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Building a Local Bitcoin OTC Network in Guanacaste

I would like to build a well connected btc otc network in Guanacaste.

The main reason for building this network is to meet intelligent, self-reliant individuals who live near me. It's dubious whether searching for people interested in trading btc is the best way to accomplish this, but hopefully it's a step in the right direction. Should I meet a few like minded people, I will try to bring them together once a month for coffee or an event similar to jfw and dorion's Junto.

I want to form an otc network also for a straightforward reason - to have more options for trading bitcoins for fiat and vice versa. I have some virtual fiat in the US, and I'm expected to get some more in the next couple of months. I would like the fake money there to turn into fake money here. The steps to do this are: find someone selling btc in the US, venmo/square/paypal/bankxfer fiat to them for the btc, and then buy colones here with a portion of the acquired btc. Voila, en esta manera el dinero llega aqui sin el gobierno de los EEUS tomando ni una gota.

Finding people who trade btc around here is tricky. Guanacaste is a province of small rural towns/villages; it does not have a highly populated city.1 However, should I manage to find some btc traders lurking in the jungle, my value as an otc hub will likely be greater than if I lived in a major city.

I've asked lord hanbot for advice on how to build the network.

hanbot_abroad: http://logs.ossasepia.com/log/trilema-hanbot/2020-02-18#1001398 << this is probably kinda challenging where you are, but the expat presence may help. regularly search for bitcoin-related events (i'd bet there's a liberia group that meets to derp around, for instance), attend them, talk to everyone there, ask who's trading, etc. ask all the people you're paying bills to if they accept coin. look for any small business
ossabot: Logged on 2020-02-18 15:38:50 whaack: My goal is to build contacts rather than to satisfy an immediate need for a trade.
hanbot_abroad: es that do accept btc, coffee shops etc, and ask to talk to the manager, see if they want to buy or know someone who does.

The only person I pay bills to is my landlord and given her older age I have not bothered to ask if she accepts coin. I checked for meetups in Liberia but so far have found none. I messaged the 8 businesses listed within 3 hours driving distance on coinmap.org.2

I looked for real estate being sold for btc. I found exactly one listing and I contacted the broker. He is the only person so far who seems promising. Although he is not currently looking to trade now it seems he may be interested in the future.

My next step is to contact potential btc traders in San Jose and ask them if they know anyone who trades btc in Guanacaste.

  1. According to population.city, Guanacaste has a population of ~327,000 and Liberia is its largest city with a population of ~52,000 []
  2. I've received 2 responses that stated they accept btc for their services but are not interested in trading btc. []

3 Responses to “Building a Local Bitcoin OTC Network in Guanacaste”

  1. This is a good idea, but it necessarily involves... going out and talking to people. There's a lot of new development there, and plenty of new owners of old development. The only sound strategy is to ring the door of each finca (meaning, each piece of real estate not-a-hovel), introduce yourself as a neighbour paying a neighbourly visit, see if the owner is a gringo just like you or a local interested in gringos just like you (as opposed to deeply disinterested, such as perhaps may be the case with the old, caudillo-style local farming middle class) and see if they ever heard about bitcoin, whether they're interested in doing what you want, and so on. Having a basket of gifts on hand for the case someone's home and a calling card for the case nobody's home helps ; having the social grace needed to conduct basic social intercourse is required.

    The good news being that practicing ringing doors does not produce either gift baskets or calling cards ; but practicing talking to people does produce social grace. Now go.

  2. whaack says:

    That'll be a fun way to spend some time. It certainly. beats writing a bunch of emails and texts (although I will do that as well.) The first question that comes to mind is "How do I not come off as a Jehovah's Witness?" I'll focus on taking on that friendly neighbor role and making the acquaintance, hold a conversation for as long as I can, and then towards the end mention the bitcoin related topics.

    As an aside, nowadays I prefer not to bring up the topic of bitcoin in conversation. I'm always concerned that by bringing it up I will be associated with the 1 or 2 "blockchain enthusiasts" the person I'm speaking with has likely already met.

  3. I really don't think there's any specific requirement for minimum duration.

    There's a very simple way to not appear like a USian (which is what they all are, the salesmen, whether they're selling "church" or "family" or vacuum cleaners, ultimately the same chewing gum) : ask rather than tell, and discuss what's being said rather than what you prepared to discuss.

    As a general policy it's one thing, but in this particular context that association's a minor concern.

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