In 2011, blockchain technology entered China. The earliest adopters fell into two categories: one group focused on mining, and between 2011 and 2014, as the mining industry grew, they gradually formed the "mining circle," represented by companies like Bitmain. The other group, however, was equally busy—they were fascinated by Bitcoin’s ideology and tirelessly spread knowledge about blockchain. These individuals primarily researched digital currencies, and over time, they formed what we now know as the "coin circle."

In the early days, there was no formal organization. Self-taught enthusiasts like Wu Jihan and Chang Jia evangelized blockchain purely out of interest. It wasn’t until the emergence of a specific location that these individuals gradually gathered and grew into the first generation of big names in the coin circle. That place was "Garage Café."

Originally, Garage Café was a startup-themed coffee shop where entrepreneurs could buy a cup of coffee and enjoy a full day of workspace and mentorship, providing a space for networking. Logically, this place had nothing to do with blockchain. But at the time, Garage Café happened to have a future-famous investor serving as its CTO, tying its fate closely to blockchain. That person was Zhao Dong.

Zhao Dong was a co-founder of Moji Weather and had just sold all his shares before joining Garage Café. At the time, he believed housing prices were at a peak and a financial bubble was about to burst. He needed a new investment opportunity and, by chance, met Wu Gang, one of China’s earliest Bitcoin adopters. Through Wu Gang’s introduction, Zhao Dong bought 10 Bitcoins, made a small profit, and became deeply hooked—setting the stage for what followed.

By March 2013, an American exchange student named Jack stopped by for coffee. As a Bitcoin enthusiast, Jack asked the staff, "Can I pay with Bitcoin?" Zhao Dong, then obsessed with Bitcoin, happily accepted the transaction.

Unexpectedly, this serendipitous event was reported by CCTV, catching the attention of many blockchain entrepreneurs. People flocked to Garage Café, including Li Xiaolai, a former New Oriental teacher, and Guo Hongcai, who once sold pork in Shanxi.

Shared goals and passions naturally fostered a community, and slowly, the earliest coin circle took shape.

Later, as the 2013 bull market surged, the first-generation leaders rapidly grew. They ventured into startups and investments—Zhao Dong pursued investing, Guo Hongcai built mining farms, and Li Xiaolai established a fund, drawing more entrepreneurs and investors into the industry. Countless talents, projects, and capital emerged from this circle, laying the foundation for China’s blockchain ecosystem. And their original gathering place, Garage Café, became known as the birthplace of China’s blockchain.

Today, Garage Café no longer accepts cryptocurrency payments. Yet it still stands on a startup street in Beijing, a silent witness to the early, formative years of China’s blockchain journey…