Bitcoin Country Or State Capture? Bukele Finally Exposed The Real Tension | Zucco, Svanholm, Jethro

#bitcoin #bukele #elsalvador

Recorded in the middle of Bitcoin Month, this episode brings together Knut Svanholm, Giacomo Zucco, Mike Peterson, and Jethro Toro in El Zonte, El Salvador. They unpack what it feels like to live through Bitcoin Historico at the National Palace San Salvador, Adopting Bitcoin in San Salvador, and the Bitcoin Beach Festival on the coast. From free pupusas and packed plazas to barefoot plebs and kids everywhere, you get a ground level view of why El Salvador still feels like Bitcoin Country after the El Salvador legal tender law and why so many Bitcoiners keep coming back.

The crew shared the story everyone asks about, their surreal invitation to a formal dinner with President Bukele. Giacomo explains how he gifted a bottle of Dictador rum, they talk about Bukele’s quick jokes about Libertarian anarchism and public sector jobs, and they explain what was actually discussed about Bitcoin adoption, circular economy experiments, and bottom-up projects like Bitcoin Beach and Bitcoin Berlin. It is not a press release, it is what it felt like for plebs and authors like Knut Svanholm and educators like Giacomo Zucco to suddenly find themselves at a presidential table with Max Keiser & Stacy Herbert and other Bitcoin builders.

They also go deep on the work behind the scenes. Mike Peterson shares an update on Bitcoin Beach and the push to launch at least 14 new circular economy projects across El Salvador, plus the new Bitcoin-themed boutique hotel, the Citadel of Hope, and a pickleball court in Punta Mango. Giacomo walks through the three pillars of Plan B Network, global Bitcoin education like Cubo Plus and Node Nation, physical hubs in places such as Lugano, London, and future hubs in San Salvador, and an emerging Bitcoin venture path and startup support. Along the way, they touch on the IMF pressure, how the government stayed committed through bear markets after El Salvador, legal tender went live, and why ideas like Libertarian socialism still get a fair hearing in off the record debates.

Running through the episode is the culture piece. Knut talks about his books, the Bitcoin Infinity framing, his talks at Bitcoin Historico inside the National Palace San Salvador, and why Adopting Bitcoin feels more like a festival than a standard conference. The group tells the origin story of Satoshi Rokamoto, the improvised Bitcoin rock band that now shows up at events from Mexico to Lugano, often playing long after the sound crew tries to shut things down. If you care about Bitcoin in El Salvador, circular economy models, or just want to know what it is really like on the ground during Bitcoin Month, this conversation will probably make you start checking flights.

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a Bitcoiner who has El Salvador on their list, leave a comment with your favorite story from Bitcoin Month, and hit subscribe so you do not miss the next chapter of Bitcoin Country.

-Bitcoin Beach Team

Connect and Learn more about Giacomo, Knut, Jethro:

Giacomo Zucco
X: https://x.com/giacomozucco
Web: https://www.giacomozucco.com/

Knut Svanholm
X: https://x.com/knutsvanholm
YT: https://www.youtube.com/@BitcoinInfinityShow

Jethro Toro
X: https://x.com/JethroToro
Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/BitcoinCountry
Jethro's Latest Episode: https://t.co/YWiN8Wurgp

Support and follow Bitcoin Beach:

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IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach
Web: https://www.bitcoinbeach.com

Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode:

00:00 Intro
01:15 How Giacomo meets President Bukele and why the Dictador rum gift matters
03:01 What Bitcoin Month feels like from inside Bitcoin Country
05:15 How Bitcoin Historico turns the historic center into a full Bitcoin venue
06:23 Why Adopting Bitcoin is the grassroots side of Bitcoin Month
08:20 What really happens during the private dinner with President Bukele
12:14 Why Bukele talks about circular economies and bottom-up Bitcoin adoption
14:28 How Knut and Giacomo handle speaking on the National Palace main stage
17:05 How Giacomo builds his talks for Historico and Adopting Bitcoin
19:01 What the presidential dinner menu and atmosphere are actually like
22:27 Why El Salvador stays committed to Bitcoin through bull and bear cycles
25:29 How Cubo Plus and Node Nation shape the next wave of Bitcoin devs
29:15 Why Bitcoin Beach is launching 14 new circular economy projects in El Salvador
33:20 What makes the Adopting Bitcoin vibe unique for plebs and builders
35:09 What Giacomo covers in his talk called What is the forking problem
38:25 How Bitcoin culture evolves into the Satoshi Rokamoto music scene
44:55 How Plan B Network is building hubs, education, and a Bitcoin VC path
52:06 Why Punta Mango is becoming a key spot for Bitcoin tourism and surf
56:19 What is coming next for Plan B Forum and the next Bitcoin Month in El Salvador