You may have seen that photo of Michael Saylor in a bitcoin-branded van, with a jolly guy right next to the car door. This:
That car is the Bitcoineta European Edition, and the happy guy is Ariel Aguilar. Ariel is part of the European team Bitcoineta, and previously drove another similar car in Argentina. In fact, there are currently five cars worldwide that bear the name Bitcoineta (in some cases preceded by the Spanish definite article “La”).
Argentina: the original Bitcoineta
The story of Bitcoinetas begins with the birth of 'La Bitcoineta' in Argentina, back in 2017. Inspired by the vitality of the South American bitcoin community, the original Bitcoineta was conceived after an annual Latin American Conference (Labitconf), where the visionaries behind it recognized a unique opportunity to promote bitcoin education in remote areas. Armed with a bright orange bitcoin-themed exterior and a mission to close the gap in financial education, La Bitcoineta embarked on a journey to raise awareness about the potential benefits of bitcoin in towns and cities that often remained untouched. of the main financial education initiatives. Operated by a team of dedicated volunteers, it was more than just a car; It was a symbol of hope and empowerment for those living on the margins of financial inclusion.
Ariel was part of that initial Argentine Bitcoineta team and spent weeks on the road when the car became a reality. The original dream of bringing bitcoin education even to remote areas of Argentina and other South American countries became a reality, and the La Bitcoineta team participated in dozens of local bitcoin meetups in the following years.
A major problem occurred in late 2018, when the car crashed while parked in Puerto Madryn. The car was practically destroyed, but since the team was possessed by a honey badger spirit, nothing could stop them from staying true 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 quest for the orange pill shortly afterwards.
During the more than five years that the Argentine Bitcoineta has been operating, it has traveled more than 80,000 kilometers and, as we will see later, inspired multiple similar initiatives around the world.
Follow the journey of La Bitcoineta:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/labitcoineta
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoineta/
El Salvador: bitcoin Beach
In early 2021, the president of El Salvador approved the bitcoin Law, making bitcoin legal tender in the country. The Labitconf team decided to celebrate this important step forward in bitcoin adoption by hosting the annual conference in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. And consequently, the Argentine Bitcoineta team made plans for a daring 7,000 kilometer road trip to visit the country of bitcoin with the iconic bitcoin car.
However, it proved impossible to cross so many borders separating Argentina and 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 Bitcoineta directly in El Salvador, as part of the bitcoin Beach circular economy. This is how the second Bitcoineta was born.
The eye-catching Volkswagen minibus has been donated to the bitcoin Beach team, which uses the car for the needs of its circular economy based in El Zonte.
Follow bitcoin Beach:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bitcoinbeach
South Africa: bitcoin Ekasi
Late 2021 saw another major development in terms of popular bitcoin adoption. On the other side of the planet, in South Africa, Hermann Vivier started the bitcoin Ekasi project. “Ekasi” is a colloquial term for a township, and a township in the South African context is an underdeveloped urban area with a predominantly black population, a remnant of the segregationist apartheid regime. bitcoin Ekasi emerged as an attempt to introduce bitcoin into the economy of the JCC Camp township located in Mossel Bay, and has seen much success on that front.
bitcoin Ekasi was largely inspired by the circular economy success of bitcoin Beach in El Salvador, and the respect was mutual. Therefore, the bitcoin Beach team decided to pass on the favor they received from the Argentine Bitcoineta team and provided funds to bitcoin Ekasi to build their own Bitcoineta.
bitcoin Ekasi emerged as a sister organization of surfer kids, a non-profit organization with the mission of empowering underserved youth through surfing. Thus, the Ekasi Bitcoineta partially serves as a means for children to visit various surfing competitions in South Africa. The highlight in this regard was when the children met Jordy Smith, one of the most successful South African surfers in the world.
Coincidentally, South African surfers present an intriguing demographic to understand bitcoin due to their unique circumstances and needs. To succeed as a professional surfer, athletes must attend competitions abroad; But since South Africa has strict currency controls, it is often a headache to send money abroad for travel and competition expenses. The borderless nature of bitcoin offers a solution to these limitations, providing boaters with an alternative means of moving funds across borders without any obstacles.
Photo taken at the 2023 South African Junior Surfing Championships. Back row, left to right:
Mbasa, Chuma, Jordy Smith, Sandiso. Front, left to right: Owethu, Sibulele.
To learn more about Bitcoineta South Africa and the non-profit initiatives it serves, watch Lekker Feeling, a documentary by Aubrey Strobel:
Follow bitcoin Ekasi:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BitcoinEkasi
Fundraising: https://support.bitcoinekasi.com/
Europe: Bitcoineta Europe
The European Bitcoineta began its journey in early 2023, with Ariel Aguilar being one of the main catalysts of the idea. Unlike its predecessors in El Salvador and South Africa, the European Bitcoineta was not funded by a previous team, but rather gained support from individual donors, reflecting a grassroots approach to spreading financial education.
The European Bitcoineta is a Mercedes van adorned with a prominent bitcoin logo and inspirational messages, and serves as a mobile hub for education and discussion at numerous European bitcoin conferences and local meetups. Within its spacious interior, both notable bitcoiners and bitcoin plebs share their ideas on the walls, fostering a sense of camaraderie and collaboration.
Follow the journey of Bitcoineta Europa:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BitcoinetaEU
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinetaeu/
Ghana: Bitcoineta West Africa
Embed: https://youtu.be/8oWgIU17aIY?si=hrsKmMIA7lI6jX4k
Launched in December 2023 at the African bitcoin Conference in Ghana, the fifth Bitcoinette was donated to the Ghanaian bitcoin Cowries educational initiative as part of the Trezor Academy program.
Bitcoineta West Africa was funded by profits from the bitcoin-exclusive limited edition Trezor device, which sold out a day after its launch at the bitcoin Amsterdam conference.
With plans for an extensive tour spanning Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and potentially other countries within the ECOWAS political and economic union, Bitcoineta West Africa embodies the spirit of collaboration and solidarity to drive bitcoin adoption and financial inclusion throughout the Global South.
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 an overarching mission: to empower their local communities through bitcoin education and thereby improve the lives of everyday people who might be in great need of bitcoin without 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 bitcoin tradition will continue to flourish and hopefully in the years to come we will encounter a shamelessly decorated bitcoin car wherever we go.
If Bitcoinetas' inspiring stories have ignited a passion in you to make a difference in your community, we encourage you to take action! Contact 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 fostering empowerment in underserved areas, the Bitcoineta community is here to help you every step of the way. Together, we will make the world the orange pill!
This is a guest post by Josef Tetek. The opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of btc Inc or bitcoin Magazine.
