Bitcoin Latam Report

Maciej Cepnik - CMO at Aureobitcoin.com

Hosted by Maciej Cepnik, a Canadian who moved to Mexico and is a Bitcoin entrepreneur, this show features English-language interviews with Bitcoin founders, builders, and operators across the entire Latin American region. From Mexico City to Buenos Aires, we dig into how Bitcoin is used for payments, remittances, mining, and regulation, along with the hard lessons, tactics, and opportunities shaping the LatAm ecosystem.

Episodios

  1. HACE 13 H

    EP#9: Daniel of the White Paper House (Mérida) on the Challenges of Building a Bitcoin Citadel

    In this 9th episode of the Bitcoin Latam Report, Maciej Cepnik sits down with Daniel, a Mexican entrepreneur based in Mérida, Yucatán, who's building one of the most ambitious Bitcoin citadel projects in Latin America.  Recorded at La Casa de Satoshi in Mexico City, we dig into what it actually takes to build a self-sufficient Bitcoin community, from legal structures and autonomous energy to food production and seed sovereignty.  Daniel explains the vision behind White Paper House, his physical Bitcoin space in downtown Mérida, how he's working with local government to push adoption statewide, and why orange-pilling rural communities takes longer than you think. 00:00 Introduction to Daniel and first impressions of La Casa de Satoshi 01:30 From Europe to Yucatán  04:57 Bridging the gap between Bitcoiners and preppers 07:21 Food sovereignty, GMO seeds, and the blind spots of city Bitcoiners 09:47 Fiat agriculture  12:04 Legal challenges of building a rural development in Mexico 16:33 Who lives at the citadel and the chicken-and-egg problem 20:16 Working with Yucatán's government to push Bitcoin adoption statewide 22:43 Honey as a Bitcoin education tool 30:01 Why real orange-pilling takes years, not minutes 34:43 Wallet UX nightmares  Follow Daniel on X: @inahcitadel Follow the White Paper House on X: @whitepaper_H  Follow Maciej Cepnik on X: @CepnikMaciej Follow Aureo on X: @AureoBitcoin Buy Bitcoin in Mexico: aureobitcoin.com Subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes featuring incredible Bitcoin and Latin American entrepreneurs.

    40 min
  2. HACE 2 DÍAS

    #EP8 - Obi Nwosu Fedi’s Vision: Private, Community-Based Bitcoin for All

    In this episode of the Bitcoin Latam Report, Maciej Cepnik had the chance to sit down with Obi Nwosu at La Casa de Satoshi, right in the heart of Mexico City. Obi is the co-founder & CEO of Fedi and an inspiring visionary Bitcoin entrepreneur. They break down what Fedi is actually building beyond a wallet, why custody isn’t a binary decision, and how federated models can offer privacy, security, and usability without forcing everyone into full self-custody from day one. The conversation also dives into real-world adoption constraints: merchant realities, volatility, UX friction, and why communities may be Bitcoin’s true scaling layer. They also discuss Fedi's ambitious expansion plans and what they mean for Latam. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Intro: Obi Nwosu, Fedi & community-led Bitcoin adoption 03:12 What Fedi is building beyond a wallet 07:05 Fedimint explained: how federations work and why they matter 11:48 The custody spectrum: exchanges, self-custody, multisig, community custody 16:10 Trust and governance inside federations 21:04 Real-world Bitcoin adoption in Latin America 26:37 Why UX and lived benefits beat ideology for onboarding to Bitcoin 32:15 How to deal with Merchants, volatility, and stablecoins reality 38:44 Why communities may be Bitcoin’s real scaling layer 45:58 Fedi’s long-term vision: millions of federations, Bitcoin everywhere Fedi (official site): https://www.fedi.xyz Follow Obi on X: @obi Follow Fedi on X: @fedibtc Follow Maciej Cepnik on X: @CepnikMaciej Follow Aureo on X: @AureoBitcoin Subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes featuring incredible Bitcoin and Latin American entrepreneurs

    1 h y 4 min
  3. 26 ENE

    #EP7 Boyd Cohen - Mission & Challenges of Mexico’s First Bitcoin Treasury Company (Arcadia₿)

    In Episode 7 of the Bitcoin Latam Report, Maciej Cepnik sits down with Boyd Cohen (CSO at Arcadia₿) to unpack what it really takes to build Mexico’s first Bitcoin treasury company. They discuss how Arcadia₿ is navigating Mexico’s capital markets to launch a public instrument tied to Bitcoin. Maciej challenges  They also get into: how auditors look at Bitcoin on a balance sheet in Mexico, why some investors still prefer centralized style custody, how multi-institution custody (MIC) fits in. Boyd also shared updates on Arcadia₿ next products and services.  01:24 Boyd’s Bitcoin story 03:38 Maybe capitalism is broken? 04:06 From books on capitalism → discovering Bitcoin & crypto  08:50 Going Bitcoin-only and teaching Bitcoin at EGADE (Tec de Monterrey) 09:04 Meeting Jose Carlos Flores → KapitalX → Arcadia₿ + the treasury idea 10:06 What is a Bitcoin treasury company  16:24 Mexico’s path to public markets 22:48 Arcadia₿’s early BTC treasury  23:56 Custody models: self-custody, MIC, and why the tradeoffs matter 30:49 Multi-sig security (distributed keys across countries) + operational risk 33:50 SOC 2 / becoming a qualified custodian and what it unlocks 35:40 Selling Bitcoin exposure 43:34 Ricardo Salinas: net positive for Mexico’s Bitcoin adoption or risk? 48:22 Arcadia₿ app revamp: UX overhaul, referrals, DCA, and cashback card updates 50:46 New lending: real-estate-backed structure to buy more Bitcoin 58:38 What Mexico’s Bitcoin scene still needs  01:03:46 Doing business as a foreigner in Mexico 01:08:28 Closing thought: AFORE pensions, why treasury companies might matter Show Notes: ✅ Follow Boyd on X: @boydcohen ✅ Follow Arcadia₿ on X: @arcadiabtc ✅ Follow Maciej on X: @CepnikMaciej ✅ Follow Aureo on X: @AureoBitcoin ✅ Arcadia₿: https://www.arcadiab.com/ ✅ Boyd’s book (Bitcoin Singularity): https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B0F84CJX6F This podcast is part of the Aureo Media Network. Please subscribe so you don’t miss the next episodes. #Bitcoin #Mexico #BitcoinTreasury #SelfCustody  #LatAm

    1 h y 8 min
  4. 16 ENE

    #EP6 Javier Bastardo - What's Next for Venezuela After Maduro: Oil, USDT, and the Bitcoin Reality

    In this episode, Maciej Cepnik sits down with Javier Bastardo, a Venezuelan journalist for Forbes, comms/PR at Bitfinex, and founder of Satoshi in Venezuela, for a firsthand look at Venezuela’s breaking point and what comes next, and what it means for Bitcoin. 00:02 Javier’s background 00:58 Journalism → Forbes → Bitfinex / Satoshi in Venezuela 02:56 Leaving Venezuela in 2023 06:20 How do Venezuelans leave the country 14:02 Waking up to the Caracas bombing news / first reactions 21:14 The uncomfortable part: anti-war instincts vs no other way. 22:26 What Chavismo actually is and how it took root 30:51 Venezuela was rich, so why did people feel poor? 34:26 Maduro era: oil, corruption, inflation as control 38:20 Transition phase: why the opposition can’t just take over 47:27 Oil endgame and geopolitics 56:46 Venezuela’s crypto reality: USDT dominance, Binance P2P, remittances 01:08:20 Petro + state BTC stash rumors 01:16:45 Investing in Venezuela: opportunity vs uncertainty 01:22:07 Why crypto companies should hire Venezuelans Follow Javier on X: @criptobastardo Follow Maciej Cepnik on X: @CepnikMaciej Follow Aureo on X: @AureoBitcoin Buy and sell Bitcoin in Mexico at the lowest rate - Personalized onboarding to multi-institution custody solution: Visit aureobitcoin.com Mentioned articles in the podcast: https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2026/01/05/maduro-captured-what-it-means-for-stablecoins-oil-and-bitcoin/ https://www.coindesk.com/opinion/2026/01/06/don-t-hold-your-breath-for-venezuela-s-bitcoin Please subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss the next episodes.

    1 h y 15 min
  5. 14 ENE

    #EP5 Santiago Varela - Retirement in Mexico Is Getting Destroyed—Bitcoin Could Be Your Lifeboat

    In Episode 5 of the Bitcoin Latam Report, Maciej Cepnik talks with Santiago Varela Belmont (Director at KardashevBTC and founder of La Casa de Satoshi) about why Mexico’s pension system is structurally failing, and why Bitcoin matters for retirement. This episode is based on Aureo’s first report: “Limitations of Mexico’s Retirement Savings System (SAR) and Savings Alternatives in Mexico.” Together, they break down the key reforms of 1997 and 2007, explaining why defined-benefit promises, demographics, and Mexico’s large informal economy make the system increasingly unsustainable. They also discuss how fiat debasement quietly erodes purchasing power over time, framing Bitcoin as a means of saving. They also discuss practical paths forward, from strengthening voluntary retirement savings to how responsible Bitcoin exposure could fit into diversified portfolios. 00:00 Welcome & episode intro 01:10 Santiago’s background (economics thesis on Mexico’s pension system) 04:55 A quick history of money & saving in Mexico 07:35 Mexico’s first pension programs (1940s) + how the system evolved 10:00 1997 reform: Afores, SAR, CONSAR & the shift to defined contribution 12:30 2007 reform: expanding benefits + long-term sustainability risks 14:50 The real problem: fiat debasement vs. the financial illiteracy narrative 17:10 Why pensions are taking a growing share of Mexico’s budget 19:35 Demographics: fewer workers funding more retirees 22:00 Informality: nearly half of Mexico is excluded from the formal system 29:10 How Mexicans save today: real estate, stocks, businesses, gold 31:30 Bitcoin in a portfolio: diversification + Sharpe ratio logic 33:50 Explaining Bitcoin without sounding crazy: Savings technology. 38:50 Balancing state pensions vs. self-sovereign savings 41:10 Global examples: pension funds getting Bitcoin exposure 46:00 Scarcity: why Bitcoin is different 49:30 Community updates We invite you to read the full report about the Mexican pensions system here (Available in English and Spanish):  aureobitcoin.com/en/blog/limitaciones-del-sistema-de-ahorro   Follow: Maciej on X: @CepnikMaciej Aureo on X: @AureoBitcoin Santiago on X: @santiagovare1a La Casa de Satoshi on X: @LaCasaDeSatoshi Inflation calculator: inflacionmexico.com Buy and Sell Bitcoin in Mexico: aureobitcoin.com This podcast is part of the Aureo Media Network.

    46 min
  6. 7 ENE

    #EP4 Ronny Avendaño - From Toronto to El Zonte - Founding and growing the Bitcoin Hardware Store

    In Episode 4 of the Bitcoin Latam Report, Maciej Cepnik interviews Ronny Avendaño, founder and CEO of the Bitcoin Hardware Store, in Mexico City at La Casa de Satoshi. Ronny shares his journey from Toronto to El Salvador, how meeting “real Bitcoiners” pushed him toward self-custody, and why he started the store after realizing how hard it was to get basic Bitcoin tools like a node. They discuss what Bitcoin adoption actually looks like in El Salvador, the country’s major improvements in safety, the remaining infrastructure gaps, and how Bitcoin can help solve real problems. The episode also covers choosing Bitcoin-only open-source hardware, helping users move off exchanges, inheritance planning, and Ronny’s plan to expand the hardware store model across Latin America. 00:06 Ronny arrives in Mexico / La Casa de Satoshi 02:07 Moving to El Salvador 04:27 Origin of the Bitcoin Hardware Store 09:15 El Salvador then vs now: safety transformation  14:05 Using Bitcoin mining to solve infrastructure problems  16:31 Setting expectations: El Salvador isn’t Bitcoin heaven yet—advice for movers 26:14 Why a physical store works 30:59 Why El Zonte? 40:36 Hiring & training 45:30 Product selection criteria 50:20 Inheritance planning 55:47 Expansion plans  58:06 Next Locations of the Bitcoin Hardware Store Show Notes Follow Ronny on X: @ronnyavendano_ Follow The Bitcoin Hardware Store on X: @tbhs_sv  Follow Maciej Cepnik on X: @CepnikMaciej  Follow Aureo on X: @AureoBitcoin

    1 h
  7. 12/12/2025

    EP#3 Rudy Gallardo: Orange-Pilling Guatemala and Using AI to Advance Bitcoin Education

    In this third episode of the Bitcoin Latam Podcast, Maciej Cepnik sits down with Rudy Gallardo (@bullishguate), a Guatemala-based Bitcoin community builder and entrepreneur who's organizing monthly meetups in Guatemala City. We unpack how Universidad Francisco Marroquín shaped Rudy’s Austrian-econ, liberty-first worldview, why adoption in Guatemala looks different (a relatively stable quetzal and a largely cash-based economy), and what’s happening at Bitcoin Lake near Lake Atitlán.  Rudy also shares what it’s like to build in a country with no clear Bitcoin regulations and how he’s using AI vibe coding to ship Bitcoin education tools, such as inflation calculators. 00:00 Introduction to Rudy “BullishGuate” Gallardo 00:22 From “Bitcoin is a scam” to going Bitcoin-only 03:43 UFM, Austrian economics, and a liberty-first education 07:05 Bitcoin at UFM 09:41 Building Guatemala’s Bitcoin meetups  10:13 Guatemala’s stable quetzal and the real education challenge 18:27 The next step: a physical Bitcoin hub + coworking space 20:21 What a circular economy is + the story of Bitcoin Lake  31:06 Serving cash-based communities and the unbanked opportunity 36:42 Launching an OTC desk + navigating compliance without clear regulations 41:40 AI + vibe coding for Bitcoin education  54:22 What Rudy’s bullish on for 2026 Show Notes: ✅ Follow Rudy on X: @bullishguate ✅ Follow Rudy on Instagram: @bullishgt ✅ Tools mentioned for vibe coding: Replit + Lovable ✅ Instagram (Rudy): instagram.com/bullishgt/ ✅ Inflación Guatemala: inflacionguatemala.com/ ✅ Inflación México: inflacionmexico.com/en ✅ Bitcoin Lake hub: https://bitcoinconfederation.org/hub/bitcoin-lake-guatemala/

    57 min

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Hosted by Maciej Cepnik, a Canadian who moved to Mexico and is a Bitcoin entrepreneur, this show features English-language interviews with Bitcoin founders, builders, and operators across the entire Latin American region. From Mexico City to Buenos Aires, we dig into how Bitcoin is used for payments, remittances, mining, and regulation, along with the hard lessons, tactics, and opportunities shaping the LatAm ecosystem.