You may have seen the photo of Michael Saylor in a Bitcoin-branded truck, with a cheering man right next to the truck door. this:
That car is the European version of Bitcoineta, and the cheerful man is Ariel Aguilar. Ariel is part of the European team Bitconieta, and has previously driven another similar car in Argentina. In fact, there are currently five cars around the world named Bitcoineta (in some cases prefixed with the Spanish article “La”).
Argentina: The original version of La Bitcoineta
The story of Bitcoineta begins with the birth of “La Bitcoineta” in Argentina, in 2017. Inspired by the vitality of the Bitcoin community in South America, the original Bitcoineta was conceived after an annual Latin American conference (Labitconf), where the visionaries behind it recognized a unique opportunity to advance 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 embarked on a journey to spread awareness of the potential benefits of Bitcoin to villages and towns that have often remained untouched by mainstream financial education initiatives. Operated by a team of dedicated volunteers, it was more than just a car; It has been a symbol of hope and empowerment for those living on the margins of financial inclusion.
Ariel was part of the initial Argentinian Bitcueneta team, and spent weeks on the road when the car became a reality. The original dream of bringing Bitcoin education even to remote areas within Argentina and other South American countries has been realized, and the La Bitcoineta team has participated in dozens of local Bitcoin meetups in subsequent years.
One big hiccup came in late 2018, when the car crashed while parked in Puerto Madryn. The vehicle was largely destroyed, but since the team was possessed by the spirit of a honey badger, nothing could stop them from committing to their mission. It is a testament to the determination and resilience of the Argentine team that the car was quickly restored and returned to its pursuit of orange soon after.
Over the course of more than 5 years of operation, the Argentine Bitcoineta has traveled more than 80,000 kilometers – and as we will see further, it has inspired many 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 tender in the country. The Labitconf team decided to celebrate this big step forward in Bitcoin adoption by hosting the annual conference in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. In contrast, the Argentinian team Bitcoineta has made plans for a daring 7,000 km road trip to visit Bitcoin country in the famous Bitcoin car.
However, it proved impossible to cross so many borders separating Argentina and El Salvador, as many governments were still imposing travel restrictions due to the Covid pandemic. So, two weeks before the November event, the Labitconf team decided to fund a second Bitcoinita directly in El Salvador, as part of the Bitcoin Beach circular economy. Thus, Bitcoinita II was born.
The attractive Volkswagen minivan was donated to the Bitcoin Beach team, which uses the vehicle to meet the needs of its circular economy based in Zonte.
Follow Bitcoin Beach:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bitcoinbeach
South Africa: Bitcoin Icase
Late 2021 saw another major development regarding grassroots Bitcoin adoption. On the other side of the planet, in South Africa, Herman Vivier started the Bitcoin Ekasi project. “Ikasi” is a general term for a township, and a township in the South African context is an underdeveloped urban area with a majority black population, a remnant of the apartheid regime. Bitcoin Ekasi emerged as an attempt to introduce Bitcoin into the economy of the town of JCC Camp located in Mossel Bay, and has had a lot of success on that front.
Bitcoin Ekasi was largely inspired by the success of the circular economy Bitcoin Beach in El Salvador, and the respect was mutual. Hence, the Bitcoin Beach team decided to pass on the service they received from the Argentinian Bitcoineta team, and provided the funds to Bitcoin Ekasi for them to build their own Bitcoineta.
Bitcoin Ekasi emerged as a sister organization to Surfer Kids, a non-profit organization with a mission to empower marginalized youth through surfing. Ekasi Bitcoineta therefore partly serves as a means of enticing children to visit various surfer competitions in South Africa. A highlight in this regard was when the children met Jordie Smith, one of the most successful South African surfers around the world.
Coincidentally, South African surfers present an interesting demographic to understand Bitcoin given their unique circumstances and needs. In order for athletes to become professional surfers, they must attend competitions abroad; But since South Africa has strict currency controls, sending money abroad for travel and competition expenses is often a headache. The borderless nature of Bitcoin provides a solution to these limitations, offering surfers an alternative way to move funds across borders without any hurdles.
Photo taken at the 2023 South African Junior Surfing Championships. Back row, left to right:
Mbasa, Choma, Jordie Smith, Sandiso. Front, left to right: Uyithu, Sibulele.
To learn more about Bitcoineta South Africa and the non-profit endeavors it serves, watch Lekker Feeling, a documentary by Aubrey Strobel:
Follow Bitcoin Icase:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BitcoinEkasi
Fundraising: https://support.bitcoinekasi.com/
Europe: Bitcoinita Europe
The European Bitcoineta began its journey in early 2023, and Ariel Aguilar was one of the main catalysts behind the idea. Unlike its predecessors in El Salvador and South Africa, European Bitcoinita was not funded by a previous team but instead received support from individual donors, reflecting a grassroots approach to spreading financial literacy.
The European Bitcoineta is a Mercedes truck decorated with a prominent Bitcoin logo and inspirational messages, and serves as a mobile center for education and discussion at several European Bitcoin conferences and local meetups. Within its spacious interior, both prominent Bitcoin users and the Bitcoin public share their insights on the walls, fostering a sense of camaraderie and collaboration.
Follow Bitcoineta Europe's journey:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BitcoinetaEU
Ghana: Bitcoinita West Africa
Embed: https://youtu.be/8oWgIU17aIY?si=hrsKmMIA7lI6jX4k
The fifth Bitcoineta was presented in December 2023 at the Africa Bitcoin Conference in Ghana, and was donated to the Ghanaian Bitcoin Cowries educational initiative as part of the Trezor Academy program.
Bitcoineta West Africa was funded with proceeds from the limited edition Bitcoin-only Trezor device, which sold out within a day of its launch at the Bitcoin Amsterdam conference.
With plans for a wide-ranging tour including Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and possibly other countries within the ECOWAS Political and Economic Union, Bitcoineta West Africa embodies the spirit of cooperation and solidarity in driving Bitcoin adoption and financial inclusion throughout the Global South.
Follow Bitcoinita's West African journey:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BitcoinetaWA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinetawa/
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All Bitcoineta vehicles around the world share one overarching mission: to empower their local communities through Bitcoin education, thereby improving the lives of the general public who may have a strong need for Bitcoin without currently being aware of that need. As they continue to cross borders and break down barriers, Bitcoinetas serve as a reminder of the power of grassroots initiatives and the importance of financial education in shaping a more inclusive future. The tradition of Bitcoinetas will continue to flourish, and in the coming years we hope to encounter a cheekily decorated Bitcoin car everywhere we go.
If Bitcoinetas' inspiring stories have ignited a passion within you to make a difference in your community, we encourage you to take action! Connect with one of Bitcoineta's existing teams for guidance, support and inspiration on how to start your own initiative. Whether you are interested in spreading Bitcoin education, promoting financial literacy, or promoting empowerment in underserved areas, the Bitcoineta community is here to help you every step of the way. Together, we will make an orange pill for the world!
This is a guest post by Joseph Tetic. The opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.
