.
What Lies Ahead for Noisebridge?
Tyler Maran, Noisebridge’s treasurer, grinned and described the potential projects on the horizon. “We might distribute the Bitcoin to upgrade the sprinklers, but we have some time to think. Moving locations has also crossed our minds, though we’ve poured our hearts into the space—twelve years is no small feat!”
The Bitcoin Gift as a Community Catalyst
As Kraken’s monumental donation rolls in, it’s clear that open-source values remain at the heart of Noisebridge. Whether it’s building hardware wallets or dabbling in the latest in blockchain, the funds may drive the local tech community in exciting new directions. As Maran puts it wisely, “We are community-run and we’ll ensure this money benefits everyone involved.”
+ There are no comments
Add yours