My trip to El Salvador was a life-changing experience.

Once touted as one of the most dangerous countries in the world, El Salvador is the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender.

It was pretty cool to use my lightning wallet to buy coffee and drinks, or pay for various services without thinking about Forex or transaction fees (Swiss Franc to USD).

On a deeper level, the experience opened my eyes to the importance of sound money as a tool for human exchange and coordination. While in North America and Europe there is much discussion about economic uncertainty, El Salvador seems filled with hope and a promise of a better future.

Data provided by the World Bank shows that even in 2021, at the height of Covid lockdowns, El Salvador’s GDP grew by 10.8%, personal remittances continued to increase, and homicides decreased significantly. Forecasts suggest that there will be continued growth in 2022 fueled by remittances. Bitcoin has made it easy, cheap and safe for diaspora to send money to family.

There is debate about the impact of bitcoin as legal tender in El Salvador. There is also opposition to measures taken by El Salvador’s current administration with respect safety and gang activity.

For what it’s worth, as a simple tourist and a mother travelling with my toddler, I felt very safe. It was beautiful to see my daughter playing with the other kids on the beach.

I suppose El Salvador and Bitcoin share something in common: you have to live the experience to fully understand.

My husband and I recorded a podcast to share our impressions of the trip. You may listen below.