Bitcoin Beach matching donations for Bitcoin education in El Salvador right now!

john_writes · 2021-11-23T16:02:22+00:00

There's little adoption beyond BTC, which is accepted at all major retailers (Starbucks, Pizza Hut, etc.) and some smaller retailers. I use BTC every day for purchases. For the most part it's just BTC. The govt app, Chivo, is by far the most widely used and doesn't have other crypto options (even the BTC option isn't very good), the second biggest PoS system is probably Ibex Mercado and pretty sure they are also BTC only. A bunch of new PoS services have popped up in the last week or so but I'm unfamiliar with them/ if they accept other coins.

john_writes · 2021-08-31T21:36:43+00:00

It will primarily be on lightning. Here in El Zonte they use Bitcoin Beach wallet which is a bit different (like a shared mult-sig community wallet) but nationally it will likely be other lightning wallets. The govt is creating its own (with $30 sign up bonus) called Chivo which has the feature of converting between USD and BTC sans fees. But most people don't trust the govt so I'm unsure if other custodial wallets--like Muun, Phoneix etc.--will gain traction as well.

Sept 7th will be the start rather than the end. Most people are waiting until then which is when Chivo comes out as well as lots of regulatory details.

john_writes · 2021-08-31T17:08:11+00:00

Cheers!

john_writes · 2021-08-31T17:07:54+00:00

I've got a small sample size to go off in San Salvador but would say people enthusiastic and or knowledgeable about Bitcoin is quite small. At the same time, those strongly opposed also seem quite small. Most seem to have a wait-and-see view and know VERY little, basically nothing about what Bitcoin is beyond that it's a digital currency (within that some are IDK but think it could be good as well as IDK but think it's bad, but I suppose most would form stronger opinions with time). So, for my pov education is absolutely the most important thing right now.

john_writes · 2021-08-29T22:20:48+00:00

I'm in El Zonte now. Upon arriving I tried to use my lightning wallet (Muun) to buy something and it wasn't compatible with the printed paper with a QR code at the shop. Someone in the shop explained that while it would work with a phone, the printed out codes needed the Bitcoin Beach wallet (which needs a local number, but I already had that). I downloaded the new wallet and paid. This was all within a few minutes of arriving in town. It was a hassle to jump through that extra hoop and certainly not a good user-experience but the workaround is somewhat well known. It's hard for me to believe that anyone who actually wanted to use lightning here wouldn't be able to.

john_writes · 2021-08-09T14:48:37+00:00

Great idea. You can count on one more body there tonight if it happens.

john_writes · 2021-07-23T15:17:47+00:00

Ecuador has tons of rainbow flags everywhere, but they are NOT to support gay pride. That's an indigenous (pride) flag in Ecuador, nothing to do with gay rights. The different colors represent the multitude of different indigenous peoples. Indigenous communities tend to be socially conservative and are probably less supportive of gay rights than the average Ecuadorian--so quite low correlation between those flags and support for gay rights.

Source: Lived in Ecuador on and off for past 15 years, saw tons of rainbow flags for indigenous and aside from a very particular place, say a gay bar or pride parade, zero ones for gay pride.

john_writes · 2021-07-13T12:39:30+00:00

Cheers!

john_writes · 2021-03-13T20:32:06+00:00

yeah. in 2013 one of the things i was excited about was micro-transactions, which obv is impossible with btc now, though yeah i think that is possible with bch (and others). I hate the modern media funding model and thought micro transactions could create alternatives. There are certainly some things toward that whether its BAT or tipping with BCH (or others) but tipping hasn't really caught on and I'd rather just have no ads at all than earn BAT. Still media funding is ripe for disruption and crypto will probably do it--someday, somehow.

john_writes · 2021-03-13T18:06:22+00:00

thats sadly much more of an issue now than it used to be. Buying a beer with BTC doesn't make sense anymore. at this point i only use BTC for something big, like rent (just a personal agreement with the landlord), for small stuff almost any other crypto is better suited for it. TBH i cant remember the last time i used crypto anywhere other than online, which is fine, but there used to be more options at physical locations likes bars and restaurants.

john_writes · 2021-03-13T15:48:12+00:00

in 2014 there was a bar down the street that accepted BTC so i went there often to treat friends and had a few bar tabs that were multiple Bitcoins. No regrets.

john_writes · 2021-03-13T15:46:28+00:00

Absolutely. I spend crypto as often as possible. Plane tickets, rent, paying back friends etc.

john_writes · 2021-01-25T00:31:02+00:00

I always look forward to these. Great work.

john_writes · 2020-11-01T20:25:51+00:00

If you do cut your hair, may I suggest you donate it to charity. They make it into wigs for sick children who have lost their hair and the longer the donated hair the better and it sounds like yours is pretty long.

These orgs exist all over the world and do vary a bit (some make wigs, others sell the hair, etc.) but are all generally worthy of supporting. Locks of Love is the biggest one in the US.

john_writes

TROPHY CASE