About Me

My Search for Bitcoin

My journey towards Bitcoin began in my youth during Argentina's prosperous 1990s, a period of economic stability. Making money was relatively easy, and we referred to this era as "La fiesta menemista," a grand celebration of economic prosperity. However, the 2001 crisis profoundly impacted me, exposing the flaws in economic policies and igniting my quest for sound economics. The riots, looting, and loss of life savings left an indelible mark on my memory.

This experience led me to delve deeply into economics, philosophy, and history, initially finding solace in gold and silver as alternatives to fiat currencies. Then, Satoshi Nakamoto's revolutionary idea of Bitcoin changed everything, offering a new paradigm for financial systems.

The Bitcoineta EU Travels

Bitcoinetas are vans that spread Bitcoin education. In 2018, I became one of the drivers of the first Bitcoineta, a van traveling through Latin America to educate people about Bitcoin. This initiative began in Argentina and expanded to cover Uruguay and southern Brazil, spreading the message of Bitcoin to smaller cities.

Our journey took us beyond Europe, reaching cities like Andorra, Munich, Prague, Oslo, Bucharest, and Istanbul. The official launch of our tour took place at the BTCPrague conference, a significant milestone where we had the honor of the first signature inside our van from Michael Saylor. 

Other notable figures like Saifedean Ammous, Adam Back, and Prince Philip of Serbia also contributed to our journey. By the end of 2023, our van had traversed through Poland, Latvia, the UK, and concluded the tour in Lugano, Switzerland, at the Plan B Forum conference.

Currently, there are six Bitcoinetas in the world, with more coming soon! We will soon have them in Ghana and West Africa. This tour has helped connect with local communities across Europe, fostering a deeper understanding of Bitcoin.

The Call to Evangelize

Bitcoin has no owner, no company, no government, and no foundation controlling it. It lacks a marketing team or a leader dictating its trajectory or promotion strategies. Bitcoin is decentralized. Thus, it falls upon Bitcoin enthusiasts, or "bitcoiners," to champion and promote it.

I see Bitcoin as more than just a currency; it embodies core beliefs: private property, finite money, neutral money, uncensorable money, and abstention from theft. Understanding Bitcoin's multifaceted nature requires awareness. As Bitcoin gains mainstream acceptance, it's crucial to preserve this ethos—the essence that made it exceptional from the start.

Evangelizing Bitcoin means 'bringing the good news.' It warms my heart to have had the opportunity to share my good news with you. I encourage you to continue spreading the message, adding your unique perspective along the way. Together, we can foster a deeper understanding and broader acceptance of Bitcoin's transformative potential.

Ariel Aguilar

Ariel Aguilar is a consultant and trainer of the Bitcoin Argentina NGO with a Bachelors degree in Business and IT from the Buenos Aires Institute of Technology. A bitcoiner since 2013 he has given conferences, lectures and classes in Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Spain, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Bosnia, Paraguay and Guatemala. He is currently doing a six months tour aboard @BitcoinetaEU throughout the European continent.