https://bitcoinmagazine.com/markets/as-peso-inflates-argentina-needs-bitcoin

This is an opinion editorial by Jonathan Buck, founder of JB & GS Mining GmbH, a German bitcoin mining hosting company.

Argentina is currently in the midst of a crippling inflation crisis, with the national currency, the Argentine peso (ARS), losing value at an alarming rate. Just one year ago, the exchange rate from the U.S. dollar to the ARS was 115.75, and at the time of this writing, it stands at 224.52. Reports indicate that on the black market, people are paying more than double this rate. The country’s annual inflation rate has skyrocketed to a staggering 104%, presenting significant challenges to both its economy and citizens. In response, the country’s central bank has raised interest rates to an astounding 81%.

As the peso’s value continues to nosedive, Argentinians urgently need a reliable store of value to safeguard their wealth. Enter Bitcoin, often referred to as “digital gold,” a trustless decentralized system with a capped supply of 21 million coins. This scarcity ensures that bitcoin’s value remains less susceptible to inflationary erosion. As such, by adopting Bitcoin, Argentinians can shield their assets from the rapidly-depreciating peso and maintain their purchasing power.

Financial Inclusion And Empowerment For All

A significant portion of Argentina’s population is unbanked (estimated at 51% in 2021) or underbanked, often due to strict requirements from financial institutions, high fees or insufficient access to traditional banking services. But the decentralized nature of Bitcoin allows for easier access to financial services, regardless of one’s socio-economic background. Embracing Bitcoin could enable financial inclusion for Argentina’s citizens, empowering them to participate in the global economy. This, in turn, could potentially drive economic growth and reduce wealth inequality.

Argentina’s reliance on foreign currencies, such as the U.S. dollar, has contributed to its precarious economic situation. Bitcoin can provide a more stable alternative to the peso and decrease the country’s dependency on foreign currencies. As a global currency, bitcoin is less vulnerable to local economic fluctuations and can help insulate Argentina from external shocks. Additionally, Bitcoin’s decentralized nature prevents manipulation by central banks or governments, ensuring a more transparent and stable financial system.

In conclusion, bitcoin offers a much-needed lifeline to Argentina as it battles its inflation crisis. By embracing this digital currency, the country can secure a more stable financial future for its citizens, promote financial inclusion and reduce its reliance on foreign currencies. As Argentina seeks a solution to its economic problems, Bitcoin may very well be the key to overcoming its challenges.

Argentina is facing a severe inflation crisis, with the Argentine peso rapidly losing value. Bitcoin could provide a solution by acting as a stable store of value, promoting financial inclusion and reducing reliance on foreign currencies.

This is a guest post by Jonathan Buck. Opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/why-bitcoin-failed-in-car

Just a year after making bitcoin legal tender, the Central African Republic (CAR) abandoned its plans to revitalize its country. Why?

This is an opinion editorial by Jonathan Buck, founder of JB & GS Mining GmbH, a German bitcoin mining hosting company.

In April 2022, the Central African Republic (CAR) adopted bitcoin as legal tender, becoming the second nation in history to do so. However, just a year later, the nation reversed its decision. But what are the reasons behind this failure in the CAR?

Challenging Economic Conditions

The CAR, one of the poorest countries in the world, faces numerous obstacles, such as political instability, inadequate infrastructure and food shortages.

In the 2018 Human Development Index, the CAR ranked second to last, with around 79% of its 4.7 million residents living in poverty. More than three million people in the country are reported to require humanitarian assistance while more than 85% of the population lacks electricity.

One of the significant barriers to the success of the Bitcoin project in the CAR was surely the country’s limited internet access. With only about 10% percent of the population having access to the internet, widespread adoption of digital currencies was highly unlikely.

While Bitcoin has been helping to bank the unbanked globally, the digital currency alone cannot solve all of a country’s underlying infrastructure problems. And while Bitcoin can be resilient off the grid, the lack of basic amenities such as electricity and internet in CAR likely hindered the spread and usability of Bitcoin there.

Skepticism And International Concern

The introduction of bitcoin as legal tender in CAR was met with skepticism, partly due to the country’s close ties with Russia, raising suspicions about its potential plans to use cryptocurrencies to bypass sanctions.

The United Nations also warned that developing countries like the CAR could face high risks and costs associated with cryptocurrencies.

And, ultimately, the economic benefits promised by the proponents of Bitcoin in the CAR never materialized. Ambitious projects, such as building a “Bitcoin city,” failed or never began, further dampening enthusiasm for the digital currency experiment.

A Larger Trend?

Despite the disappointment in the CAR, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have been gaining traction in other African countries. For example, countries such as Nigeria and South Africa have seen a significant increases in bitcoin adoption, with millions of users now buying, selling and trading digital assets. In these countries, the growth of the cryptocurrency industry has been driven by factors such as the high inflation rate of local fiat currencies; an increasing number of young, tech-savvy individuals; and a growing number of businesses accepting bitcoin as a payment method.

In the end, the failure of bitcoin as legal tender in the CAR can be attributed to the nation’s challenging economic conditions, skepticism surrounding its motives, limited access to technology and unfulfilled peripheral promises.

But despite this failure, other African countries represent some of the world’s most promising, growing epicenters of Bitcoin adoption. If anything, this failure in the CAR highlights the importance of developed environments and good-faith intentions for the successful adoption of Bitcoin, at least for the first handful of countries that hope to be successful.

This is a guest post by Jonathan Buck. Opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.