 El Salvador is unashamedly a Bitcoin destination. From Bitcoin conferences, big-name Bitcoiners, Bitcoin accepted here signs, a laser-eyed president, and oodles of Bitcoin investments streaming into the country like transactions into the Bitcoin mempool. The nation is the first and greatest sign of Bitcoin adoption in the world. I spent two weeks traveling in El Salvador living on Bitcoin. You're back on Bitcoin? I tried to pay for every single thing – food, accommodation, and even a wig – with Bitcoin. I attended the graduation ceremony of my first Bitcoin diploma program. I interviewed people on the streets of San Salvador. I shared my Bitcoin knowledge with this beautiful country. So what's it actually like to use Bitcoin in El Salvador? Under Article 7, the law states, every economic agent must accept Bitcoin as a form of payment when it is offered by someone who purchases a good or service. However, it doesn't say how to do so. So it's 6.30 a.m. on Tuesday, 15 November. I've just technically slept in a hotel for free because when I came here last night, I tried to pay in Bitcoin and they didn't allow that at that time. After lots of back-and-forth, the solution we came to was that I would go to a Chivo ATM, withdraw dollars for Bitcoin, and then pay the hotel with those dollars here. Obviously, I'm not going to do that. So I'm going to try again this morning to understand why they're not accepting Bitcoin, even though I saw the Chivo app on the lady at the reception's phone. Let's see how it goes. Don't say, where are we? We're in the office about to pay the bill for the first time, for the first time. This is Ibex Pay. And 20% of propinus is 20% tip. And then this is the QR code. And I receive here 59, 59, 59, I pay, you go there, and it's quick. It's faster than the card. It's faster than the card. My first time in Bitcoin. Confusion about how to pay with Bitcoin is a common problem across El Salvador. For example, many people don't know that they should use the Lightning Network for everyday transactions. The Lightning Network enables near-instant Bitcoin payments with low fees. These payments are denominated in Sats, the Bitcoin equivalent of cents to the dollar. He's wearing a hat with a strike. There's a giant sign just over there which says they accept Bitcoin. We got there. So that's Eleo. So first she thought that I was trying to send her dollars because she thought Chivo meant Bitcoin. Then I showed her that it's a Bitcoin base chain and then within the Chivo app you have to select Lightning. And so first I was trying to send Lightning to a Bitcoin address and I realised, oh wait, it's not even Lightning. Wow, lots to be done, lots to be done. I made several mistakes too, like spending a 10,000 Sats fee for a dollar 50 on a tip for a waiter because I forgot to switch to the Lightning Network. It doesn't sound like much, but if I'd used Lightning, that fee would have been a fraction of a penny. I was pretty impressed by the quality of mobile data coverage across the country. Only in certain places, like near volcanoes, did reception drop out. There's no signal. And then there's like... Okay. So there's no signal here, so how can you accept Bitcoin if there's no internet signal? But that didn't stop me from sending Sats to my guide at 2,300 metres. I'll be there. Okay, scan. Okay. Face ID. I'll just like that. I'll receive it. I'll receive it on Bitcoin. Okay. Thank you. Another. I'm in San Salvador and I'm going to try and give out some Bitcoin to people if they answer five questions. Ain't nobody shooting a dude holding a clip or damn it, right? When was the last time you used Bitcoin? About one month ago? Never. Never? Amazing. We don't have Bitcoin. It's been three months. Okay. It's been three months ago. One month ago. One month? One month? One month? Do you like it? Three months? So three months? One month? Okay. Yesterday was it? Yesterday? Yesterday. Yesterday. Great. What's your opinion on Bitcoin? Well, that's the claim of the future. I'm going to need it right here. So we're trying to use it every day. There are different ways to pay, not only Bitcoin. We have a bunch of applications over there. Yeah. So we really don't need it. Well, I think it's a good money. It's a good money. Yes, yes, yes. Quite good. Quite good money. Okay. It's improved sending of money. I know they send it like this because of the card. You can't send it either. No, it's very good. It's very good because it makes things easier. There are a lot of things that give us that ease. And if you learn how to use it, you also learn how to earn a little. What's your opinion on the president? On Naipukele? Oh, it's the best. Yeah. 100. Yeah. We have a good president right now. So it really feels that way. We enjoy. Bitcoin, I think, it was a bad idea. The people are not ready. But it is okay for the house to drive in the country. It is a big point for him. Right? Yeah. Well, as there in Puskale, I think we have the president number one in the world. Oh, what a good job. What does a good job do? You think it's a good job? Yes, an excellent job. An excellent job. Okay. Oh, no, my president, I can do it. Well, if you want, I don't. He has come to take away a lot of weight from us, let's say, his way of governing. Mm-hmm. If you could sum up the atmosphere of El Salvador right now in one word, what word would you use? Surf city. Surf city. And then if you could sum up the atmosphere in El Salvador in one word, what would you say? Safety. It's the best. Best? Okay. The delinquency. The delinquency? Yes. I left with tranquility. Tranquility? Yes. How would you say it? I'll save you at this moment. Peace. In 2021, a group called Me Primer Bitcoin saw an opportunity to shape Bitcoin education in El Salvador. They formed a school and established the first Bitcoin diploma programs in the country. I attended the third graduation ceremony for kids aged 13 to 15 in a town on the outskirts of San Salvador. I was inspired by their understanding of Bitcoin. Oh, okay. Yes. No manches. I mean, look for Bitcoins in El Salvador. Do you have a passport? Do you have a passport? No. Do you have a visa? But do you have a passport to travel? Have you traveled to other countries? I have family abroad, but I mean, I've never talked to anyone abroad. Never? No. Before today? Before today, no. Wow. Well, I'm your first Englishman then. First Bitcoin, first Englishman. Well, thank you so much, girls. Thank you so much. Congratulations once again for the diploma. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. How do you feel today? Well, I feel really good. I'm glad to be here with you. Perfect. I'm excited to see foreign people who come to visit us. I feel that now that I know Bitcoin, that's going to help me in some work. If I'm going to need the knowledge that I now have, I'm not going to need you to teach me, then it's going to give me more opportunities. Let's not forget the motivations behind the Bitcoin law that was voted in on June 8th, 2021, creating jobs, financial inclusion, and stimulating the economy. El Salvador's GDP is hockey sticking higher. Job creation has ticked up. Tourism soared over 30% just this year. Figures for the government-supported Bitcoin wallet El Chivo would suggest that the country is banking the unbanked. Although paying with Bitcoin is hard right now, I'm also being demanding. The mere fact that Salvadorans can point to the Bitcoin B and understand what it is shows just how far ahead El Salvador is on the Bitcoin adoption curve. In one year, Bitcoin payments in El Salvador have surged from a tiny surfer community on the beach to being an accepted means of payment around the country.