He invested in a local property to renew it and transform it into a hotel.
Its mission goes beyond business: it educates the local community in real financial savings and sovereignty.
The American entrepreneur Gaelle Wizenberg who landed in Berlin, a town that struggles to be recognized as the true Bitcoin City of El Salvador, transformed her search for a new beginning into a vibrant life project.
Wizenberg, who made his first exploration trip to El Salvador in September 2021, selected the Berlin citadel as his new home. Over there, founded a boutique hotel from scratch (The Whale Lounge) and actively leads a local community.
Through this initiative, the Rabbit Hole also promotes, a private club for Bitcoiners that encourages financial education and circular economy with BTC.
With a nomadic life and experience as an expatriate in multiple parts of the world (France, Canada, Hong Kong, Philippines, USA, among others), the middle -aged entrepreneur shared her career and her decision to settle in El Salvador, specifically in Berlin, attracted by the community of Bitcoin and the opportunities offered by the country.
Born in Paris, she grew up on a ship built by her father, traveling around the world since she was a child. This experience molded its ability to adapt to different cultures and environments, which has allowed it to prosper as an entrepreneur in various contexts, such as He narrated it in the podcast Live From Bitcoin Beach, during his conversation with Bitcoiner Mike Peterson.
Wizenberg confessed that he abandoned a life in the United States, frustrated by a business environment that described as “stressful and without support.” He looked for a new challenge and found it on Salvadoran landa country that reminded him of the cultural mixture of the Caribbean and Asia of his youth
“I look around and see opportunity everywhere,” he said shortly before explaining that he invested in a rental property to “take root” and create an landing platform where to feel at home.
His project started with the renewal of A typical Salvadoran house, which became a refuge for Bitcoiners. Meanwhile, the Rabbit Hole operates, where he organizes dinners, yoga classes and weekly meetings about BTC, attracting a clientele of travelers and premises who seek to learn about the new digital economy.
“Almost everything, except rent, I pay with Bitcoin: electricity, water, my staff,” he said.
Sowing sovereignty with Bitcoin in El Salvador
Beyond the business, its mission focuses on education. Wizenberg teaches his local staff to use Bitcoin, and to understand the importance of savings. “We need financial education, not only BTC education,” he adds.
Through a bond system that saves for them in a separate wallet, he says that shows them the power of savings and investmentpromoting financial sovereignty that considers development key.
For those who consider a similar path, Wizenberg advises “lowering expectations and having a simple life.” It emphasizes that the key to success is not to recreate the place that was left behind, but to integrate and build a support network.
“If you are a bit organized and creative, you can really have the best life here,” he concludes, highlighting that in the midst of the reconstruction of the country, the opportunity emerges for those who know how to see it.
It is noteworthy that while the official Bitcoin City, the ambitious metropolis announced by President Nayib Bukele in 2021, remains in the plans, The Bitcoin Berlin community promotes its own vision of what they believe can become “the true Bitcoin City.”
A few kilometers from the place designated for the government project, Berlin residents work on the development of the project that launched in the mountainous town of El Salvador, located in the Department of Usulután, east of the Central American country.
