Pubkey
Pubkey operates two crypto-themed bar and restaurant locations in New York City and Washington D.C., serving pub fare and accepting Bitcoin and stablecoin payments from cryptocurrency enthusiasts and general diners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersPort Washington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Pubkey does
Pubkey operates a crypto-native bar and restaurant concept, currently running two physical locations — its original flagship at 85 Washington Place in New York City's Greenwich Village (established 2021) and a second location at 410 7th St NW in Washington D.C. (established 2022). The venues serve traditional pub fare including burgers, hot dogs, wings, and craft beverages, with extended late-night operating hours (up to 4 a.m. on weekends). The company's distinguishing feature is the acceptance of cryptocurrency payments (Bitcoin and stablecoins), supported by payment-processor integrations, combined with a programming calendar of Bitcoin and crypto-themed events. Brand identity is tightly fused with Bitcoin culture — establishment numbers reference Bitcoin block heights, the website embeds the Bitcoin Genesis Block code, and merchandise features crypto-native slogans. Founder Thomas Pacchia leads the company, which has received backing from Winklevoss Capital.
The business operates a hybrid revenue model. The primary stream is in-venue food and beverage sales across both locations, supplemented by private event bookings handled through the TripleSeat platform and a Mug Club membership loyalty program at the DC location. A secondary, lower-velocity stream is branded merchandise sold globally through a Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront (shop.pubkey.com), offering hoodies ($50-$65), t-shirts ($25-$45), hats ($25-$30), and accessories such as lighters ($6-$18). Distribution and community engagement run through an unusually broad social footprint spanning crypto-native channels (Nostr, Telegram) and mainstream platforms (Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube), in addition to a MailChimp-managed newsletter.
There is no proprietary technology disclosed; the operational stack is composed of standard SaaS point solutions (Shopify, TripleSeat, MailChimp, Google Forms). The company is privately held with 11-50 employees and no disclosed institutional investors beyond Winklevoss Capital. No management team beyond the founder is publicly identified, and there are no disclosed funding amounts, revenue figures, or patent/trademark assets. Strategic direction centers on deepening the brand's role as a physical gathering point for the Bitcoin community while extending brand monetization through merchandise and events.
Pubkey firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pubkey
- Legal name
- PubKey
- Website
- https://pubkey.bar
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Pubkey operates two crypto-themed bar and restaurant locations in New York City and Washington D.C., serving pub fare and accepting Bitcoin and stablecoin payments from cryptocurrency enthusiasts and general diners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pubkey industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cryptocurrency-themed bar and restaurant (Hospitality)
- NAICS
- Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pubs & Gastropubs (CRANACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Neighborhood Bars & Taverns (CRANACAA)
Keywords
Where Pubkey is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Port Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Pubkey business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Food and Beverage Sales: Traditional bar and restaurant revenue from selling alcoholic beverages, craft beers, and food items including burgers, hot dogs, wings, and bar bites. Operating hours extend late night (up to 4am on weekends).
- Merchandise Sales: E-commerce sales of branded merchandise including hoodies ($50-$65), t-shirts ($25-$45), hats ($25-$30), and accessories like lighters ($6-$18). Products sold through shop.pubkey.com.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise - various apparel and accessories |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Pubkey product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pubkey operates cryptocurrency-themed bars and restaurants in New York City and Washington D.C., serving food and drinks in venues branded around Bitcoin culture and accepting cryptocurrency payments. It complements its in-venue hospitality with an online branded merchandise shop selling apparel and accessories that ship across the U.S.
Product overview
PubKey is a cryptocurrency-accepting bar and restaurant with two locations (New York City and Washington D.C.) that also operates an online merchandise shop. The core offering is the bar/restaurant experience featuring pub food (burgers, hot dogs, wings, sandwiches) and craft beverages, with the distinctive feature of accepting cryptocurrency payments. The online shop extends the brand through branded merchandise including hoodies, t-shirts, and accessories sold via shop.pubkey.com. The company also hosts Bitcoin and cryptocurrency-themed events at both locations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pubkey Bar & Restaurant (NYC) Brick-and-mortar cryptocurrency-themed bar and restaurant in New York City serving food, drinks, and hosting Bitcoin/crypto-themed events for individual consumers and crypto enthusiasts.
- Pubkey Bar & Restaurant (Washington D.C.) Brick-and-mortar cryptocurrency-themed bar and restaurant in Washington D.C. serving food, drinks, and hosting crypto-themed events for individual consumers and crypto enthusiasts.
- Pubkey Online Shop (Branded Merchandise) Direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront selling Pubkey-branded apparel and accessories to crypto enthusiasts and fans nationwide, with orders shipped via UPS and USPS.
Companies that use Pubkey
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Pubkey technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Pubkey partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Cryptocurrency Payment ProcessorscorePubKey accepts cryptocurrency payments as a core differentiator, enabling customers to pay with Bitcoin and stablecoins. This integration positions the bar as a pioneer in real-world crypto adoption, aligning with the broader trend of stablecoin volumes surpassing traditional payment networks like Visa.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Pubkey competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Buffalo Wild Wings: Buffalo Wild Wings is a sports-bar chain with wings as a signature item — directly overlapping PubKey's menu — and a comparable late-night, event-driven (game viewing) GTM. Useful as a broad-incumbent peer for sports-bar unit economics and event programming.
- Bitcoin Magazine: Bitcoin Magazine is the leading media and events brand in the Bitcoin ecosystem and runs the annual Bitcoin Conference. It targets the same crypto-enthusiast community as PubKey, hosts in-person gatherings, and benefits from the same adoption narrative that drives foot traffic to PubKey's venues.
- Shake Shack: Shake Shack is a New York City-born, publicly traded casual dining chain known for burgers, hot dogs, and crinkle-cut fries — overlapping significantly with PubKey's core menu. It targets the same urban, late-day consumer and serves as a useful comparable for NYC casual-food unit economics.
- Wingstop: Wingstop is a publicly traded wing-focused chain with menu overlap (wings are a PubKey staple). Notably, Wingstop accepts Bitcoin via Flexa — making it a direct comparable on both product and crypto-payment adoption, and a useful benchmark for crypto-accepting F&B economics.
Emerging players
- Casa: Casa provides Bitcoin self-custody and multisig security products to high-net-worth crypto holders. Its user base overlaps materially with PubKey's crypto-enthusiast segment and represents a natural sponsorship/event partnership target for the bar.
- Strike: Strike is a Bitcoin-native payments app that enables merchants and consumers to transact in Bitcoin and the dollar. It serves the same Bitcoin-first user base as PubKey and is a logical ecosystem partner/customer for the bar's crypto-accepting point-of-sale.
- Bitcoin Depot: Bitcoin Depot operates the largest crypto ATM network in North America, onboarding consumers into Bitcoin for the first time. Its user base feeds directly into the addressable crypto-curious audience that PubKey courts as both customers and community members.
Broad incumbents
- Dine Brands: Dine Brands (Applebee's, IHOP, Fuzzy's) is a publicly traded full-service restaurant group with extensive multi-unit franchising experience. It serves as a broad-incumbent comparable for what a scaled, multi-unit casual-dining operator looks like.
- Bloomin' Brands: Bloomin' Brands (Outback, Carrabba's, Bonefish) is a publicly traded multi-brand casual-dining operator. It provides a useful scale and multi-unit operating benchmark for PubKey's ambitions to expand beyond two locations.
- Block (formerly Square): Block (formerly Square) builds merchant payment infrastructure including Bitcoin acceptance via Cash App. While not a bar, it sits at the same intersection of crypto + everyday commerce that PubKey exemplifies and shapes the broader merchant-crypto acceptance narrative.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Pubkey social profiles
Digital presencePubkey financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pubkey leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Pubkey funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pubkey M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pubkey
What does Pubkey do?
Pubkey operates cryptocurrency-themed bars and restaurants in New York City and Washington D.C., serving food and drinks in venues branded around Bitcoin culture and accepting cryptocurrency payments. It complements its in-venue hospitality with an online branded merchandise shop selling apparel and accessories that ship across the U.S.
Is Pubkey a public or private company?
Pubkey is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Pubkey founded?
Pubkey was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Pubkey based?
Pubkey is headquartered in Port Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pubkey make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Food and Beverage Sales are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales.
Who are Pubkey's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Buffalo Wild Wings, Bitcoin Magazine, Shake Shack and Wingstop. Emerging players are Casa, Strike and Bitcoin Depot. Broad incumbents are Dine Brands, Bloomin' Brands and Block (formerly Square).
Does Pubkey have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pubkey.
What industry is Pubkey in?
Pubkey's product category is Cryptocurrency-themed bar and restaurant (Hospitality). Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRANACAB, Pubs & Gastropubs, with a secondary code of CRANACAA, Neighborhood Bars & Taverns. Its NAICS code is 7224 and its SIC code is 5810.