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.

  1. 4D AGO

    EP #17 Lorena Ortiz on the Bitcoin Embassy Bar in CDMX, Fedi, and Grassroots Adoption in LatAm and the upcoming event: Tianguis de Bitcoin in La Casa de Satoshi

    In this episode of The Bitcoin Latam Report, Maciej Cepnik speaks with Lorena Ortiz, one of the best-known Bitcoin educators and community builders in Mexico. Lorena shares her journey from discovering Bitcoin in 2017, to co-founding the iconic Bitcoin Embassy Bar in Mexico City, to becoming Fedi’s Community Master for Latin America. They discuss how Bitcoin Embassy Bar helped strengthen the local Bitcoin scene, why proof of work and consistency matter for anyone who wants to build a career in Bitcoin, and how Fedi is trying to solve real problems across the Global South through community custody, private communication, and practical Bitcoin tools. The conversation also explores the different needs of Bitcoin users across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and why adoption looks very different depending on local realities. Finally, they talk about the upcoming Tianguis de Bitcoin event at La Casa de Satoshi in Mexico City on the 23rd of May, where merchants and users will come together to spend Bitcoin as money in a real local market environment. Relevant timestamps 01:30 – Intro: Lorena Ortiz, Bitcoin Embassy Bar, and Fedi 02:20 – How Lorena discovered Bitcoin in 2017 03:13 – Why Bitcoin Embassy Bar mattered for the Mexican Bitcoin community 07:07 – Funny stories, prominent visitors, and accepting Bitcoin at the bar 09:00 – What Fedi is and the mission behind it 12:00 – Lorena’s advice for anyone who wants to work in Bitcoin 17:30 – From community work to a career in Bitcoin 18:45 – Lorena’s role at Fedi and Fedi’s expansion in Latin America 21:13 – What kind of people Fedi is looking for 23:20 – Global South realities: Latin America, Africa, and Asia compared 27:30 – Why Bitcoin adoption looks different across Latin America 28:30 – Peru case study: Bitcoin as a real tool for underserved communities 31:20 – Fedi’s long-term goal: solving real problems, not just growing users 35:12 – Tianguis de Bitcoin: what it is and why it matters in Mexico 37:17 – How Fedi and La Casa de Satoshi will onboard merchants and buyers 41:43 – Final message: get closer to Bitcoin communities RSVP for the Tianguis de Bitcoin at La Casa de Satoshi in Mexico City (23rd of May): luma.com/lacasadesatoshi Follow Lorena on X: @LOReBitcoin Follow Fedi on X: @fedibtc Follow Maciej Cepnik on X: @CepnikMaciej Follow Aureo on X: @AureoBitcoin Buy and sell Bitcoin in Mexico: aureobitcoin.com Subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes featuring incredible Bitcoin and Latin American entrepreneurs.

    41 min
  2. APR 21

    #EP 16 - Bruno Vaccotti on What's Really Going on with Bitcoin Regulations in Paraguay and Freedom

    In this episode of The Bitcoin Latam Report, I speak with Bruno Vaccotti, director of the Fintech Chamber in Paraguay, founder of the Paraguayan Bitcoin education initiative, entrepreneur, organizer of Acelerando Bitcoin, and one of the key voices pushing Bitcoin adoption in the country. We discuss how Paraguay became a major Bitcoin mining hub, the government inefficiencies that keep slowing innovation, and the new regulatory push that threatens the industry. Bruno also explains why he is actively advocating for reasonable laws that actually make sense for Bitcoin, while building education, media, conferences, and financial products to help Paraguay move forward. 00:39 – Intro: Bruno Vaccotti and why Paraguay matters for Bitcoin 02:16 – How Bruno discovered Bitcoin and why it changed his life 05:03 – Education, free books, TV, and building Bitcoin awareness in Paraguay 07:27 – From education to mining: how surplus energy opened the door 09:50 – Why Paraguay became a serious player in global Bitcoin mining 12:11 – The energy case for Paraguay: Itaipú, hydro power, and national opportunity 15:53 – Paraguay as a destination for expats, builders, and freedom-minded entrepreneurs 20:03 – Why Paraguay still needs better Bitcoin products for everyday users 25:26 – The real problem: not explicit bans, but bureaucratic paralysis 30:29 – New Bitcoin regulations in Paraguay and why Bruno is sounding the alarm 34:45 – Privacy, self-custody, and why the proposed reporting rules make no sense 45:17 – Is the government hostile, or just completely misunderstanding Bitcoin? 50:04 – What Bruno is doing now to push back and improve the rules 56:59 – Acelerando Bitcoin: conference, residency, and Paraguay immersion week 59:13 – War, fiat money, Bitcoin, and why separating money from the state matters 01:06:45 – AI, energy limits, and why Bruno still thinks Bitcoin is the best long-term bet 01:18:49 – Final message: freedom, curiosity, and why more people should pay attention to Paraguay Buy your tickets for Acelerando Bitcoin: acelerandobitcoin.com/  Follow Bruno on X: @peztresojos  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.

    1h 14m
  3. APR 13

    #EP15 Tomek Kołodziejczuk on Freedom, Libertarianism, Prospera, and the Bitcoin District

    In the 15th episode of the Bitcoin Latam Report, Maciej Cepnik speaks with Tomek Kowodziejczuk, a longtime Bitcoiner, founder of the Bitcoin FilmFest in Warsaw, and now a builder in Prospera, the freedom-oriented special economic zone in Roatán, Honduras. They discuss why Tomek left Poland for Prospera, the philosophical roots of Bitcoin and libertarianism, and why he sees Bitcoin as a tool for freedom rather than an end in itself. They also break down how Prospera works in practice, why it may be the most Bitcoin-friendly jurisdiction in the world, and how the Bitcoin District aims to turn Roatán into a real Bitcoin hub through events, retreats, startup activity, and long-term circular economy building. Timestamps: 00:51 – Intro: Tomek’s background and move to Prospera 03:04 – Bitcoin Film Fest, culture, and libertarian roots 06:34 – Atlas Shrugged, free cities, and the appeal of Prospera 10:23 – Why freedom matters more than Bitcoin itself 13:58 – Why Prospera is one of the most promising freedom experiments today 22:33 – How Prospera works: governance, taxes, and legal structure 27:53 – Why biotech and Bitcoin companies are drawn to Prospera 29:45 – Is Prospera the most Bitcoin-friendly jurisdiction in the world? 31:46– Building the Bitcoin District in Roatán 39:56 – The challenge of bringing Bitcoin to the local population 48:59 – Why the world may need many more “Prosperas”  Check out the Bitcoin District: thebitcoindistrict.com Buy your tickets for the 2026 edition of the Bitcoin Film Fest: bitcoinfilmfest.com Follow Tomek on X: @itsTomekK Follow The Bitcoin District Prospera on X: @BitcoinProspera  Follow The Bitcoin Filmfest on X: @bitcoinfilmfest 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.

    52 min
  4. MAR 11

    #EP 14 Damián Silva on DeFi in LatAm: KYC-free loans back by Bitcoin and the future of Tropykus

    What if you could buy a house, renovate your home, or fund your business, without selling a single satoshi, and without KYC? That's exactly what Tropykus users in Latam are doing. Damián Silva, community lead at Tropykus, joined The Bitcoin Latam Report to break down Bitcoin-collateralized loans built on Rootstock, a Bitcoin sidechain where you pay fees in Bitcoin, earn yield on stablecoins, and borrow against your stack without ever triggering a taxable event. We got into how DOC (Dollar on Chain) stays pegged without touching US debt, why flexible loans with no fixed payment dates are a game changer in Argentina, and the wild real-life stories of people buying apartments and building houses in Uruguay, all using Bitcoin as collateral. Time Stamps:  01:14 Damián's Bitcoin story 05:03 What is BitcoinFi and why build on Rootstock instead of Ethereum? 08:31 Why persist on Bitcoin when other chains are faster and cheaper? 10:37 How to move from Bitcoin to RBTC and back  12:56 Rootstock vs Liquid, what's the difference? 14:47 Why Bitcoin sidechains adoption took so long  17:00 Real user stories  19:12 How Dollar on Chain (DOC) stays pegged  23:58 How yield works for DOC depositors  27:13 What are RBTC, BPRO, and USDRIF? 34:41 The biggest community challenge? 40:18 How to use Tropicus responsibly? 42:52 No KYC 53:57 Why is all Tropykus content in Spanish 56:16 How to get involved, open source code, and community feedback 57:20 2026 plans, an AI assistant to manage your loan via Telegram Check out Tropykus: tropykus.com Follow Damian on X: @Seviramar Follow Tropykus on X: @tropykus 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.

    46 min
  5. FEB 23

    #EP12 Gabriel Amorocho on the Rotten Banking System in LatAm and Bitcoin in Colombia

    If you knew what happens behind the scenes at Latin American banks, you wouldn't trust them with your money. I didn't say that, it's Gabriel Amorocho's, a Bitcoiner from Cali, Colombia, who spent years inside the fintech and banking industry across LatAm before going all-in on Bitcoin. We talked about what fractional reserve actually looks like from the inside, the lessons El Salvador's Bitcoin rollout taught the region, and the ambitious project he's building, a circular economy app targeting unbanked merchants at a farmers market in Cali, with plans to expand to isolated Pacific coast communities using Bitcoin. We also got into Colombia's and Mexico's political climate, why Bitcoiners there stay private, and what it really takes to start a company in LatAm. 00:49 11 years in Bitcoin, from speculation to conviction 01:07 Working inside LatAm banks, fractional reserve, and operational risk in practice 04:32 Are some LatAm countries worse than others?  07:43 Being a Bitcoiner while working at a bank 10:04 El Salvador's Bitcoin adoption, what worked and what didn't 12:15 Lessons from the Chivo wallet failure 15:07 Should Bitcoin adoption be government-led or left to the free market? 17:51 Why El Salvador has the best regulatory framework for Bitcoin companies 19:17 Introducing Personal Project 21:48 Launching at a Bitcoinfarmers market in Cali 26:55 The chicken-and-egg problem of Bitcoin circular economies 33:03 The Bitcoin community in Colombia, growing but private 37:35 Mentoring high-net-worth individuals and family offices into Bitcoin 39:49 Colombia's political climate and how it's driving capital out of the country 47:19 How easy is it to start a Bitcoin company in Colombia? 57:16 Where to follow Gabriel and get in touch Follow Gabriel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielamorocho/ Follow Gabriel on X: https://x.com/gamorocho  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.

    51 min
  6. FEB 20

    #EP11 Joey Langenbrunner (CEO Nomad Layer) on PROSPERA, The New Tax Heaven for Digital Nomads

    Joey Langerbrunner, CEO and Founder of Nomad Layer, is solving once and for all the residency issue for Digital Nomads. He built the world's first remote tax residency program inside Prospera, a special economic zone in Honduras, where you pay a flat $5,000/year in tax, get a real residency certificate, a company, and a bank account. All without leaving your couch. Maciej Cepnik had the chance to interview him and ask him the hard questions and technical details about his services and questioned him about the future of Prospera. 00:00 Introduction — Joey Langerbrunner & Nomad Layer 01:05 What is Prospera? Bitcoin-friendly special economic zone in Honduras 03:01 Joey's backstory and his libertarian roots 05:05 Why Western governments are getting desperate for tax revenue 07:11 Best jurisdictions for digital nomads: Paraguay, UAE, Panama, pros & cons 10:46 Why "paying taxes nowhere" is riskier than you think 14:51 The full Nomad Layer pitch, what you get for $5,000/year 19:39 What does Prospera actually look like on the ground? 23:31 Time requirement to guarantee residency? 27:57 How to prove compliance, personal responsibility explained 34:06 Does it work for families? 36:21 Is Prospera safe? The leftist government scare & Coinbase's $120M investment 46:28 The bigger picture, freedom zones, multipolar world & the future of sovereignty 53:51 How to sign up at Nomadlayer.com Check out Nomad Layer: https://nomadlayer.com/ Follow Joey on X and YouTube:  @joeyyusef   Follow Nomad Layer on X and Youtube:  @NomadLayer   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.

    52 min
  7. FEB 17

    #EP10 - The Bitcoin Libertarian on How to Build a Successful Bitcoin Podcast and Lessons from LatAm

    In this episode of the Bitcoin Latam Report, Maciej Cepnik sits down with Fernando, the voice behind The Bitcoin Libertarian podcast. Fernando is a Buenos Aires-born, Hong Kong-based Bitcoiner who has been in the space since 2011, but by his own admission, took 10 years to truly understand it. We unpack how Argentine capital controls first led Fernando to Bitcoin as a payment rail, what finally made it click, and why he identified a major gap in Spanish-language Bitcoin content. Fernando also shares the story behind the "Bitcoin Libertarian" brand, how AI tools like Riverside and Grok allow him to produce daily content solo, why his YouTube channel has been taken down four times, and what he learned from each one, and his bold vision for Bitcoin as a bridge from a world of scarcity to one of abundance. 00:32 How Fernando ended up in Hong Kong 01:11 Bitcoin since 2011, a 10-year learning curve 04:00 The gap in Spanish Bitcoin content 07:09 La Bitconf México and La Casa de Satoshi 09:30 Bitcoin vs. stablecoins in Argentina 12:07 Argentina's entrepreneurial Bitcoin ecosystem 15:22 Why Rootstock needs better UX for mainstream users 23:08 The origin of "The Bitcoin Libertarian" brand 35:10 Podcast tips 42:59 Why YouTube banned his channel (4 times) 46:42 The case for decentralized media on Nostr 52:21 What's missing in Latin American Bitcoin adoption 57:35 Top 3 episodes to check out from The Bitcoin Libertarian 01:03:26 Life in Hong Kong and why Fernando isn't coming back Important links: The Bitcoin Libertarian X account: https://x.com/TheBitcoin__  The Bitcoin Libertarian YouTube account: https://www.youtube.com/@libertarianbtcesp  Maciej X account: https://x.com/CepnikMaciej  Aureo account: https://x.com/AureoBitcoin Buy and Sell Bitcoin in Mexico: aureobitcoin.com

    1h 8m

About

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.