Bitcoin is integrated into the daily life of the inhabitants of the Peruvian city of Huanchaco.
Fernando Cruz, from the municipality, emphasizes that Peru needs more financial freedom.
In Huanchaco, a fishing and spa town of the province of Trujillo, in the La Libertad region, northwest of Peru, the adoption of Bitcoin (BTC) is not a distant idea.
What a few years ago generated distrust and fear has become Today in a practical tool for the communitypromoted by initiatives such as the Bitcoin 2025 Cup, a surf competition organized by the NGO Motiv.
It is an event that not only promotes local sport and culture, but also encourages the integration of assets into everyday life and in the area of the area. Cryptonotics was in the most recent edition of the Bitcoin Cup in Huanchaco, where he had the opportunity to talk with several of those present.
One of them was Claramelia Ludeña Olaya, 48, who is the coordinator of the Cerrito de la Virgen community – located precisely in Huanchaco. She highlighted the impact that the creation of Satoshi has had on her environment.
“We are blessed, because thank God the brothers of Motivo arrived at Cerrito and, with their support, I knew what Bitcoin is, which is the wallet, how to handle it and how to use it,” he said.
This way, The neighborhood leader acknowledged that at the beginning there was some suspicion, but finally her trust ended up prevailing:
«At first it was a bit complicated and generated some distrust. With so many scams and extortion that are seen, we did not think it was something simple and easy ».
He added: «However, now handle the wallet and even make the change to soles through an exchango of cryptocurrency. It is easy; All we need is to download the Blink wallet on our cell phone, which is the requirement ».
Besides, Children also actively participate in transactionssince Motivo have implemented educational and social initiatives in the community.
«Through this wallet, children also participate: they are made transactions of 3 to 6 satoshis (the smallest account unit of Bitcoin) per child to pay the teachers. All this is free, thanks to the payments that Motiv facilitates, ”said Claramelia.
For his part, Fernando Cruz, representative of the Municipality of Huanchaco, highlighted the Institutional support to the event and the relevance of BTC for the region: «Bitcoin is a reality. 20 years ago it was just an idea, but now it is a necessity. It is a currency that breaks borders, avoids intermediaries and allows financial freedom ».
He explained that the municipality acts as a facilitator in events such as the Bitcoin Cup, offering supervision and support: “We always try to guide, coordinate and provide facilities, either for open or closed spaces, and make sure that tourists, visitors and competitors feel safe and calm.”
Cruz stressed that, beyond technological integration, the municipality also promotes various sports activities.
«We support all kinds of sports … we are organizing ball and beach soccer championships; We promote the use of bicycles and plan to perform the Huanchaco Olympays … Activities like this allow us to show a positive face of municipal management, ”he said.
In addition, Fernando highlighted the importance of promoting education and economic independencehe added that he works to help entrepreneurs overcome their fears and join the use of Bitcoin (BTC).
In Peru, what we need is that, financial freedom, education and also be able to be independent and free in the use of our currency and transactions. In this case we have worked hand in hand by identifying entrepreneurs, premises, companies, who are adding, because logically there is a fear, right? We know that technology is also not so good and that there are people who use it, say, inappropriately.
Fernando Cruz, representative of the Municipality of Huanchaco.
Huanchaco’s experience shows that, with proper support, Bitcoin can stop being a distant concept to become a daily tool.
As Claramelia pointed out, the community is confident that the digital currency will continue to grow and benefit everyone: «We believe that it will allow a better future, where everyone can use the wallet in a simple way. I think we are going to do it, because I see many people who are excited.
In addition to local work, The 2025 Bitcoin Cup was attended by international specialists. Alexandra Navarro, director of Paystand, B2B payment platform, reported how the link with Huanchaco emerged:
«We were invited by Motiv Peru, through Valentín Popescu [cofundador de la ONG]. We met in another event in El Salvador … Valentín told us that he was doing wonderful work in unpant communities, helping not only with financial education, but with sports, listening to women ».
Navarro explained that his organization works promoting financial inclusion and digital transformation through Bitcoin:
“Our mission is to help communities not represented to understand that financially we all have the right to have a currency that is digital, which reflects our values, where we can exchange money without the need for such complication.”
Regarding the organization of the event, the director of Paystand highlighted the reception and enthusiasm of the community: «I cannot believe that there are such beautiful people and such a beautiful place. This place is wonderful and the organizers have surprised me … I arrived yesterday at half past one in the morning and I cannot believe that it is already happening and that it has so much energy ».
Inclusion through Bitcoin and sport
Huanchaco’s experience demonstrates that the union between sport, community and education can open the way to greater financial inclusion. Although Bitcoin’s future is usually discussed in terms of theory or regulation, this people is an example of how adoption arises from the local and is strengthened thanks to collective trust.
Perhaps that is the key to understanding where the ecosystem is directed: it is not just about technology, but of communities that find in the creation of Satoshi a tool to build new opportunities and improve their lives.
In fact, Huanchaco is only a sample of what is already happening at the national level, since it is estimated that in the Country there are already around 1.5 million people who have cryptoactiveswhile traditional banks such as the Credit Bank of Peru (BCP) and the BBVA have begun to actively explore this technology.
The BCP, for example, at the beginning of September made the first payment with cryptocurrencies within the Peruvian regulated banking system, in addition to leading the pilot “cryptococci”, which allows a select group of customers to buy Bitcoin and Stablecoins under the supervision of the Superintendence of Banking and Insurance (SBS).