The Bitcoin Treasuries Podcast with Tim Kotzman Raising the Bitcoin Bar with Pubkey's Mike Germano
Aug 29, 2025
Mike Germano, President of Pubkey and former media executive, shares his journey from media to the Bitcoin community. He reveals the unique vision behind Pubkey, a Bitcoin bar in NYC designed for fostering connections among enthusiasts. Germano discusses the exciting plans for the Bitcoin Treasuries Unconference and delves into the branding potential of Bitcoin. The conversation highlights the importance of trust within the Bitcoin community and how creating spaces for dialogue can elevate the crypto experience.
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From Facebook To Venmo To Media Exit
- Mike Germano described building a social-media agency and being early with Facebook, which led to local political office and later selling his company to Vice Media.
- He recounted his CTO building Venmo in their office and how that sparked interest in digital payments and Bitcoin.
Career Pivot Into Bitcoin Media
- After selling his company to Vice, Mike struggled managing newfound wealth and regretted not having earlier Bitcoin exposure.
- He then joined Bitcoin Magazine and helped scale its media properties and conferences during COVID and beyond.
Bar As A Branding And Treasury Stage
- PubKey is positioned as a cultural hub that converts real-world commerce into Bitcoin held on treasury balance sheets.
- The bar functions as a stage for community, content, and corporate narrative-building around Bitcoin adoption.