Bitcoiners - Live From Bitcoin Beach

Live from Bitcoin Beach in El Zonte, El Salvador, in this episode, we talk with Brindon Mwiine, the founder of Gorilla Sats and Bitcoin Kampala, about how he’s building a real Bitcoin circular economy in Uganda. What started as an effort to share Bitcoin education with university students has grown into a community-driven project that supports an orphanage, a school, and dozens of local vendors, all powered by Bitcoin and lightning payments. Brindon shares how his first trip to BTC Prague opened the door to what’s now a grassroots movement for Bitcoin adoption in Africa. With rising inflation in Africa and limited access to traditional banking, Bitcoin is becoming a practical solution for savings, payments, and economic resilience. Whether you’re curious about real-world use cases, or you’re working on your own local initiative, this conversation is packed with insight on how Bitcoin can become more than just an investment. It can become infrastructure. Watch the full episode to see what Bitcoin adoption really looks like and what it could look like where you live. -Mike Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: https://twitter.com/Bitcoinbeach https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv/ https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach Web: https://www.bitcoinbeach.com/ Socials: https://x.com/brindonmwiine  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brindon-mwiine-0b18b8115/  Projects and Communities: https://gorilla-sats.com/  https://x.com/BitcoinKampala  https://x.com/OrphansOfUganda  Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 00:00 – Introduction 01:25 – Who is Brindon Mwiine and how did he discover Bitcoin? 08:10 – How did Brindon get to BTC Prague and why did it matter? 14:32 – What is Gorilla Sats and how does Bitcoin tourism support local communities? 23:22 – What is a Bitcoin circular economy and how is it working in Uganda? 29:58 – How is Bitcoin used to run an orphanage and school in Uganda? 40:10 – Can teachers and vendors really get paid in Bitcoin in Africa? 44:35 – How is Bitcoin education helping young people in Uganda? 58:00 – How can people support Bitcoin adoption in Uganda? Live From Bitcoin Beach

Live from Bitcoin Beach in El Zonte, El Salvador, this episode dives into Bitcoin adoption in Mexico through the eyes of Francisco Chavarria, co-founder of YoPaki, a culturally grounded Bitcoin app making digital money accessible to everyday users. Francisco shares his Bitcoin journey from discovering it through his dad and Max Keiser to building a company that offers a non-custodial wallet designed with Mexican users in mind. We talk about his innovative approach to digital currency education using the traditional Lotería game and how YoPaki integrates the Lightning Network for fast, low-cost payments. He also breaks down the complexities of launching a FinTech Mexico startup, the impact of crypto regulations, and why navigating seed phrases and onboarding is so different in Latin America. If you’re interested in how Bitcoin is being adopted in emerging markets or want insight into the challenges of building within strict regulatory environments, this one’s for you. - Mike Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: https://twitter.com/Bitcoinbeach https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv/ https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach Web: https://www.bitcoinbeach.com/ Connect with Francisco Chavarria: X: https://x.com/FranciscoBTC  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francisco-chavarria-77ba3277/  Learn more about YoPaki: X: https://x.com/yopaki_  Website: https://www.yopaki.com/en  Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 01:50 – How did Francisco first hear about Bitcoin? 09:15 – Why did Francisco build a fintech company in Mexico? 13:04 – How do crypto regulations affect Bitcoin in Mexico? 17:46 – What is YoPaki and how does it work? 21:33 – How does YoPaki use a game to teach Bitcoin? 27:50 – What makes YoPaki a non-custodial wallet? 32:10 – How does the Lightning Network work in this wallet? 35:20 – What happened when they projected Bitcoin on a central bank? 45:45 – How is Bitcoin adoption different in Mexico and El Salvador? 1:00:12 – Why is Mexico YoPaki’s main focus? 1:05:47 – What’s next for the YoPaki Bitcoin wallet? Live From Bitcoin Beach

Live from Bitcoin Beach in El Zonte, El Salvador, in this episode, we’re joined by Gabriel Kurman (GAKU) and Ivan Kaleja of Bitcoin for Humanity, two of the earliest supporters of Bitcoin circular economies worldwide. We dive deep into how grassroots Bitcoin adoption is transforming communities around the world. We talk about the origins of the La Bitcoineta Project, how Latin America became a hub for circular Bitcoin economies, and the creation of a brand-new Bitcoin book “Bitcoin Circular Economies: Stories of hope built on the sovereign money of the future”, which documents its real-world impact in places like Brazil, Costa Rica, Guatemala, South Africa, and beyond. Whether you're passionate about Bitcoin adoption, financial inclusion, or you're just curious how people are actually using Bitcoin in real life, this is the episode for you. Plus, hear how Bitcoin education is being rolled out in El Salvador’s public schools, how communities are becoming self-sustainable through Bitcoin, and why spending sats is more important than ever to keep these movements alive.  If you're dreaming about visiting a Bitcoin circular economy, building your own, or just want to hear the stories that prove Bitcoin is more than just a number on a screen, hit play now. - Mike Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: https://twitter.com/Bitcoinbeach https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv/ https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach Web: https://www.bitcoinbeach.com/ Grab the book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/fbIsg4V "Bitcoin Circular Economies: Stories of hope built on the sovereign money of the future" Gabriel Kurman AKA Gaku: https://x.com/GabrielKurman Ivan Kaleja: https://x.com/ivan_kaleja Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 0:00 – Introduction 0:46 – How Did Bitcoin Beach Inspire a Global Bitcoin Movement? 3:05 – What Was the “Train the Trainer” Bitcoin Program? 7:11 – What Is La Bitcoineta and Why Does It Matter? 11:12 – What’s in the New Book About Bitcoin Circular Economies? 13:19 – Which Global Bitcoin Communities Are Featured in the Book? 16:20 – How Open Source Helped Bitcoin Circular Economies Grow 24:50 – How Can Communities Add Their Story to the Bitcoin Book? 27:21 – How Bitcoin Communities Around the World Support Each Other 30:49 – Why Spending Sats Is Crucial for Bitcoin Adoption 36:03 – How Bitcoin Is Being Taught in El Salvador’s Schools 45:20 – What Happened at the Bitcoin Circular Economy Summit? 48:04 – How Bitcoin Beach Continues Supporting Its Local Community 54:30 – How One Community Is Mining Bitcoin From Cooking Oil 56:23 – How Bitcoin Economies Can Become Truly Sustainable 58:29 – Where to Get the Book and Support the Movement Live From Bitcoin Beach

Live from Bitcoin Beach in El Zonte, El Salvador, I sat down with Wiz, the co-founder of Mempool, one of the most important tools in the Bitcoin space. We covered a ton of ground in this one, from how he got into tech as a kid to what the Bitcoin mempool actually is and why it matters. Wiz breaks down how Mempool space helps people understand Bitcoin transaction fees, track confirmations, and now even accelerate stuck transactions through their new feature, Mempool Accelerator. Super useful stuff, especially if you've ever been confused about fees or had a transaction get stuck. We also dive into why he’s seriously considering moving his company from Japan to El Salvador. It’s about being part of a real movement, joining a growing Bitcoin community, and contributing to the transformation that’s happening here on the ground. Whether you’re deep into Bitcoin tech or just curious about what’s going on in El Salvador, this episode has something for you. - Mike Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: https://twitter.com/Bitcoinbeach [https://twitter.com/Bitcoinbeach] https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv/ [https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv/] https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach [https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach] Web: https://www.bitcoinbeach.com/ [https://www.bitcoinbeach.com/] Connect with Mempool: Website: https://mempool.space/ [https://mempool.space/] X: https://x.com/mempool [https://x.com/mempool] Github: https://github.com/mempool [https://github.com/mempool] Primal: https://primal.net/mempool [https://primal.net/mempool] YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mempool [https://www.youtube.com/@mempool] BitcoinTV.com: https://bitcointv.com/c/mempool/videos [https://bitcointv.com/c/mempool/videos] X: https://x.com/wiz [https://x.com/wiz] Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 00:00 – Introduction 02:24 – What Is Mempool Space and Why Is It So Important to Bitcoin? 07:15 – What Is the Bitcoin Mempool and How Does It Work? 09:02 – How Do Bitcoin Miners Choose Which Transactions to Confirm? 14:46 – How Can You Avoid Overpaying Bitcoin Fees? 18:22 – What Is Mempool Accelerator and How Does It Work? 26:15 – How Mempool Space Ended Up Powering Cash App and Bitkey 28:05 – How El Salvador’s Bitcoin Treasury Is Publicly Tracked 32:26 – Why El Salvador’s Bitcoin Adoption Matters Globally 36:05 – Why Bitcoin Companies Are Relocating to El Salvador 39:03 – Is El Salvador Becoming the Silicon Valley of Bitcoin? 47:02 – Is Mempool Space Building a Bitcoin Wallet Next? Live From Bitcoin Beach

Live from Bitcoin Beach in El Zonte, El Salvador, in this episode, I sit down with my good friend Valentin Popescu, a Romanian missionary doing incredible work in Peru. We talk about how he’s using Bitcoin as a real-world tool to bring hope and financial inclusion to some of the most remote and underserved communities in the country. Valentin shares his journey, from accidentally ending up in Peru after a back injury and a tragic loss, to launching a network of community centers that provide education, nutrition, emotional support, and now, Bitcoin. We get into his first experience using Bitcoin during the pandemic to buy food for families in need, and how that opened the door to building circular Bitcoin economies in the Andes, the jungle, and the coast. He’s now running over a dozen community projects across Peru, places where Bitcoin isn’t just a buzzword, it’s how people are getting paid, buying food, and saving for the future. It’s an inspiring story about faith, resilience, and the power of sound money to transform lives. Whether you’re into missions, grassroots Bitcoin adoption, or just want to hear how sats are being spent in the Sacred Valley and the surf town of Huanchaco, this one’s for you. Enjoy the show! - Mike Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: https://twitter.com/Bitcoinbeach [https://twitter.com/Bitcoinbeach] https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv/ [https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv/] https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach [https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach] Web: https://www.bitcoinbeach.com/ [https://www.bitcoinbeach.com/] Support Motiv’s Work: X: https://x.com/MotivPeru [https://x.com/MotivPeru] Website: https://motiv.ngo/ [https://motiv.ngo/] IG: https://www.instagram.com/motivngoglobal/ [https://www.instagram.com/motivngoglobal/] YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNWkLET6XQExcXqBL0SPguQ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNWkLET6XQExcXqBL0SPguQ] FB: https://www.facebook.com/MOTIVNGOGlobal [https://www.facebook.com/MOTIVNGOGlobal] LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/motivngoglobal/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/motivngoglobal/] Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 0:00 – Introduction 1:18 – How can Bitcoin help poor communities around the world? 3:31 – Who is Valentin Popescu and how did he end up in Peru? 6:17 – What happened when Valentin moved to Peru as a missionary? 10:15 – How did building playgrounds lead to Bitcoin in Peru? 19:58 – Why did Valentin start giving shoes to kids in the Andes? 22:45 – How did Bitcoin become a tool for crisis relief in Peru? 25:14 – How did a lockdown in Peru lead to using Bitcoin for food? 30:54 – Why are Bitcoin fees a problem and how does Lightning fix it? 31:11 – What is Blink Wallet and how is it used in Peru? 35:55 – How do poor communities start learning about Bitcoin? 40:21 – Can Bitcoin help rural towns connect with tourists in Peru? 41:43 – How is Bitcoin changing travel in places like Machu Picchu? 43:35 – What is Juan Chaco and why is it a new Bitcoin hub? 46:01 – How is Bitcoin being used in over 12 places across Peru? 47:20 – Can farming communities really use Bitcoin every day? 53:30 – Where is Bitcoin being used across the jungle, mountains, and coast in Peru? 56:54 – How can people support or visit Motiv Peru’s Bitcoin communities? 58:38 – Can tourists really pay for everything in Bitcoin in Peru? 1:01:20 – What is Motiv Global and how can others follow or get involved? Live From Bitcoin Beach