Paralelní Polis Preps For This Year's Hackers Congress

Paralelní Polis and the Atlas Network are throwing their annual event, the Hackers Congress In Prague (HCPP16). The third annual conference will run from Sept. 30 through Oct. 2, promoting freedom through the use of cryptography.

Also read: A Decentralized World Has No Kings

The Hackers Congress In Prague at Paralelní Polis

Both Atlas and Paralelní Polis are firm believers in using digital tools to decentralize the current social, political and economic infrastructure.

Paralelní Polis is a well-known cryptoanarchy establishment in Prague, home to hackers and crypto-activists. Last year’s Hackers Congress was a huge success, with 500 attendees inside the three-story loft.

This year’s HCPP16 is expected to double in size and host roughly 40 speakers. As well as a partnership with Atlas, the event has many other sponsors. Other HCPP16 contributors include Trezor, Uber, Coin Mate, General Bytes, Dash, Keboola and more.

Speakers will represent the freedom movement, journalism, cryptoanarchy, and academia. This year’s HCPP16 guest speakers will include cryptoanarchist Timothy May, Bitcoin expert Andreas Antonopoulos, OpenBazaar’s Sam Patterson, and Liberland’s Vít Jedlička.

The Paralelní Polis HCPP16 event material explains the philosophy of the organization’s gatherings, stating:

Cryptography enables a wide array of digital freedom, from decentralized online currency like Bitcoin to enhanced privacy in communication and collaborative technology.— New technology brings the possibility of choice — we are in a time that is defined by the manifesto of crypto- anarchy.

Speakers, Workshops, Drone Races, and a 3D-Printed Fashion Show

Pavol Fukatsch, project coordinator for the Paralelní Polis Institute of Cryptoanarchy, expects this year’s event to be its biggest ever. He said attendees will have lots to do during the three-day conference, such as: workshops, drone racing, virtual reality setups, movie screenings, and a 3D-printed fashion show.

Bitcoin.com also spoke with event organizer Martin Šíp about the upcoming Prague event. He told us:

“The unique thing about Hackers Congress is the diversity of speakers’ backgrounds and very friendly atmosphere. We have hackers and experts on Bitcoin and blockchain, but we also have economists, thinkers, political artists, activists, and this year even two doctors. — In 2014, I visited the first Hackers Congress as a regular attendee, and I was immediately captured by the Congress atmosphere and the community which was being created around Paralelní Polis by that time. That resulted in more than 90 bitcoin meetups that I was able to organize on the open platform of Paralelní Polis. Now, I am even co-organizing the third Hackers Congress. Amazing!”

One notable feature appearance will be from the art collective Ztohoven, the designers of Paralelní polis. Last year Ztohoven replaced the presidential flag on Prague Castle with a pair of red underpants. Earlier this year the group cut the flag into pieces and attached Bitcoin to each piece of cloth. Then the collective dispersed the pieces, giving a little bit of BTC to residents across the Czech region. During the HCPP16 event, the group will be discussing its latest project, the “Decentralization of Power.”

A Non-Profit Mission Focused on Creating a ‘Freer Future’

The Czech-based hacker house is a non-profit that aims to enhance liberty through the educational aspects of these emerging technologies. To do this, the project also intends to remain a state-free environment that operates with support from voluntary contributions. Funds raised allow the group to maintain its bitcoin-­only cafe and co-working space for people developing disruptive protocols. The Hackers Congress mission statement says:

“The main goal is to promote economic, social and digital freedom.— We try to be a vocal voice of freedom in order to shape the public discourse, and ultimately work towards a freer future.”

You can check out last year’s Paralelní polis Hackers Congress event below.

What events will you be attending this year? What do you think about the Hackers Congress? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Atlas Network

Images via the Paralelní polis website.

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