Need to know
Many in the Walton community have been left scratching their heads about what it does
The mysterious Bitcoin Rerpair Shop on Rice Lane(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Need to know: walton’s bitcoin repair shop mystery finally explained
- The owner of Walton’s mysterious Bitcoin Repair shop has finally explained his business after baffled locals questioned what the Rice Lane premises actually does.
- Charlie Murtagh, 42, from Orrell Park, opened the doors to the ECHO to clarify that his shop repairs Bitcoin mining machines, not the cryptocurrency itself. The business operates from the former William Hill bookmakers building and has left residents scratching their heads since opening.
- Local resident Tommy McCoy, 70, who has lived in the area for 50 years, told the ECHO: “What is it? It’s a repair shop so something goes wrong with it. I want my bookmaker back.”
- Mr Murtagh, who has a background as an electrician, explained: “The repair is for the machines that create the Bitcoin. Like any computer they always need maintenance.”
- The shop often appears closed because it doesn’t rely on foot traffic, instead operating through online contacts within the tight-knit Bitcoin mining community. Repair costs range from £100-£500 for air-cooled machines to over £1,000 for more powerful hydro technology.
- Mr Murtagh said he chose the secure Rice Lane premises because “if it’s good enough for William Hill, it’s good enough for these” and serves as both a repair centre and meeting place for Bitcoin miners.
- Despite the confusion, the local businessman defended his venture, saying: “I’m a local lad. It’s not like I’ve rolled up to a different city and started some madness going on.”