#EP 14 Damián Silva on DeFi in LatAm: KYC-free loans back by Bitcoin and the future of Tropykus

EP #17 Lorena Ortiz on the Bitcoin Embassy Bar in CDMX, Fedi, and Grassroots Adoption in LatAm and the upcoming event: Tianguis de Bitcoin in La Casa de Satoshi

In this episode of The Bitcoin Latam Report, Maciej Cepnik speaks with Lorena Ortiz, one of the best-known Bitcoin educators and community builders in Mexico. Lorena shares her journey from discovering Bitcoin in 2017, to co-founding the iconic Bitcoin Embassy Bar in Mexico City, to becoming Fedi’s Community Master for Latin America. They discuss how Bitcoin Embassy Bar helped strengthen the local Bitcoin scene, why proof of work and consistency matter for anyone who wants to build a career in Bitcoin, and how Fedi is trying to solve real problems across the Global South through community custody, private communication, and practical Bitcoin tools. The conversation also explores the different needs of Bitcoin users across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and why adoption looks very different depending on local realities. Finally, they talk about the upcoming Tianguis de Bitcoin event at La Casa de Satoshi in Mexico City on the 23rd of May, where merchants and users will come together to spend Bitcoin as money in a real local market environment. Relevant timestamps 01:30 – Intro: Lorena Ortiz, Bitcoin Embassy Bar, and Fedi 02:20 – How Lorena discovered Bitcoin in 2017 03:13 – Why Bitcoin Embassy Bar mattered for the Mexican Bitcoin community 07:07 – Funny stories, prominent visitors, and accepting Bitcoin at the bar 09:00 – What Fedi is and the mission behind it 12:00 – Lorena’s advice for anyone who wants to work in Bitcoin 17:30 – From community work to a career in Bitcoin 18:45 – Lorena’s role at Fedi and Fedi’s expansion in Latin America 21:13 – What kind of people Fedi is looking for 23:20 – Global South realities: Latin America, Africa, and Asia compared 27:30 – Why Bitcoin adoption looks different across Latin America 28:30 – Peru case study: Bitcoin as a real tool for underserved communities 31:20 – Fedi’s long-term goal: solving real problems, not just growing users 35:12 – Tianguis de Bitcoin: what it is and why it matters in Mexico 37:17 – How Fedi and La Casa de Satoshi will onboard merchants and buyers 41:43 – Final message: get closer to Bitcoin communities RSVP for the Tianguis de Bitcoin at La Casa de Satoshi in Mexico City (23rd of May): luma.com/lacasadesatoshi Follow Lorena on X: @LOReBitcoin Follow Fedi on X: @fedibtc Follow Maciej Cepnik on X: @CepnikMaciej Follow Aureo on X: @AureoBitcoin Buy and sell Bitcoin in Mexico: aureobitcoin.com Subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes featuring incredible Bitcoin and Latin American entrepreneurs.

#EP 16 - Bruno Vaccotti on What's Really Going on with Bitcoin Regulations in Paraguay and Freedom

In this episode of The Bitcoin Latam Report, I speak with Bruno Vaccotti, director of the Fintech Chamber in Paraguay, founder of the Paraguayan Bitcoin education initiative, entrepreneur, organizer of Acelerando Bitcoin, and one of the key voices pushing Bitcoin adoption in the country. We discuss how Paraguay became a major Bitcoin mining hub, the government inefficiencies that keep slowing innovation, and the new regulatory push that threatens the industry. Bruno also explains why he is actively advocating for reasonable laws that actually make sense for Bitcoin, while building education, media, conferences, and financial products to help Paraguay move forward. 00:39 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-egRKLLYWs&t=39s] – Intro: Bruno Vaccotti and why Paraguay matters for Bitcoin 02:16 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-egRKLLYWs&t=136s] – How Bruno discovered Bitcoin and why it changed his life 05:03 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-egRKLLYWs&t=303s] – Education, free books, TV, and building Bitcoin awareness in Paraguay 07:27 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-egRKLLYWs&t=447s] – From education to mining: how surplus energy opened the door 09:50 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-egRKLLYWs&t=590s] – Why Paraguay became a serious player in global Bitcoin mining 12:11 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-egRKLLYWs&t=731s] – The energy case for Paraguay: Itaipú, hydro power, and national opportunity 15:53 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-egRKLLYWs&t=953s] – Paraguay as a destination for expats, builders, and freedom-minded entrepreneurs 20:03 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-egRKLLYWs&t=1203s] – Why Paraguay still needs better Bitcoin products for everyday users 25:26 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-egRKLLYWs&t=1526s] – The real problem: not explicit bans, but bureaucratic paralysis 30:29 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-egRKLLYWs&t=1829s] – New Bitcoin regulations in Paraguay and why Bruno is sounding the alarm 34:45 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-egRKLLYWs&t=2085s] – Privacy, self-custody, and why the proposed reporting rules make no sense 45:17 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-egRKLLYWs&t=2717s] – Is the government hostile, or just completely misunderstanding Bitcoin? 50:04 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-egRKLLYWs&t=3004s] – What Bruno is doing now to push back and improve the rules 56:59 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-egRKLLYWs&t=3419s] – Acelerando Bitcoin: conference, residency, and Paraguay immersion week 59:13 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-egRKLLYWs&t=3553s] – War, fiat money, Bitcoin, and why separating money from the state matters 01:06:45 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-egRKLLYWs&t=4005s] – AI, energy limits, and why Bruno still thinks Bitcoin is the best long-term bet 01:18:49 – Final message: freedom, curiosity, and why more people should pay attention to Paraguay Buy your tickets for Acelerando Bitcoin: acelerandobitcoin.com/  Follow Bruno on X: @peztresojos  Follow Maciej Cepnik on X: @CepnikMaciej Follow Aureo on X: @AureoBitcoin Buy Bitcoin in Mexico: aureobitcoin.com Subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes featuring incredible Bitcoin and Latin American entrepreneurs.

#EP15 Tomek Kołodziejczuk on Freedom, Libertarianism, Prospera, and the Bitcoin District

In the 15th episode of the Bitcoin Latam Report, Maciej Cepnik speaks with Tomek Kowodziejczuk, a longtime Bitcoiner, founder of the Bitcoin FilmFest in Warsaw, and now a builder in Prospera, the freedom-oriented special economic zone in Roatán, Honduras. They discuss why Tomek left Poland for Prospera, the philosophical roots of Bitcoin and libertarianism, and why he sees Bitcoin as a tool for freedom rather than an end in itself. They also break down how Prospera works in practice, why it may be the most Bitcoin-friendly jurisdiction in the world, and how the Bitcoin District aims to turn Roatán into a real Bitcoin hub through events, retreats, startup activity, and long-term circular economy building. Timestamps: 00:51 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGd7U8CysVY&t=51s] – Intro: Tomek’s background and move to Prospera 03:04 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGd7U8CysVY&t=184s] – Bitcoin Film Fest, culture, and libertarian roots 06:34 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGd7U8CysVY&t=394s] – Atlas Shrugged, free cities, and the appeal of Prospera 10:23 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGd7U8CysVY&t=623s] – Why freedom matters more than Bitcoin itself 13:58 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGd7U8CysVY&t=838s] – Why Prospera is one of the most promising freedom experiments today 22:33 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGd7U8CysVY&t=1353s] – How Prospera works: governance, taxes, and legal structure 27:53 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGd7U8CysVY&t=1673s] – Why biotech and Bitcoin companies are drawn to Prospera 29:45 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGd7U8CysVY&t=1785s] – Is Prospera the most Bitcoin-friendly jurisdiction in the world? 31:46 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGd7U8CysVY&t=1906s]– Building the Bitcoin District in Roatán 39:56 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGd7U8CysVY&t=2396s] – The challenge of bringing Bitcoin to the local population 48:59 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGd7U8CysVY&t=2939s] – Why the world may need many more “Prosperas”  Check out the Bitcoin District: thebitcoindistrict.com Buy your tickets for the 2026 edition of the Bitcoin Film Fest: bitcoinfilmfest.com Follow Tomek on X: @itsTomekK Follow The Bitcoin District Prospera on X: @BitcoinProspera  Follow The Bitcoin Filmfest on X: @bitcoinfilmfest Follow Maciej Cepnik on X: @CepnikMaciej Follow Aureo on X: @AureoBitcoin Buy Bitcoin in Mexico: aureobitcoin.com Subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes featuring incredible Bitcoin and Latin American entrepreneurs.

#EP 14 Damián Silva on DeFi in LatAm: KYC-free loans back by Bitcoin and the future of Tropykus

What if you could buy a house, renovate your home, or fund your business, without selling a single satoshi, and without KYC? That's exactly what Tropykus users in Latam are doing. Damián Silva, community lead at Tropykus, joined The Bitcoin Latam Report to break down Bitcoin-collateralized loans built on Rootstock, a Bitcoin sidechain where you pay fees in Bitcoin, earn yield on stablecoins, and borrow against your stack without ever triggering a taxable event. We got into how DOC (Dollar on Chain) stays pegged without touching US debt, why flexible loans with no fixed payment dates are a game changer in Argentina, and the wild real-life stories of people buying apartments and building houses in Uruguay, all using Bitcoin as collateral. Time Stamps:  01:14 Damián's Bitcoin story 05:03 What is BitcoinFi and why build on Rootstock instead of Ethereum? 08:31 Why persist on Bitcoin when other chains are faster and cheaper? 10:37 How to move from Bitcoin to RBTC and back  12:56 Rootstock vs Liquid, what's the difference? 14:47 Why Bitcoin sidechains adoption took so long  17:00 Real user stories  19:12 How Dollar on Chain (DOC) stays pegged  23:58 How yield works for DOC depositors  27:13 What are RBTC, BPRO, and USDRIF? 34:41 The biggest community challenge? 40:18 How to use Tropicus responsibly? 42:52 No KYC 53:57 Why is all Tropykus content in Spanish 56:16 How to get involved, open source code, and community feedback 57:20 2026 plans, an AI assistant to manage your loan via Telegram Check out Tropykus: tropykus.com Follow Damian on X: @Seviramar Follow Tropykus on X: @tropykus Follow Maciej Cepnik on X: @CepnikMaciej Follow Aureo on X: @AureoBitcoin Buy Bitcoin in Mexico: aureobitcoin.com Subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes featuring incredible Bitcoin and Latin American entrepreneurs.

#EP13 SPECIAL REPORT - The Realities on the Ground in Puerto Vallarta with a Bitcoiner

Yesterday was a difficult day for Mexico. After the reported capture and death of El Mencho by the Mexican government, chaos erupted across the country, and the news was flooded with footage and claims that were hard to verify. So I called my friend Roman, a Bitcoiner who's lived in Puerto Vallarta for the past 15 years, to find out what was actually happening on the ground. And yes, we ended up talking about Bitcoin too. It's not exactly what you'd expect. Disclaimer: In this episode, we discuss what appears to be an exaggeration of events and the spread of unverified information surrounding February 22nd. I want to acknowledge the sensitivity of this subject and express my sincere sympathy for all innocent people affected.  We are not experts on security, geopolitics, or organized crime; we simply share our personal perspective on what was observed on the ground.