An El Salvador Town Takes Matters Into Its Own Hands
A town in El Salvador called Berlin has decided to build its own version of Bitcoin City rather than waiting for President Nayib Bukele’s government efforts to materialize. While Bukele plans to create a tax-free haven for international bitcoiners in Conchagua, La Unión, the actual city-building project has yet to begin. In response, the community behind Berlin’s initiative, known as Bitcoin Berlin, aims to establish an economy based entirely on peer-to-peer financial transactions.
Bitcoin Berlin: Following in the Footsteps of Bitcoin Beach
The Bitcoin Berlin project seeks to emulate the success of El Zonte’s Bitcoin Beach, which inspired Bukele to adopt BTC as legal tender in 2021. Unlike El Zonte, Berlin does not have beaches for surfing but is located near volcanoes and the Alegría Lagoon. The town is famous for its coffee plantations and attracts many coffee-loving tourists. Local businesses are eager to be part of the Bitcoin City project, recognizing that adopting BTC will boost tourism.
A Community Taking Control of Its Future
Since launching in May, 30 businesses in Berlin have joined the Bitcoin Berlin project, with more expected to follow suit. The community is not relying on the government to build Bitcoin City and believes that they can make the dream a reality themselves. To promote their project, they have organized a Bitcoin festival on October 28 and 29, coinciding with a popular farmers’ market in Berlin.
Hot Take: A Grassroots Approach to Bitcoin City
The residents of Berlin, El Salvador are taking matters into their own hands by creating their own version of Bitcoin City. Instead of waiting for the government’s plans to materialize, they are establishing an economy based on peer-to-peer financial transactions. Inspired by the success of Bitcoin Beach in El Zonte, the community aims to attract tourism and boost local businesses through BTC adoption. By organizing a Bitcoin festival and gaining support from local entrepreneurs, Berlin is showing that grassroots initiatives can make a significant impact in building a cryptocurrency-driven city.