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Mike Peterson sits down with Dusan Matuska to unpack Bitcoin adoption in India while UPI dominates daily payments. They discuss why Bitcoiners call UPI “governmental lightning,” what that suggests about transaction monitoring, and how self-custody becomes a defining decision for anyone who cares about privacy and control. Dusan Matuska explains how a circular economy forms through local Bitcoin trade, merchant acceptance, and community trust. He shares why non-KYC habits and small networks matter, and how these patterns can scale through educators who know how to communicate without losing people. Dusan then gets specific about sustainable mining, including why miners move, how electricity price increases can erase margins, and why Amity shifted from Paraguay to Ethiopia. This section stays focused on operations, contracts, and the kinds of constraints that reshape mining strategy overnight. The most disruptive threat is waste-to-energy Bitcoin mining in Uganda. They dig into plasma gasification, syngas quality, feedstock consistency, and the economics behind waste reduction when municipalities do not pay. The conversation also hits the grid problem and why mining can act as a buyer of last resort when excess power has no market. Dusan closes by connecting adoption to education through an educator academy built on soft skills training. They talk about analogies, objection handling, and teaching frameworks that make Bitcoin understandable in normal conversations. Subscribe, share, and comment with the point you disagreed with most, then tell us whether you would rather run miners on surplus power or drink bone broth for seven days. -Bitcoin Beach Team Connect and Learn more about Dusan Matuska: X: https://x.com/dusan_matuska YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dusanmatuska-bitcoin Website: https://www.dusanmatuska.com/ AmityAge (His Company): https://www.amityage.com/ Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: X: https://www.twitter.com/BitcoinBeach IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach Web: https://www.bitcoinbeach.com  Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 00:00 Intro 06:40 What is India’s UPI system? Why do Bitcoiners call it “governmental lightning”? 12:55 Can Bitcoin mining work in India? What is stranded energy for Bitcoin mining? 19:30 Why did Bitcoin miners leave Paraguay? Why did Bitcoin miners move to Ethiopia? 26:10 Why did Ethiopia raise electricity prices for bitcoin miners? How do PPAs affect Bitcoin mining profits? 33:05 Can waste-to-energy power Bitcoin mining in Uganda? Is waste-to-energy bitcoin mining sustainable? 40:45 What is plasma gasification? Can syngas from waste power Bitcoin mining? 47:20 Why can’t Uganda sell waste-to-energy power to the grid? Why is Bitcoin mining the buyer of last resort? Live From Bitcoin Beach

Can a rural village in El Salvador actually replace the central bank? Host Jethro Toro hangs out with Mike Peterson and the founders of Bitcoin Berlin, Evelyn Lemus and Gerardo Linares. They talk about a grassroots movement that is changing how people use money. We explore the true story of El Zonte, where a project focused on community development built a true circular economy. They used the Lightning Network to make fast digital payments just to survive the pandemic proving the experts wrong years before big banks caught on. Evelyn and Gerardo explain exactly how they got a whole town excited about Bitcoin without asking the government for permission. We follow their journey from the coast to the mountains of Berlin. They are teaching high school students about decentralized finance so they can run their own independent systems instead of trusting apps to hold their money. They also highlight how El Salvador tourism is booming as Bitcoin fans visit to support local shop owners who are saving in Bitcoin. We also look at how they are fighting back against expensive money transfer companies. You will learn how a new project in La Laguna uses a local hardware store to help families send money home without paying Western Union's high fees. The team explains why they stopped using the government's Chivo wallet to use better open tools. They even share a new guide for anyone who wants to start a Bitcoin community in their own neighborhood. Subscribe to the channel to see the proof that this works, and leave a comment if you are ready to try a new way of using money. -Bitcoin Beach Team Connect with Gerardo Linares and Evelyn Lemus: https://x.com/GR_Linares1 https://x.com/Evelynlemus2906 https://www.youtube.com/@BitcoinBerlinSV  Connect and Learn more about Jethro Toro: https://x.com/JethroToro https://rumble.com/user/BitcoinCountry  Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: X: https://www.twitter.com/BitcoinBeach IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach Web: https://www.bitcoinbeach.com  Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 02:13 - The History of Bitcoin Beach  15:04 - Why El Zonte Switched to Lightning 20:46 - How to Build a Bitcoin Circular Economy  32:00 - Living on a Bitcoin Standard in El Salvador  39:41 - Teaching Students to Run Nodes  47:51 - Replicating the Model in La Laguna  57:44 - Solving the Remittance Problem  1:09:58 - Building Bitcoin Network Effects Locally 1:22:45 - Bitcoin Merchant Onboarding Guide PDF Live From Bitcoin Beach

Are you mining Bitcoin to secure the money of the future? Or are you just a "Fiat Hasher" using the network to stack more dying dollars?  Kent Halliburton (@khalliburton) joins me to argue that most of the industry has the wrong incentives. We compare the early days of El Salvador surf tourism, when walking to the beach meant risking your life, to the current state of the network. Just as surfers ventured into dangerous territory for the perfect wave, true Bitcoiners are pushing boundaries to build an escape raft from the fiat system that will last for generations. We discuss the concept of Bitcoin miners acting as a pioneer species in the global energy market. Kent explains how sovereign mining operations venture into remote regions like Ethiopia and Paraguay to monetize stranded energy resources that no one else can reach. This process does far more than generate revenue for developing nations. It helps stabilize the local electrical grid and paves the way for vital infrastructure development in places the central banks and global planners have largely ignored. For many plebs, the biggest barrier to hashing has always been the logistics of the hardware. We break down how hosted mining models allow you to own a dedicated ASIC miner without forcing you to manage the intense heat and noise at home. This is about far more than convenience or ROI. It is about aligning incentives so that you can acquire non-KYC "Wild Sats" at the cost of production rather than paying the inflated spot price on a KYC exchange. We also touch on the human side of hyperbitcoinization in places like the Peruvian Amazon. Kent shares his experience living near the circular economy projects that are proving Bitcoin works as a medium of exchange today. We talk about the importance of using Bitcoin as a tool for sovereignty and how "Energy Cost Averaging" allows you to opt out of the fiat ponzi completely while supporting the communities that need sound money the most. Finally, we tackle the critical threat facing the network regarding security and censorship resistance. With so much hash rate concentrated in just a few massive mining pools, the danger of state capture is higher than many admit. Kent uses the "Milan Cathedral" analogy to challenge us to lower our time preference. We need to stop thinking about quarterly profits and start building for a future we might not live to see. If this conversation made you think, please subscribe and drop a comment below. -Bitcoin Beach Team Connect and Learn more about Kent Halliburton: X: https://x.com/khalliburton Web: https://www.sazmining.com/kent-halliburton Web: https://iris.to/kent  Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: X: https://www.twitter.com/BitcoinBeach IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach Web: https://www.bitcoinbeach.com  Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 00:00 Intro  05:15 How do Bitcoin circular economies work in Peru?  09:30 How to stop trading crypto and become Bitcoin-only?  12:45 How to mine Non-KYC Bitcoin without hardware?  16:20 Is Bitcoin mining profitable vs buying spot?  20:10 How to use Section 179 for mining tax deductions?  22:45 Why are miners moving to Ethiopia and Paraguay?  27:30 How does Bitcoin monetize stranded energy?  31:50 Why do you need Low Time Preference for wealth?  35:15 Is mining centralization a security threat? Live From Bitcoin Beach

Is your citizenship a rug pull waiting to happen?  We sit down with legal expert Jennifer Harding Marlin (@jh_marlin) to discuss why relying on a single fiat passport is a massive single point of failure. We explore the harsh truth for Americans facing restrictive FATCA banking regulations and why entrepreneurs are forced to renounce US citizenship just to protect their stack and keep their businesses alive. Jennifer breaks down the citizenship by investment industry for those looking to opt out of the system completely. We navigate the maze of golden visa programs available right now to determine where you should plant your flag. From the lightning-fast El Salvador Freedom Visa to traditional Caribbean options we compare the best citadels. She highlights the ability to pay for a new nationality directly in Bitcoin for those looking to exit the fiat banking rails entirely. We also get into the operational security of securing your freedom. You will learn the difference between applying for a temporary digital nomad visa and securing a permanent high-security biometric passport that guarantees global mobility. Jennifer explains how to navigate the bureaucracy of background checks and apostille services to ensure you actually get approved.  Subscribe to the channel to build your sovereign portfolio and drop a comment if you would move countries for better money laws -Bitcoin Beach Team Connect and Learn more about Jennifer Harding: X: https://x.com/jh_marlin YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JenniferHardingMarlincitizen Web: https://jhmarlin.com/  Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: X: https://www.twitter.com/BitcoinBeach IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach Web: https://www.bitcoinbeach.com  Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 00:00  Intro  02:26  How to become a citizenship lawyer in Caribbean  06:50  Best second passport for weak passport holders  09:44  Why American entrepreneurs renounce citizenship FATCA banking  13:15  New citizenship by investment programs 2025 Sao Tome  17:30  El Salvador Freedom Visa processing time vs St Kitts citizenship  22:10  Cheapest vs most expensive citizenship by investment 2025  28:40  Is foreign income tax-free in El Salvador for US expats  33:14  Paraguay vs El Salvador residency requirements for digital nomads  36:50  Can you get citizenship by investment with a criminal record Live From Bitcoin Beach

Is Bitcoin actually helping anyone, or is it just another Wall Street game with better branding?  In this conversation, Mike Peterson sits down with Jeremy Almond (@jeremyalmond) to argue that the answer shows up in Bitcoin circular economies, where people earn, spend, and save in Bitcoin as a medium of exchange, and where financial inclusion can look like a kid getting access to school, tools, and a first job. Jeremy shares the personal story that brought him here, shaped by the 2008 financial crisis, Occupy Wall Street, and a family tragedy that turned “money problems” into a life-changing emergency. It is the kind of Main Street vs Wall Street moment that forces a choice, either accept the system as it is or build toward something that gives people more economic agency. Then Jeremy breaks down what Paystand is doing, and why the company keeps Bitcoin in the background. He explains how Bitcoin adoption can happen through business-friendly rails, payment solutions, corporate cards, and payroll, so companies get speed and lower costs without needing a boardroom debate about Bitcoin first. The conversation also goes deep on Paystand.org and corporate philanthropy that tries to avoid the usual traps. The focus is economic empowerment, not dependency, and the goal is to fund and support grassroots leaders who are building circular Bitcoin economies that can stand on their own. Finally, Mike and Jeremy zoom in on what actually scales, Hope House, Bitcoin education, fellowships, and the tough balance between moving fast and protecting communities from bad actors. If you want the clearest case for how Bitcoin can change outcomes in the economy people live in every day, this episode makes the argument without pretending it is easy. -Bitcoin Beach Team Connect and Learn more about Jeremy Almond: X: https://x.com/jeremyalmond YT: https://www.youtube.com/@redefinedpodcast YT: https://www.youtube.com/@PayStand  Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: X: https://www.twitter.com/BitcoinBeach IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach Web: https://www.bitcoinbeach.com  Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 00:00  Intro 03:42 - How did the 2008 financial crisis spark Jeremy’s Bitcoin journey? 07:48 - What is Paystand’s "Trojan Horse" strategy for Bitcoin adoption? 12:42 - How do corporate cards introduce companies to Bitcoin? What role does Bitwage play? 16:29 - How a payments company became a top 20 Bitcoin miner 20:16 - Why are circular economies the "purest" form of Bitcoin? 23:51 - How does Hope House use Bitcoin mining for education? 26:33 - Why send tech employees to indigenous communities? How do fellowships change corporate culture? 30:34 - How do you scale grassroots Bitcoin movements without breaking them? 34:29 - Why does traditional foreign aid fail? How does Bitcoin fix the incentive structure? 39:16 - What is Paystand.org? How can you volunteer for circular economy projects? Live From Bitcoin Beach

What if democracy can’t survive sound money, because it runs on promises it can’t fund? Knut Svanholm sits down with Mike Peterson in El Salvador, fresh from a formal night at the presidential palace with President Nayib Bukele. Phones taken, press everywhere, and a president who feels unnervingly normal to Bitcoiners. Knut’s take is blunt, El Salvador may have accidentally voted “one of us” into office, and the results feel like the inverse of clown world. Then the conversation turns to the cage, fiat currency. They break down how money printing, capital gains tax, and government overreach work together to punish anyone trying to use sound money as an inflation hedge. If you have ever felt like you are being taxed for refusing to play the inflation game, this will hit a nerve. From Centro Histórico to El Zonte, they get practical about what Bitcoin adoption actually looks like when it is not just “number go up” technology. A circular economy takes time, merchant by merchant orange pill work, and more people using the Lightning Network for everyday payments instead of treating Bitcoin like a museum piece. They widen out to Madeira and Prague, where Bitcoin communities are forming in their own ways. You will hear why BTCmap.org (https://btcmap.org/) matters, why Prague gets called the Bitcoin capital of Europe, and why Vexl is one of the most interesting peer-to-peer tools right now for building a web of trust when rules tighten. Finally, Knut leans into his anarcho-capitalism lens, the Shawshank Redemption metaphor, and the mindset behind “you can just do things.” If this episode made you uncomfortable, good, subscribe, share it with the friend still asking permission. -Bitcoin Beach Team Connect and Learn more about Knut Svanholm X: https://x.com/knutsvanholm YT:  @bitcoininfinityshow      Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: X: https://www.twitter.com/BitcoinBeach IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach Web: https://www.bitcoinbeach.com  Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 00:00 - Intro 01:43 - What is Bukele like in person? 03:52 - Why do Bitcoiners say fiat currency is built on money printing? 05:38 - Why does Bukele push circular economy adoption?  07:47 - Why do incentives matter more than democracy? 10:18 - Why doesn’t Bitcoin adoption happen overnight?  14:02 - How did Free Madeira begin? What actually moves merchant Bitcoin adoption? 19:55 - How do you travel on a Bitcoin standard? What tools make a 100% Bitcoin vacation possible 21:26 - Why is Prague a Bitcoin hub? What makes it Europe’s Bitcoin capital 22:41 - What is Vexl for peer-to-peer Bitcoin trading? 24:22 - Why do European Bitcoiners feel squeezed? What role do CBDCs play in the pressure? 32:10 - What Shawshank teaches about hope, fear, and living like a free person? 35:09 - Why is Bitcoin an inflation hedge? Live From Bitcoin Beach

What if the real trap is not working hard, it is spending your best years building someone else’s empire with money you do not even trust? Mike Peterson sits down with Efrat Fenigson (@efenigson) during Bitcoin Historico for a blunt conversation about the fiat system, corporate life, and why “growth for growth’s sake” eventually stops making sense. Efrat explains how years of being great at driving revenue for other people pushed her toward a bigger question: who is this all really for? Before Bitcoin, Efrat Fenigson was deep in the tech world, first as a developer in Australia, then rising to executive roles in Israel. She talks about being a woman in tech on male-dominated teams, the early career reality behind the kinds of paths people imagine when they search video game designer job opportunities, and the moment she realized the work was not the same as purpose. Then things get personal. Efrat shares what happened when she spoke out during Covid, how backlash followed, and why free speech became a line she would not cross, even if it cost her socially and professionally. This is the part of the story where “play it safe” stops being advice and starts being a warning. Bitcoin enters through one sharp question that changed everything, “can they touch it?” Efrat Fenigson describes why self-custody, sound money, and censorship resistance felt like freedom tech, not just finance. It is also where her drive for financial independence turns into something broader, a freedom movement mindset built around sovereignty and personal responsibility. Finally, they zoom out to Bitcoin adoption in El Salvador, including Bitcoin Beach in El Zonte and what a real circular economy looks like when it is not just theory. Efrat and Mike Peterson talk about merchants accepting Bitcoin, why even small savings windows can change how people plan their lives, and why on-the-ground reality matters more than headlines. -Bitcoin Beach Team Connect and Learn more about  X: https://x.com/efenigson YT: https://www.youtube.com/@EfratFenigson  Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: X: https://www.twitter.com/BitcoinBeach IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach Web: https://www.bitcoinbeach.com  Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 00:00:00 - Intro: Observing the reality of Bitcoin in El Salvador  00:08:13 - How do you become a global CMO in Israel?  00:09:43 - How can single motherhood and divorce debt push someone to pursue financial independence and retire early?  00:13:58 - Why do high earners quit corporate jobs?  00:17:51 - What happens when you speak out during Covid?  00:21:11 - How did Efrat Fenigson get into Bitcoin?   00:21:47 - Can the government seize Bitcoin? What does ‘can they touch it’ mean for self-custody and censorship resistance?   00:34:52 - Is Bitcoin still being used in El Salvador? What is Bitcoin Beach in El Zonte really like for visitors?   00:41:20 - Why do merchants accept Bitcoin in El Salvador? Does Bitcoin adoption actually help small businesses save money?   00:42:13 - Why is Bitcoin called freedom tech? How does sound money connect to a freedom movement and personal sovereignty?  Live From Bitcoin Beach

What if Bitcoin does not fail because of governments, banks, or the IMF, but because Bitcoiners themselves refuse to actually use it? In this episode, Mike sits down with Isabella Santos in El Salvador to confront one of the most uncomfortable questions in Bitcoin today. Is most “Bitcoin adoption” actually fake if merchants never see anyone spend sats? Isabella shares the unfiltered story of how BTC Isla in Isla Mujeres went from a Twitter idea to a true Bitcoin circular economy with a Bitcoin cafe, a Bitcoin gym, and over 30 local merchants now accepting sats. She explains why trying to orange pill people with education alone did not work, and why building real businesses that accept Bitcoin as sound money was the only way to earn real trust inside the community. In one of the most extreme Bitcoin experiments you will hear this year, Isabella Santos lived for 21 days using only Bitcoin, earning sats through physical jobs like cleaning toilets, selling churros, and making tacos. No fiat safety net. No savings bailout. Just proof that a circular economy either works in real life, or it does not exist at all. The conversation then turns toward a side of Bitcoin many people avoid. Isabella openly calls out Bitcoin maxis who refuse to spend sats, the rise of ETFs that distract from sound money, and the uncomfortable truth that Bitcoin mining hardware is already highly centralized in only a few manufacturers. Her warning is simple and unsettling. Bitcoin does not win automatically. It only works if people fight for it. They close with the human side of adoption through the Bitcoin Fit Games, where fitness, scavenger hunts, and sats came together to support the very merchants who took the first risk on Bitcoin. From helping feed a family in crisis to building a wellness hub with a gym, recovery center, and café, Isabella Santos shows what Bitcoin looks like when it leaves Twitter and enters real life. —Bitcoin Beach team Connect and Learn more about Isabella Santos: X: https://x.com/BTCIsla X: https://x.com/isabellasg3 YT: https://www.youtube.com/@btcisla Support the project through Geyser Fund: https://geyser.fund/project/btcisla https://www.youtube.com/@getbasedtv Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: X: https://www.twitter.com/BitcoinBeach IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach Web: https://www.bitcoinbeach.com Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 0:00 Intro 1:25 Is El Salvador really welcoming Bitcoiners at the airport with a “Welcome to Bitcoin Country” sign? 4:49 What is BTC Isla and how does it work? How do you set up a Bitcoin cafe payment system that actually gets used? 8:23 How does Bitcoin relate to health and low time preference at the first Bitcoin gym in Mexico running its own node? 11:14 Can you live using only Bitcoin for 21 days? How do you get paid in Bitcoin for local jobs on an island? 13:01 Should Bitcoin prices be listed in sats or fiat? How do you separate a Bitcoin savings stack from a spending stack so you can spend without guilt? 18:36 How do you organize a Bitcoin themed fitness event? Can Bitcoin be used to support local families in need? 27:19 How do you build a Bitcoin circular economy? How many merchants in Isla Mujeres accept Bitcoin, and how do you convince local merchants to accept Bitcoin? 31:31 How do you grow a Bitcoin YouTube channel fast? What is The Exit Manual Bitcoin show ( @exitmanual )? How do you make Bitcoin content that reaches teenagers? 35:25 Is Bitcoin mining too centralized? Who makes the ASIC mining chips? Is Bitcoin centralized? Live From Bitcoin Beach

Recorded in the middle of Bitcoin Month, this episode brings together Knut Svanholm, Giacomo Zucco, Mike Peterson, and Jethro Toro in El Zonte, El Salvador. They unpack what it feels like to live through Bitcoin Historico at the National Palace San Salvador, Adopting Bitcoin in San Salvador, and the Bitcoin Beach Festival on the coast. From free pupusas and packed plazas to barefoot plebs and kids everywhere, you get a ground-level view of why El Salvador still feels like Bitcoin Country after the El Salvador legal tender law and why so many Bitcoiners keep coming back. The crew shared the story everyone asks about, their surreal invitation to a formal dinner with President Bukele. Giacomo explains how he gifted a bottle of Dictador rum, they talk about Bukele’s quick jokes about Libertarian anarchism and public sector jobs, and they explain what was actually discussed about Bitcoin adoption, circular economy experiments, and bottom-up projects like Bitcoin Beach and Bitcoin Berlin. It is not a press release, it is what it felt like for plebs and authors like Knut Svanholm and educators like Giacomo Zucco to suddenly find themselves at a presidential table with Max Keiser & Stacy Herbert and other Bitcoin builders. They also go deep on the work behind the scenes. Mike Peterson shares an update on Bitcoin Beach and the push to launch at least 14 new circular economy projects across El Salvador, plus the new Bitcoin-themed boutique hotel, the Citadel of Hope, and a pickleball court in Punta Mango. Giacomo walks through the three pillars of Plan B Network, global Bitcoin education like Cubo Plus and Node Nation, physical hubs in places such as Lugano, London, and future hubs in San Salvador, and an emerging Bitcoin venture path and startup support. Along the way, they touch on the IMF pressure, how the government stayed committed through bear markets after El Salvador, legal tender went live, and why ideas like Libertarian socialism still get a fair hearing in off-the-record debates. Running through the episode is the culture piece. Knut talks about his books, the Bitcoin Infinity framing, his talks at Bitcoin Historico inside the National Palace San Salvador, and why Adopting Bitcoin feels more like a festival than a standard conference. The group tells the origin story of Satoshi Rokamoto, the improvised Bitcoin rock band that now shows up at events from Mexico to Lugano, often playing long after the sound crew tries to shut things down.  If you care about Bitcoin in El Salvador, circular economy models, or just want to know what it is really like on the ground during Bitcoin Month, this conversation will probably make you start checking flights. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a Bitcoiner who has El Salvador on their list, leave a comment with your favorite story from Bitcoin Month, and hit subscribe so you do not miss the next chapter of Bitcoin Country. -Bitcoin Beach Team Connect and Learn more about Giacomo, Knut, Jethro: Giacomo Zucco X: https://x.com/giacomozucco Web: https://www.giacomozucco.com/  Knut Svanholm X: https://x.com/knutsvanholm YT: https://www.youtube.com/@BitcoinInfinityShow    Jethro Toro X: https://x.com/JethroToro  Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: X: https://www.twitter.com/BitcoinBeach IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach  Web:  Live From Bitcoin Beach

In this episode, I sit down with Jeff Booth inside the National Palace El Salvador to dig into a question a lot of people are asking in private. Is El Salvador still Bitcoin country, or did Bukele get captured by the IMF. Jeff shares how he ended up invited by the President, why he first thought he was being used as a marketing prop, and what actually happened during a long conversation on Bitcoin, freedom money, and what it means for a small country trying to escape a global control system. We walk through the IMF and El Salvador story from Jeff’s perspective. He explains why a former failed state turned to Bitcoin to escape fiat money and its hidden taxes, yet still decided to take an IMF loan. Jeff shares Bukele’s “rat and cheese” analogy, and why the real goal is Salvadorans holding their own keys, running nodes, and building a circular economy in Bitcoin instead of staying stuck in the old system. He also talks about what he saw on the ground, from gang crackdowns and falling crime, to how the historic center now feels safer and more vibrant, and what that means for tourism in El Salvador. From there, we zoom out into the deeper human side. Jeff explains how understanding Bitcoin forces an existential crisis, especially for wealthy people and NGOs who thought they were helping, while actually reinforcing a broken fiat money system. We get into game theory, why most people will cheat if they think they will not get caught, and why the principled minority who run nodes and hold their own keys matter so much. Jeff lays out a simple way to think about moving your time into the Bitcoin economy, starting with a small percentage, then growing it until your life reflects an honest market instead of a control system built on inflation and debt. We close with why Jeff walked away from a huge Twitter audience to spend his time on Nostr, how he thinks about living in alignment in public, and what he is building with Ego Death Capital. He shares how they use Bitcoin as the hurdle rate, why he believes Bitcoin native startups will massively outperform as the old world gets repriced, and how founders in places like El Salvador can collect more Bitcoin by creating real value for real people.  If this conversation shifts how you see El Salvador, the IMF, or fiat money, subscribe, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and send this to a friend who still refuses to spend sats in Bitcoin Beach. -Bitcoin Beach Team Connect and Learn more about Jeff Booth: X: https://x.com/JeffBooth Web: https://www.jeffbooth.ca/  Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: X: https://www.twitter.com/BitcoinBeach IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach Web: https://www.bitcoinbeach.com  Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 00:00 - Why does Jeff Booth say Bukele understands the global Bitcoin game and the IMF “rat and cheese” trap? 01:52 - What first brought Jeff Booth to El Salvador and why were Bitcoiners questioning if it is still Bitcoin country? 02:55 - How did the invitation from Bukele’s office change Jeff’s thinking about El Salvador’s Bitcoin strategy? 04:02 - Why did Jeff want to look Bukele in the eye before trusting the El Salvador Bitcoin experiment? 10:08 - Does Bukele feel the Bitcoin experiment is working and how does he balance IMF money with a Bitcoin vision? 13:57 - How different does San Salvador feel today compared to the gang violence years before Bitcoin and Bukele’s crackdown? 1 Live From Bitcoin Beach

What if a US dollar collapse is not doom talk from the fringe, but simply the logical end of the fiat currency game we are already playing. In this episode, Mike Peterson sits down with investor and author Larry Lepard inside El Salvador’s National Palace to unpack the thesis behind The Big Print book and why Larry believes the next massive round of money printing is not a question of if, only when. From the setting to the stakes, this is a conversation about what happens to real people when a reserve currency reaches the edge of the map. Larry Lepard walks through his journey from pure gold bug to running a fund that owns both gold stocks and Bitcoin, and why he still respects gold while expecting Bitcoin to crush it in performance. He and Mike Peterson explore what sound money really means in a world of relentless monetary debasement, why he sees fiat currency as the true enemy, and why he thinks “cash on the sidelines” is a dangerous illusion. If you have ever argued Bitcoin versus gold with friends, this gives you a deeper, more nuanced view from someone who lives on both sides of that trade. From there, the episode dives into macro reality. Larry explains the US debt doom loop, the trapped position of the Federal Reserve, and why the next Big Print could push us closer to a visible US dollar collapse. He talks about the balance sheet, interest expense, QE under different names, and why he thinks fiat currency has no real bottom once confidence breaks. This is not framed as chart guessing. It is framed as a very direct question about where you want your savings when politicians decide that printing is safer than telling the truth. The setting in El Salvador is not a backdrop. Mike Peterson and Lawrence Lepard talk about President Bukele, Bitcoin as legal tender, and what it means for a small country to defy the IMF and move toward a Bitcoin strategy while the United States digs deeper into fiat. They reflect on safety, investment, and whether “Bitcoin Country” was a PR stunt or an early glimpse of a world where sound money policy starts outside traditional power centers. If you are curious about how one nation is already testing ideas while the rest of the world still debates online, this part of the conversation hits hard. Finally, Larry pushes into a future that sounds crazy until you sit with it. He sketches a timeline where Bitcoin trades at 5 million dollars a coin, Michael Saylor runs for president on a sound money and nuclear disarmament platform, and the United States has to confront a real choice between honest money and the old fiat game. It is provocative, it is uncomfortable, and it is exactly the kind of thought experiment that forces you to ask what you actually believe about Bitcoin, the dollar, and the world your family will live in. If this episode moves something in you, subscribe, share it with someone who still trusts the system by default, and let us know in the comments where you stand after hearing it. -Bitcoin Beach Team Connect and Learn more about Larry Lepard: X: https://x.com/lawrencelepard Web: https://ema2.com/ Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: X: https://www.twitter.com/BitcoinBeach IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach Web: https://www.bitcoinbeach.com Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 00:00 How does Lawrence Lepard imagine a Michael Saylor 2032 presidency and a Bitcoin sound money standard 01:35 Why are Mike Peterson and Lawrence Lepard recording this Bitcoin conversation inside El Salvador’s National Palace 02:29 Why does Larry believe “the big print is imminent” and fiat currency is at the end of the road 05:03 How did Lawrence Lepard go from gold bug to running a fund that owns both gold stocks and Bitcoin 09:02 Is the clas Live From Bitcoin Beach

Dr. Jack Kruse explains why he believes El Salvador is the most asymmetric opportunity of our lifetime and why so many serious Bitcoiners are leaving the United States for El Salvador. Drawing on stories like buying a New York City corner in 1890 or the Louisiana Purchase for $12 million, he shows how rare it is to find a moment where land, leadership, and money all line up in your favor. Jack argues that El Salvador under President Bukele feels more like the “fourteenth colony” of real American freedom. He calls out safety myths, describes what life on the ground actually feels like, and gives a direct challenge to listeners who keep delaying action. If you care about where Bitcoin culture is truly taking root, this conversation will push you to rethink where you live and how you plan your future. Watch the FULL EPISODE here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Inspd0gKEs Connect and Learn more about Dr. Jack Kruse: Website: https://jackkruse.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjackkruse  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjackkruse  Check out his book at: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00J21IRR6/allbooks Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: X: https://www.twitter.com/BitcoinBeach  IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach  Web: https://www.bitcoinbeach.com Live From Bitcoin Beach

Coming from the “empire of bureaucracy”, Lina Seiche has seen what happens when regulation stifles innovation.  In El Salvador, she’s found the opposite, a government removing red tape, empowering entrepreneurs, and even teaching children about financial education from an early age. She explains why this freedom to build, innovate, and educate is shaping a generation that understands money differently not through taxes and rules, but through choice and knowledge. It’s a glimpse into a country rewriting what financial literacy looks like. Watch the FULL EPISODE here: https://youtu.be/nT8HmPfqS0c Connect and Learn more about Lina Seiche The Little Hodler: https://thelittlehodler.com Lina on X: https://twitter.com/LinaSeiche Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: X: @BitcoinBeach IG: @bitcoinbeach_sv TikTok: @livefrombitcoinbeach Web: bitcoinbeach.com Live From Bitcoin Beach

What good is financial sovereignty if your body is still in custodial care? Mike Peterson sits down with Christopher Wedick to map out the Reclaiming Health and Longevity Symposium in San Salvador, a two-day meet-up where decentralized health meets decentralized wealth. They talk health sovereignty, community healing, and why El Salvador’s mix of safety, affordability, and sunlight makes it a real base for people who want financial self-custody and practical lifestyle medicine. This is the week where Bitcoin pragmatists and wellness builders compare notes in the same room. Christopher shares why he left Canada for El Salvador, how value-aligned community changes daily life, and what “reclaiming health” looks like without pharma as the default. The conversation covers natural remedies, sun and diet basics, and tech like Neurovisor light therapy. It is a clear path for visitors coming for @adoptingbitcoin 2025 and Bitcoin Histórico, who also want low-cost protocols, credible speakers, and a welcoming scene at Salamanca. You will hear why speakers like Dr. Peter McCullough (@petermcculloughmd ) and Dr. William Makis (@MakiswMD ) wanted to join the conversation, how voices around Dr. Jack Kruse and his community are educating the health industry in El Salvador. You will hear how the event works, who is speaking, and what follows, including the Elevating Consciousness Experience and the Bitcoin Well Mastermind. If you have been asking where holistic health and Bitcoin adoption overlap in a real place with real people, this episode gives you the playbook. Get your tickets at 👉 https://reclaiminghealth.life.  If this hits, subscribe, drop a comment with your biggest health shift this year, and share with the friend who calls El Salvador Bitcoin country. -Bitcoin Beach Team Connect and Learn more about Christopher Wedick:  IG: https://www.instagram.com/shiftwithchris/ https://x.com/reclaimhealthsv https://mindshiftstudios.com/team/christopher-wedick/ https://reclaiminghealth.life/  https://reclaiminghealth.life/product/elevating-consciousness-experience/  https://reclaiminghealth.life/product/bitcoin-whale-mastermind/  Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: X: https://www.twitter.com/BitcoinBeach  IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach  Web: https://www.bitcoinbeach.com  Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 00:00 Why launch a health and longevity symposium in El Salvador during Bitcoin week 00:55 What is the Reclaiming Health and Longevity Symposium and who should attend 01:29 Why call El Salvador Bitcoin country and how does that support health sovereignty 03:25 Did El Salvador’s Bitcoin adoption inspire the move and the event vision 04:44 How does decentralized health work in practice with natural remedies and Lifestyle medicines 06:53 Which holistic alternatives and international speakers are coming to San Salvador 13:15 Where can listeners buy tickets for Salamanca and what is included 14:48 Which speakers is Christopher most excited to hear and why 15:56 Why should Bitcoiners prioritize Holistic Health and Community healing 22:27 What retreats follow the event and how do they differ for wellness and Bitcoin builders Live From Bitcoin Beach

If you think the IMF is winning in El Salvador, think again! Bitcoin Beach founder's Mike Peterson sits down with Jethro, Kiki, and Charlie to show the receipts from the ground. We talk real Bitcoin circular economies, the merchants who now prefer sats, and how everyday life in El Zonte, El Tunco, and beyond has changed when money is freedom money. San Salvador’s historic center is about to become the stage for Bitcoin Histórico. El Salvador National Palace and National Theater will lit up with a VIP lineup most people said would never come here. Russell Brand’s fireside chat will lead a heavyweight program with Max Keiser, Stacy Herbert, Jeff Booth, Preston Pysh, Lawrence Lepard, Zuby, Giacomo Zucco, Jimmy Song, and more. If you want to witness the moment Bitcoin goes mainstream in El Salvador, be there. @adoptingbitcoin 2025 doubles down on builders and the “Network Effect.” Kiki walks through Spanish and English tracks, high-signal technical workshops, and a live Lightning dashboard tracking spend across vendors. From education programs like Librería de Satoshi (@libsatoshi) to Cubo+ alumni now working in Bitcoin, this is what it looks like when a conference runs Bitcoin only and measures real adoption. Up in the mountains, Economía Bitcoin turns @BitcoinBerlinSV in Berlin, El Salvador, into a two-day masterclass on circular economies. Charlie and Jethro bring merchants who price in sats, not dollars, and entrepreneurs like BitDriver, Bitcoin Travel, and BitTasker who keep value inside the loop. Panels range from core tech to coffee and commerce, with a festival vibe that still stays high signal. Between events, the coast lights up. Bitcoin Coast has El Tunco onboarding fast, and Punta Mango hosts a surf week where athletes receive sats to spend locally. We’re soft-launching our Bitcoin Villas there to keep the mission sustainable and the community thriving. If this is the El Salvador you want to see more of, subscribe, drop a comment, and share this with the friend who still asks, “But who actually uses Bitcoin?” Guest Links: Jethro Toro: https://x.com/JethroToro Kiki: https://x.com/bitcoinbabey Charlie: https://x.com/TheNaturalInve1 Economía Bitcoin conference:  X https://x.com/EconomiaBtc https://www.bitcoinberlinsv.com/economia-bitcoin-2025 Adopting Bitcoin conference:  X https://x.com/AdoptingBTC https://sv25.adoptingbitcoin.org/ Bitcoin Histórico:  X https://x.com/btchistoricosv https://bitcoinhistorico.com/ Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: X: @BitcoinBeach IG: @bitcoinbeach_sv TikTok: @livefrombitcoinbeach https://bitcoinbeach.com Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 0:00 Why is “Bitcoin Month” kicking off in El Salvador now? 2:32 What is the Bitcoin Country podcast and who’s on it? 5:19 What’s the story behind the Bitcoin “Hollywood” sign studio? 8:47 What is Bitcoin Histórico at San Salvador’s National Palace? 11:54 How are El Zonte merchants using the Lightning Network and saving sats? 16:15 Did the Chivo wallet actually drive Bitcoin adoption in El Salvador? 21:07 Bitcoin Histórico dates and tickets, plus the Russell Brand fireside chat? 22:38 What makes the Adopting Bitcoin conference different this year? 34:52 How will the live Lightning dashboard track spend across vendors? 52:18 What’s happening in Punta Mango? Live From Bitcoin Beach