July 14, 2025 • 10 mins
The Bitcoin Series - Part 13: Bitcoin and the Global South.
Adoption in emerging economies.
While Bitcoin adoption in the West is driven by investment, speculation, and ideology in the Global South, it’s driven by necessity.
In this episode, we explore why countries like Nigeria, Argentina, and El Salvador are becoming hotspots for Bitcoin use. From hyperinflation and currency controls to remittances and digital inclusion, we unpack the real-world pressures that make Bitcoin more than just a buzzword.
What does financial freedom look like in places where the system has failed? And can Bitcoin truly empower the people it promises to serve? Let's take a look at Bitcoin not as a trend, but as a tool.
Stay curious. Stay grounded. Let’s build better.
Listen now and follow The Crypto 101 Show for more deep-dive episodes in this series.
Join the discord server - https://discord.gg/Y9CPnYm8C2
Looking for Crypto apparel? Crypto 101 swag, shirts and apparel available here. This episode is sponsered by Joe Ugly Apparel - www.joeuglyapparel.com
This week's episode was produced by The WIld 1 Media. If you or anyone you know is looking for podcast editing, podcast production, or any other podcast services please reach out to The WIld 1 Media at www.thewild1media.com. Thanks for listening.
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https://anchor.fm/morning-joe-rant-show
#bitcoin #BTC #crypto #cryptocurrency #defi #coins #cryptocoins #blockchain #finance #governments #policyagnostic #inflation #centralbanks #technology
Adoption in emerging economies.
While Bitcoin adoption in the West is driven by investment, speculation, and ideology in the Global South, it’s driven by necessity.
In this episode, we explore why countries like Nigeria, Argentina, and El Salvador are becoming hotspots for Bitcoin use. From hyperinflation and currency controls to remittances and digital inclusion, we unpack the real-world pressures that make Bitcoin more than just a buzzword.
What does financial freedom look like in places where the system has failed? And can Bitcoin truly empower the people it promises to serve? Let's take a look at Bitcoin not as a trend, but as a tool.
Stay curious. Stay grounded. Let’s build better.
Listen now and follow The Crypto 101 Show for more deep-dive episodes in this series.
Join the discord server - https://discord.gg/Y9CPnYm8C2
Looking for Crypto apparel? Crypto 101 swag, shirts and apparel available here. This episode is sponsered by Joe Ugly Apparel - www.joeuglyapparel.com
This week's episode was produced by The WIld 1 Media. If you or anyone you know is looking for podcast editing, podcast production, or any other podcast services please reach out to The WIld 1 Media at www.thewild1media.com. Thanks for listening.
FOLLOW US ON:
Facebook - @crypto101show or https://www.facebook.com/The-Crypto-101-Show-100158338867665
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/crypto101show/
Sign up for our newsletter - thecrypto101show@gmail.com
Produced by The Wild 1 Media - www.thewild1media.com
Check out our other podcasts-
https://darksidediaries.sounder.fm
https://anchor.fm/ttmygh
https://anchor.fm/morning-joe-rant-show
#bitcoin #BTC #crypto #cryptocurrency #defi #coins #cryptocoins #blockchain #finance #governments #policyagnostic #inflation #centralbanks #technology
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome to the Crypto one on one show, where we
dive into the world of cryptocurrencies, bitcoin, blockchain, and all
the technology with it. Whether you're experienced or a beginner
to crypto, our goal is to break down complex concepts
and make it easy for you to understand the basics,
from Bitcoin to all coins. We'll cover it all in
a way that's easy to digest and provide listeners with
(00:30):
the knowledge and understanding they need to make informed decisions
and better critical thought. Sit back, relax, and let's simplify
your understanding of cryptocurrencies on the Crypto one on one show,
(00:52):
The Bitcoin Series, Part thirteen, Bitcoin and the Global Self
Adoption and Emerging Economies. I need to start off by
saying this is not financial advice, so if you're looking
for that, the show isn't for you. The content of
this podcast episode is for informational purposes only. The opinions
expressed here are not meant to be taken as financial
(01:13):
investment or any other advice. Welcome back to the Bitcoin Series,
Part thirteen. Today we're shifting away from the West and
zooming in on the countries where bitcoin isn't just a trend,
it's a life line. Places like Nigeria, Argentina, Venezuela, and
Al Salvador, where the local currency collapses, the banks fail,
(01:34):
and the government can't be trusted. In these environments, bitcoin
isn't speculative, it's survival. This episode isn't just about adoption
rates or headlines. It's about sovereignty, justice, and the legacy
of colonialism. Because for many countries in the Global South,
the financial system has always been rigged, and bitcoin may
(01:56):
offer a chance to write a new chapter. Let's get
into it. Question one, why is bitcoin growing fastest in
places like Nigeria, Argentina and l Salvador. If you only
followed bitcoin from a Western lens, you'd think it's a
luxury tech investment or a hedge for Silicon Valley bros.
And Wall Street gambler types. But look closer and you'll
(02:17):
see something different. In places like Nigeria, Argentina and L Salvador,
bitcoin isn't a toy or a specuative asset. It's an
actual lifeline because in these countries the traditional financial system
is not just flawed, but completely failed them. In Nigeria,
the government restricted cash and pushed a central bank digital
(02:38):
currency no one wanted. In response, People turned to bitcoin
not because it was trendy, but because it was free,
and Argentina inflation has made the Paeso almost unusable. Families
use bitcoin and stable coins to preserve value across generations
because their savings would disappear otherwise, and l Salvador. The
(02:59):
experiment controversial, but for many bitcoin offers a way to
receive remittances without losing thirty percent to middlemen. It's also
the first time many citizens have had access to any
form of digital money. These aren't stories about speculation. These
are stories about survival. When your local currency loses half
its value in a year, when you can't open a
(03:21):
bank account without political permission, or when sending money across
borders costs more than feeding your family for a week,
then bitcoin becomes more than a symbol. It becomes the alternative.
And that's why adoption in the Global South isn't lagging.
But it's a head question two. What does hyperinflation teach
us about Bitcoin's role? When people talk about bitcoin being
(03:45):
sound money, they're often not speaking from theory. They're speaking
from lived experience. For millions across the Global South. Hyperinflation
isn't some abstract economic idea, it's the monster that ate
their savings, their pensions and their future. In places like Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Argentina,
and Lebanon, people have watched their national currency collapse, and
(04:08):
not slowly either, but rapidly. We're talking prices doubling in
a week, people needing wheelbarrows of cash to buy bread, doctors, teachers,
workers getting paid money that's worthless by payday. So what
does bitcoin have to do with this. It's an escape patch.
Bitcoin has a fixed supply. It doesn't change based on
(04:29):
elections or coups. It doesn't care who's in charge. It
doesn't inflate based on war, corruption or failed policy. It's
just math blocks every ten minutes, twenty one million coins.
That's it. For people in collapsing economies, Bitcoin offers three things.
Fiat cant a store of value that their government can't
(04:51):
print into oblivion. A global network that lets them receive remittances, donations,
or payments without banking approval. A permissions system no ID,
no gatekeeper, no politics. This is extremely important because it's
for survival and to be fair, it's not easy either.
People still need internet access, education and secure storage. And yes,
(05:15):
bitcoin is vilerable, but for someone holding a currency that
loses one hundred percent of its value in a year,
bitcoin might actually be the stable option. We also see
creative use cases in high inflation countries where using bitcoin
to price groceries when local currency is too unstable. They
can get paid in bitcoin through freelance platforms, or they
(05:36):
turn to bitcoin ATMs or peer to peer exchanges when
banks shut down or freeze funds. So what does hyperinflation
teach us? That trust in money isn't guaranteed and once
it breaks, it's nearly impossible to get the trust back.
Bitcoin can't fix a broken economy, but it can give
individuals a way out, and for millions living in economic chaos,
(05:59):
that's not speculating its preservation. Question three, can bitcoin become
a tool for post colonial economic sovereignty? This is more
of a deeper layer, not just how can bitcoin help
people survive broken systems? But can it help them rebuild
new ones? For much of the global South, the economic
(06:20):
story didn't start with bitcoin. It started with colonialism, and
even after independence, many countries remain economically tethered to the
former colonizers. Real quick post colonial economic sovereignty refers to
the ability of a nation that was formerly colonized to
control its own economy free from external interference. We're talking
(06:42):
currencies still controlled or backed by Europe like the CFA
franc in parts of Africa, or IMF and World Bank
loans that came with strings attached, privatization, austerity and dependency.
And lastly, resource rich nations extracting wealth for foreign companyanies
while their own people stay in poverty. That's the pattern
(07:04):
of neo colonialism, control without occupation, and for many the
traditional banking system isn't just broken, it's a tool of
global inequality. So where does bitcoin come in? Bitcoin flips
the script. There is no colonial bank, no central IMF,
no gatekeeper, just ap peer to peer monetary system that
(07:26):
no outsider can control, freeze or devalue. It's not just
about escaping inflation, it's about reclaiming agency. In countries like Nigeria,
Ghana and Argentina. We're already seeing this. Entrepreneurs using bitcoin
to trade internationally without having to rely on unstable local currencies,
protest movements accepting bitcoin when bank accounts are frozen. Developers
(07:51):
building tools and apps in their own language for their
own people, not waiting on Silicon Valley to care. This
is economic autonomy, not imposed from the top down, but
built from the ground up. But there is a nuance.
Bitcoin doesn't guarantee postcolonial liberation. It's a tool, not a savior.
(08:11):
It can still be used by elites, it can still
be hoarded. It still requires internet literacy and security. So
the real question becomes who builds the infrastructure, who educates
the people, who controls the on ramps, because if those
are still foreign, exploitive, or extractive, then the same colonial
(08:31):
patterns just repeat with different tech. But what if communities
control their own nodes while it exchanges and education. Then yes,
Bitcoin can absolutely be a tool of post colonial economic sovereignty,
not just to survive the old system, but to imagine
and build a new one. As we wrap up, bitcoin
(08:52):
isn't just digital money. It's political, culture and personal. In
the Global South, it's being used to evade collapse and currencies,
resist authoritarian regimes, and even reclaim postcolonial financial independence. But
that's only the beginning. Bitcoin doesn't fix history. It gives
people a tool to build something new from the ashes
(09:14):
of the old, and whether it succeeds or not, that
depends on who controls the narrative, who builds the infrastructure,
and whether we globally choose to share power not just code.
Thanks for listening to part thirteen. I hope you come
back for Part fourteen, where we ask what does the
future of work and bitcoin look like? Until then, stay curious,
(09:35):
stay grounded. I want to be extremely upfront that I
try my best to leave all of my opinions out
of this. I know this is very condensed and simplified,
but I want you to gain your own understanding and
beliefs and not be persuaded by me. I hope this
help you gain a better grasp of it. Please remember
to share, follow, and subscribe to our mailing list and
to your favorite podcast app for future episodes so you
(09:57):
can gain more with your crypto knowledge. Spark something in
you or made your question what's possible? I'd love to
hear about it, and if you found this valuable, share
it tag someone who needs to hear it or just
sit with it. Thanks for listening. Thanks for listening to
(10:21):
this episode of The Crypto One on one Show. If
you would like to join our email list, email us
at the Crypto One on one Show at gmail dot
com for more helpful tips, subscribe in your favorite podcast
app and leave a review so that you don't miss
our next episode. See you next time.
Welcome to the Crypto one on one show, where we
dive into the world of cryptocurrencies, bitcoin, blockchain, and all
the technology with it. Whether you're experienced or a beginner
to crypto, our goal is to break down complex concepts
and make it easy for you to understand the basics,
from Bitcoin to all coins. We'll cover it all in
a way that's easy to digest and provide listeners with
(00:30):
the knowledge and understanding they need to make informed decisions
and better critical thought. Sit back, relax, and let's simplify
your understanding of cryptocurrencies on the Crypto one on one show,
(00:52):
The Bitcoin Series, Part thirteen, Bitcoin and the Global Self
Adoption and Emerging Economies. I need to start off by
saying this is not financial advice, so if you're looking
for that, the show isn't for you. The content of
this podcast episode is for informational purposes only. The opinions
expressed here are not meant to be taken as financial
(01:13):
investment or any other advice. Welcome back to the Bitcoin Series,
Part thirteen. Today we're shifting away from the West and
zooming in on the countries where bitcoin isn't just a trend,
it's a life line. Places like Nigeria, Argentina, Venezuela, and
Al Salvador, where the local currency collapses, the banks fail,
(01:34):
and the government can't be trusted. In these environments, bitcoin
isn't speculative, it's survival. This episode isn't just about adoption
rates or headlines. It's about sovereignty, justice, and the legacy
of colonialism. Because for many countries in the Global South,
the financial system has always been rigged, and bitcoin may
(01:56):
offer a chance to write a new chapter. Let's get
into it. Question one, why is bitcoin growing fastest in
places like Nigeria, Argentina and l Salvador. If you only
followed bitcoin from a Western lens, you'd think it's a
luxury tech investment or a hedge for Silicon Valley bros.
And Wall Street gambler types. But look closer and you'll
(02:17):
see something different. In places like Nigeria, Argentina and L Salvador,
bitcoin isn't a toy or a specuative asset. It's an
actual lifeline because in these countries the traditional financial system
is not just flawed, but completely failed them. In Nigeria,
the government restricted cash and pushed a central bank digital
(02:38):
currency no one wanted. In response, People turned to bitcoin
not because it was trendy, but because it was free,
and Argentina inflation has made the Paeso almost unusable. Families
use bitcoin and stable coins to preserve value across generations
because their savings would disappear otherwise, and l Salvador. The
(02:59):
experiment controversial, but for many bitcoin offers a way to
receive remittances without losing thirty percent to middlemen. It's also
the first time many citizens have had access to any
form of digital money. These aren't stories about speculation. These
are stories about survival. When your local currency loses half
its value in a year, when you can't open a
(03:21):
bank account without political permission, or when sending money across
borders costs more than feeding your family for a week,
then bitcoin becomes more than a symbol. It becomes the alternative.
And that's why adoption in the Global South isn't lagging.
But it's a head question two. What does hyperinflation teach
us about Bitcoin's role? When people talk about bitcoin being
(03:45):
sound money, they're often not speaking from theory. They're speaking
from lived experience. For millions across the Global South. Hyperinflation
isn't some abstract economic idea, it's the monster that ate
their savings, their pensions and their future. In places like Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Argentina,
and Lebanon, people have watched their national currency collapse, and
(04:08):
not slowly either, but rapidly. We're talking prices doubling in
a week, people needing wheelbarrows of cash to buy bread, doctors, teachers,
workers getting paid money that's worthless by payday. So what
does bitcoin have to do with this. It's an escape patch.
Bitcoin has a fixed supply. It doesn't change based on
(04:29):
elections or coups. It doesn't care who's in charge. It
doesn't inflate based on war, corruption or failed policy. It's
just math blocks every ten minutes, twenty one million coins.
That's it. For people in collapsing economies, Bitcoin offers three things.
Fiat cant a store of value that their government can't
(04:51):
print into oblivion. A global network that lets them receive remittances, donations,
or payments without banking approval. A permissions system no ID,
no gatekeeper, no politics. This is extremely important because it's
for survival and to be fair, it's not easy either.
People still need internet access, education and secure storage. And yes,
(05:15):
bitcoin is vilerable, but for someone holding a currency that
loses one hundred percent of its value in a year,
bitcoin might actually be the stable option. We also see
creative use cases in high inflation countries where using bitcoin
to price groceries when local currency is too unstable. They
can get paid in bitcoin through freelance platforms, or they
(05:36):
turn to bitcoin ATMs or peer to peer exchanges when
banks shut down or freeze funds. So what does hyperinflation
teach us? That trust in money isn't guaranteed and once
it breaks, it's nearly impossible to get the trust back.
Bitcoin can't fix a broken economy, but it can give
individuals a way out, and for millions living in economic chaos,
(05:59):
that's not speculating its preservation. Question three, can bitcoin become
a tool for post colonial economic sovereignty? This is more
of a deeper layer, not just how can bitcoin help
people survive broken systems? But can it help them rebuild
new ones? For much of the global South, the economic
(06:20):
story didn't start with bitcoin. It started with colonialism, and
even after independence, many countries remain economically tethered to the
former colonizers. Real quick post colonial economic sovereignty refers to
the ability of a nation that was formerly colonized to
control its own economy free from external interference. We're talking
(06:42):
currencies still controlled or backed by Europe like the CFA
franc in parts of Africa, or IMF and World Bank
loans that came with strings attached, privatization, austerity and dependency.
And lastly, resource rich nations extracting wealth for foreign companyanies
while their own people stay in poverty. That's the pattern
(07:04):
of neo colonialism, control without occupation, and for many the
traditional banking system isn't just broken, it's a tool of
global inequality. So where does bitcoin come in? Bitcoin flips
the script. There is no colonial bank, no central IMF,
no gatekeeper, just ap peer to peer monetary system that
(07:26):
no outsider can control, freeze or devalue. It's not just
about escaping inflation, it's about reclaiming agency. In countries like Nigeria,
Ghana and Argentina. We're already seeing this. Entrepreneurs using bitcoin
to trade internationally without having to rely on unstable local currencies,
protest movements accepting bitcoin when bank accounts are frozen. Developers
(07:51):
building tools and apps in their own language for their
own people, not waiting on Silicon Valley to care. This
is economic autonomy, not imposed from the top down, but
built from the ground up. But there is a nuance.
Bitcoin doesn't guarantee postcolonial liberation. It's a tool, not a savior.
(08:11):
It can still be used by elites, it can still
be hoarded. It still requires internet literacy and security. So
the real question becomes who builds the infrastructure, who educates
the people, who controls the on ramps, because if those
are still foreign, exploitive, or extractive, then the same colonial
(08:31):
patterns just repeat with different tech. But what if communities
control their own nodes while it exchanges and education. Then yes,
Bitcoin can absolutely be a tool of post colonial economic sovereignty,
not just to survive the old system, but to imagine
and build a new one. As we wrap up, bitcoin
(08:52):
isn't just digital money. It's political, culture and personal. In
the Global South, it's being used to evade collapse and currencies,
resist authoritarian regimes, and even reclaim postcolonial financial independence. But
that's only the beginning. Bitcoin doesn't fix history. It gives
people a tool to build something new from the ashes
(09:14):
of the old, and whether it succeeds or not, that
depends on who controls the narrative, who builds the infrastructure,
and whether we globally choose to share power not just code.
Thanks for listening to part thirteen. I hope you come
back for Part fourteen, where we ask what does the
future of work and bitcoin look like? Until then, stay curious,
(09:35):
stay grounded. I want to be extremely upfront that I
try my best to leave all of my opinions out
of this. I know this is very condensed and simplified,
but I want you to gain your own understanding and
beliefs and not be persuaded by me. I hope this
help you gain a better grasp of it. Please remember
to share, follow, and subscribe to our mailing list and
to your favorite podcast app for future episodes so you
(09:57):
can gain more with your crypto knowledge. Spark something in
you or made your question what's possible? I'd love to
hear about it, and if you found this valuable, share
it tag someone who needs to hear it or just
sit with it. Thanks for listening. Thanks for listening to
(10:21):
this episode of The Crypto One on one Show. If
you would like to join our email list, email us
at the Crypto One on one Show at gmail dot
com for more helpful tips, subscribe in your favorite podcast
app and leave a review so that you don't miss
our next episode. See you next time.
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