Bitcoin gains prominence in El Paredón, a town abandoned by the traditional financial system. Two teams work to boost the economy around Lake Atitlán.
In Guatemala, there have been conversations regarding balance and economic evolution. These subjects seem to come from areas that found new procedures for 1% of the population and not so for the 70% dealing with financial vulnerabilities and poverty.
However, a big event will come along with the arrival of Bitcoin, with three tourist communities intending to emulate the experience of El Zonte in El Salvador, whose Bitcoin Beach project is boosting many opportunities for those with more economic vulnerability.
One of these sectors is that of El Paredón, a beach located in Escuintla in the municipality of Sipacate, which distances itself various miles from Guatemala City.
A team managed by Juan Fonseca encourages a circular economic structure focused on bitcoin. Their goal is for the digital asset to be increasingly received in the region. They think that economic evolution is only possible to the extent that the active crypto gains greater acceptance.
Last year Fonseca detailed the actions taken by Nayib Bukele until the day that El Salvador highlighted that bitcoin as legal tender, through regulations well-received by Congress. It was the day the Salvadoran president cited the town of El Zonte as the use for his Bitcoin new policy in his country.
Bitcoin Represents a New Beginning
Fonseca talked about El Paredón, describing it as a paradise, famous for having ideal weather and waves for surfing, which he considers the perfect features to attract tourists and investors. But at the same time, behind its natural attributes, there is a region that lacks financial structure, and this problem can rely on the decentralized bitcoin network with a valid asset worldwide.
With a strong focus on this matter, and more than three months ago, Fonseca started arranging meetings with community members to highlight his plans, and he assured them that everything had evolved in a good way.
Fonseca said they received support from IBEX Mercado, a bitcoin purchasing and selling service that intends to assist Central America in a master plan to connect to this robust decentralized monetary network.
Education as a Gateway to Bitcoin
Once the first phase comes to fruition, Fonseca talks about getting to a second level that would base its efforts more on educating the community so that they know with further details the bunch of advantages that bitcoin offers.
Two other leaders are currently working with Fonseca in its efforts to consolidate Bitcoin; one of them is Jan, who is a Dutch local hotel owner that became a pioneer in the area of accepting bitcoin payments. As part of the team, he is a critical player in talking to other business owners about their moments with the crypto pioneer.
There is also Jhonny, who has lived his entire life in El Paredón. Fonseca describes him as a cherished person because he worked as a computer teacher at the local school. He is even recognized in the town for having helped children with an application so that they could attend virtual classes during the pandemic.
By: Jenson Nuñez
