El Salvador’s Bitcoin ‘experiment’ leaves digital poor on the sidelines


A demonstrator holds a sign during a protest against Bukele and Bitcoin on Sept 15 in San Salvador, El Salvador. This month, El Salvador became the first to adopt bitcoin as legal tender alongside the US dollar, which has been the official currency for two decades. — Bloomberg

SAN SALVADOR/BOGOTA: Bertila Garcia has set up her snack stall on the same corner in El Salvador’s capital for four decades – never accepting anything other than cash as payment. Even as her country makes history by adopting Bitcoin, she has no plans to change.

This month, the Central American country became the first in the world to adopt the cryptocurrency as legal tender, but many ordinary Salvadorans, like Garcia, 65, are struggling to make sense of how the step could affect their livelihoods.

The Star Christmas Special Promo: Save 35% OFF Yearly. T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.02/month

Billed as RM 96.20 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Tech News

Review: Defend a moving city in 'Monsters Are Coming' for PC and Xbox
Chip crunch to curb smartphone output in 2026, researcher says
App developers urge EU action on Apple fee practices
'Tomb Raider' Lara Croft to star in two new games 30 years on
Merriam-Webster’s 2025 word of the year is 'slop'
US communities push back against encroaching e-commerce warehouses
Will OpenAI be the next tech giant or next Netscape?
No wolf plush toy by Christmas, French supermarket says
Intel appoints Trump economic adviser as head of government affairs
How much does an army of bots cost? How likes and clout are bought

Others Also Read