Today I am joined by Gerson Martinez, Chief Strategy Officer at Volcano Energy. Gerson, who’s family immigrated from El Salvador to the United States, shares how Bitcoin is transforming safety, remittances, education, and financial sovereignty in El Salvador. We discuss the history of El Salvdaor and misconceptions about El Salvador perpetuated in Western media and advocate for amplifying local Salvadorian voices. Gerson also talks Bitcoin mining, nonprofit work, Bitcoin Beach, and why time with family is one of the most cherished things in life. See the links below for great Salvadorian led initiatives to follow and support:
Volcano Energy: https://twitter.com/Volcano_Energy
My First Bitcoin: Free, impartial bitcoin education in El Salvador:
twitter: https://twitter.com/MyFirstBitcoin_ Website: https://miprimerbitcoin.io/en/my-first-bitcoin/
The National Bitcoin Office of El Salvador: https://twitter.com/bitcoinofficesv Bitcoin Beach: A circular bitcoin economy based in El Zonte, El Salvador:
twitter: https://twitter.com/Bitcoinbeach Website: https://www.bitcoinbeach.com/
Gerson Martinez Twitter: https://twitter.com/gersonmartinez
Trey Walsh Nostr: https://primal.net/p/npub164q45vfa8prpl7f63stsl9qm9n22v6julkasjdqxjc8kevchsj0sp42rl3 Twitter: https://twitter.com/ktreywalsh
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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Start
03:18 Gerson's background & nonprofit work
13:16 Bitcoin Beach
18:14 Change in life pace at BTC Beach
20:00 Kids response to BTC beach
21:57 Safety in El Salvador
27:20 Political history of El Salvador
33:02 What actual safety feels like
34:30 USA exported gangs to El Salvador
40:47 Is Bukele bad for El Salvador?
45:54 Media outlets shaping opinions about El Salvador
55:31 Trey's mission work & experience
59:45 Bitcoin adoption & education
01:09:47 Bitcoin mining
01:15:32 Time preference
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TPB53 - The History and Transformation of El Salvador with Gerson Martinez