Bitcoin on Wheels: The Story of Bitcoinetas
You may have seen photos of Michael Saylor riding in a Bitcoin-branded van. A cheerful man is right next to the car door. This one:
The car is Bitcoineta European Edition and the cheerful man is Ariel Aguilar. Ariel is part of the European Bitcoineta team and he has previously driven another similar car in Argentina. In fact, there are currently five cars in the world with the name Bitcoineta (in some cases prefixed with the Spanish definite article “La”).
Argentina: The Original La Bitcoineta
The story of Bitcoinetas begins with the birth of ‘La Bitcoineta’ in Argentina in 2017. Inspired by the vitality of the Latin American Bitcoin community, Bitcoineta was originally conceived after the annual Latin American Conference (Labitconf). This recognizes a unique opportunity to promote Bitcoin education in remote areas. Armed with a bright orange Bitcoin-themed exterior and a mission to bridge the gap in financial literacy, La Bitcoineta has embarked on a journey to bring the potential benefits of Bitcoin to towns and villages untouched by mainstream financial education initiatives. Run by a team of dedicated volunteers, it was more than just a car. It has been a symbol of hope and empowerment for people living on the edge of financial inclusion.
Ariel was part of the early Argentine Bitcoineta team and spent several weeks on the road when the car became a reality. The original dream of bringing Bitcoin education to remote areas of Argentina and other South American countries was realized, and the La Bitcoineta team participated in dozens of local Bitcoin meetups over the next few years.
A major problem occurred in late 2018 when a parked car crashed in Puerto Madryn. The car was almost destroyed, but the team was so possessed by the honey badger spirit that nothing could stop them from carrying out their mission. It is a testament to the determination and resilience of the Argentine team that the car was quickly restored and soon returned to its Orange Peel quest.
In the five-plus years that Argentina’s Bitcoineta has been in operation, it has traveled more than 80,000 km, and as we will see in more detail, it has inspired several similar initiatives around the world.
Follow La Bitcoineta’s journey:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/labitcoineta
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoineta/
El Salvador: Bitcoin Beach
In early 2021, the President of El Salvador passed the Bitcoin Law, making Bitcoin a legal currency in the country. The Labitconf team decided to celebrate the significant progress in Bitcoin adoption by holding its annual conference in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. Accordingly, the Argentine Bitcoineta team planned a daring 7000 km road trip to visit Bitcoin country in an iconic Bitcoin car.
But crossing so many borders separating Argentina and Salvador has proven impossible, with many governments still imposing travel restrictions due to the Covid pandemic. Therefore, two weeks before the November event, the Labitconf team decided to fund a second Bitcoineta directly in El Salvador as part of the Bitcoin Beach circular economy. Thus, the second Bitcoineta was born.
The eye-catching Volkswagen minibus was donated to the El Zonte-based Bitcoin Beach team, which uses the car for the needs of the circular economy.
Follow Bitcoin Beach:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bitcoinbeach
South Africa: Bitcoin Ekash
The end of 2021 saw another major development in terms of grassroots Bitcoin adoption. On the other side of the world, in South Africa, Hermann Vivier launched the Bitcoin Ekasi project. “Ekasi” is a colloquial term for township, and in the South African context, a township is an underdeveloped urban area inhabited primarily by a black population, a remnant of the racist apartheid regime. Bitcoin Ekasi emerged as an attempt to introduce Bitcoin into the economy of JCC Camp township, located in Mossel Bay, and has achieved much success in that area.
Bitcoin Ekasi is greatly inspired by and has mutual respect for the success of the Bitcoin Beach circular economy in El Salvador. Therefore, the Bitcoin Beach team decided to pass on the favor they received from the Argentine Bitcoineta team and provided funding to Bitcoin Ekasi to build their own Bitcoineta.
Bitcoin Ekasi emerged as a sister organization to Surfer Kids, a non-profit organization that empowers underprivileged youth through surfing. Ekasi Bitcoineta is therefore partly used as a means of enticing children to participate in various surfing competitions held in South Africa. The most significant event in this regard was when the children met Jordy Smith, one of the most successful South African surfers in the world.
As it happens, South African surfers present an interesting demographic for understanding Bitcoin due to their unique circumstances and needs. To become a professional surfer, you must participate in overseas competitions. However, South Africa has strict currency controls, so sending money abroad for travel and competition expenses can often be a headache. The borderless nature of Bitcoin provides a solution to these constraints, providing surfers with an alternative means of moving funds across borders without obstacles.
Photo taken at the 2023 South African Junior Surfing Championships. Back row left to right:
Mbatha, Chuma, Jody Smith and Sandiso. Front, left to right: Owethu, Sibulele.
To learn more about Bitcoineta South Africa and the non-profit work it offers, watch Aubrey Strobel’s documentary Lekker Feeling.
Follow Bitcoin Ekasi:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BitcoinEkasi
Fundraiser: https://support.bitcoinekasi.com/
Europe: Bitcoin Eta Europa
Bitcoineta in Europe started its journey in early 2023 and Ariel Aguilar was one of the main catalysts of this idea. Unlike its predecessors in El Salvador and South Africa, Bitcoineta Europe did not receive funding from its predecessors, but instead secured support from private donors, reflecting a grassroots approach to spreading financial knowledge.
The European Bitcoineta is a Mercedes box van decorated with a prominent Bitcoin logo and inspirational messages, serving as a mobile hub for education and discussion at numerous European Bitcoin conferences and local gatherings. Do it. Inside the spacious interior, famous Bitcoin users and Bitcoin commoners lean against the walls, sharing insights and forming camaraderie and collaboration.
Follow Bitcoineta Europa’s journey:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BitcoinetaEU
Ghana: Bitcointa West Africa
Embed: https://youtu.be/8oWgIU17aIY?si=hrsKmMIA7lI6jX4k
The fifth Bitcoin, introduced at the African Bitcoin Conference in Ghana in December 2023, was donated to the Ghana Bitcoin Kauri Education Initiative as part of the Trezor Academy program.
Bitcoineta West Africa was funded by proceeds from Bitcoin-only limited edition Trezor devices, which sold out within a day of launch at the Bitcoin Amsterdam conference.
With extensive touring plans encompassing Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and potentially other countries within the ECOWAS political and economic union, Bitcoineta West Africa will promote a spirit of cooperation and solidarity that promotes Bitcoin adoption and financial inclusion across the Southern Hemisphere. Implement it.
Follow Bitcoineta West Africa’s journey:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BitcoinetaWA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinetawa/
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All Bitcoineta cars around the world share one important mission: This means empowering communities through Bitcoin education and improving the lives of ordinary people who desperately need Bitcoin, even though they are currently unaware of that need. As we continue to cross borders and break down barriers, Bitcointas serves as a reminder of the power of grassroots initiatives and the importance of financial education in shaping a more inclusive future. The BitcoinTas tradition will continue to thrive, and we hope to see shamelessly decorated Bitcoin cars everywhere we go in the future.
If Bitcoinetas’ inspiring story has sparked your passion to make a difference in your community, we encourage you to take action! Contact one of the existing Bitcoineta teams for guidance, support, and inspiration on how to start your own initiative. If you are interested in spreading Bitcoin education, promoting financial literacy, and empowering underserved communities, the Bitcoineta community will help you every step of the way. Together, we will make the world an orange pill!
This is a guest post by Josef Tetek. The opinions expressed are solely personal and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.
