Hi all,
Anita here. Ask me anything in the next 60 minutes.
Bitcoin educator https://anitaposch.com Author of (L)earn Bitcoin https://learnbitcoin.link (you can buy it with BTC). Founder 'Bitcoin for Fairness' https://bffbtc.org (you can donate BTC). Podcaster https://bitcoinundco.com (you can stream sats). Builder (releasing a podcast network with free hosting and V4V on Dec 6). Nomad. Currently in Zimbabwe.
As we're having a thunderstorm right now I hope I'm available the whole hour. Internet and electricity are a real challenge in many African countries. So if I "go missing" I'll answer your questions later.
Hi Anita. First of all I really like what you are doing!! How can I take part or support your projects in Africa? I think I can’t support you financially but I’m motivated to help in any other way. Is there anything that comes into your mind?
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Hi, thank you!
It depends on your skills. You could translate the Bitcoin flyer https://bffbtc.org/flyer or help with sharing content on social media. If you're a developer - I need help with GitHub here and there. What is it that you could do?
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Hello,
I am a dev interested to help out.
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That's great, please fill out this form so I have your contact. https://bffbtc.org/contact/
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done.
tc cheers.
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That’s kind of the problem. I studied economics but I don’t skills in terms of developing or programming. I speak English and German and I have quite a good amount of free time at the moment. Do you have any recommendations to lern specific skills to help people like you or especially you?
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Let's connect, please fill out that form: https://bffbtc.org/contact/
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Do you find that most of the people you interact with are more amenable to using a stablecoin than bitcoin?
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Specifically in Zimbabwe I know from a trader who exchanged a volume of 7 Mio USD in 2021. This person told me that most people want USDT, because of its "stable" value. There are real Bitcoiners here too, who are holding and buying since many years. But it's just a handful compared to those that want USDT. The people want the speed, low transaction fees and the possibility to send money in and out of the country (foreign exchange controls) wihtout banks and without the government being able to seize their money or exchange it into worthless Zim dollar. When you earn almost nothing you can't afford to lose value because of BTC volatility. I got to know 3 traders in Zambia and Zimbabwe who have been doing BTC to USD since years. None of them has ever held on to BTC. I don't understand it. But....what shall I do.
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Like you said, these people are just trying to survive with miserable local currencies. We can't expect them to worry about bitcoin adoption. Perhaps in the future, as all fiats degrade, they may feel differently.
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Anyone who is interested in supporting my work and Bitcon for Fairness, there are several options:
Thanks!
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Favy Sci-Fi novel?
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I'm actually only reading non-fiction books. And this I haven't done in a long time because I'm obsessed with Bitcoin ;-)
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how receptive is the average person in zimbabwe to the idea of bitcoin? is bitcoin viewed primarily as a store of value or a medium of exchange there?
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Almost every one I meet has heard of Bitcoin. Mostly they believe that it's a scam (because there are a lot of those) or the first thing that comes to mind is trading and investing. As soon as I explain that it can't be seized or frozen and can be sent borderless and permissionless without banks and low fees - they get the use case. In general knowledge is very low. Many people are using Trust wallet (Erc) or Blockchain.com. Lightning is very new to most.
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Hi Anita, I think that you're in Argentina or going to be there soon and maybe meeting with Mauricio from Ledn.
Whats your opinion about Ledn? I know there are a big support of your project, but I'd love to know your comments about the near future of Ledn.
Sorry that my question is not about your project, but Twitter and Telegram communities are very worried about Ledn and their funds.
Cheers
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I'm not coming to South America this year. I hope to be able to visit in 2023.
I can't comment on LEDN or USDC as I'm not focusing on that topic. Sorry. Their sponsorship has ended as well.
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Does folks in the west miss anything fundamental about how Africa views bitcoin?
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Most folks in the Northern hemisphere miss everything about life in Africa. You recognize this when you hear about the Europeans who want to ban Bitcoin because it's "useless". What I didn't know is that many Africans distrust technology from the North. Which is understandable because they've been exploited for hundreds of years. So they didn't trust the Internet and the don't trust Bitcoin. And I mean it's really confusing. There are almost no Bitcoin meetups, you can't meet other Bitcoiners...people drive 6 hours to attend a BFF meetup or a talk of me. To learn to trust a new technology you need to trust the educator that's why it's important to be on the ground and identify individuals (locals) who can be the community builders. Focusing on bitcoin only and self-custody. Mayn people are also still thinking "Blockchain" is the thing.
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Hey everyone!
Thanks for all your questions. I hope you enjoyed it like I did.
Keep on building and educating your peers!
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Hey Anita! I love your work and your book. I recommend it to many.
Would it be possible for an average American to liquidate everything they own to btc and plug directly into your efforts there? Via a payed or even voluntary job?
Thank you for your effort.
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Oh, I wouldn't want you to do this, it's much too @Risky ;-) No really, I understand the impulse and also the drive you have, but I wouldn't want you to do this for BFF. It's not a big organization and I want to keep it decentralized. In general I try to stay as independent as possible, have no employees and no or very little and calculated responsibilities.
Thank you!
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Well that's great thank you for the reply and again for you for your effort.
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interested to hear more about your upcoming v4v podcast venture, can you elaborate on any details today?
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Yes, it's built with Castopod.org and will integrate Lightning payments via getAlby. I had the idea to encourage people to start their own Bitcoin podcasts to grow their communities in their own countries. Best in their African language. Many people can't watch Video content, because of the high costs for internet connections and the bad infrastructure.
I was discussing that with Gigi who also had this idea to encourage Bitcoiners to do podcasts too (Einundzwanzig in Germany is very successful in building decentralized communities)
Since the average income is very low, the cost of hosting a podcast - which is around 10 USD a month - is too high. Also no one is running their own lightning node, so they can't earn bitcoin. That's why I thought free hosting and earning satoshis without the need for a node would be a great thing. Also: podcasters won't lose their rights like on Anchor or Spotify and we will never insert ads from our side like other platforms do. I think V4V is really a great opportunity for people here to earn bitcoin. And since we're hosting it no government can shut down the podcasters.
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very cool idea!
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Do ever feel unsafe in the African countries you visit due to you being you? (you are awesome btw)
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Thanks for the awesomeness :-)
I try not to think about it. But here in Zimbabwe I'm alert. I know of a friend who has been arrested by police, harassed, and beaten and this person used Bitcoin which was publicly known. So yes, it's always a question how public I am here. Someone wanted to do a workshop with me here and advertise it in the newspapers and I said no. We're always researching about peoples backgrounds and meet in public spaces to be as safe as possible.
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What's the most surprising thing you've learned doing all the you do in Bitcoin?
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That many people in African countries put all of their savings into a scam although they KNOW it's a scam. The just believe or hope to be one of the lucky first 10% who'll get a pay out.
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What's something you believe about Bitcoin that very few bitcoiners agree with you on?
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That's difficult....
Maybe that shitposting on Twitter and repeating the slogans of your bro's is not enough if you want this space to grow?
That we need more circular economies and communities like Bitcoin Beach, Bitcoin Ekasi. Earning and spending Bitcoin will bring huge adoption. HODLing alone is not enough.
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Do you thing it is necessary for new bitcoin learner , know about the legacy financial system?
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great responses from Anita!
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Thanks a lot!
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What did you have for breakfast?
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Usually oat meal and a coffee. After a short 30 min workout or swimming. I try to eat as late as possible in the mornings.
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Any Zimbabwe bands or musicians we should know about?
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Great question. I had to ask a friend who has been living here for a couple of years and listened in myself. I didn't know any of these Zimbabwean artists, now I do.
Aleck Macheso Oliver Mtukudzi Mokoomba Gemma Griffiths Jah Prayzah
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and I forgot: Chiwoniso
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Regarding Bitcoin For Fairness donations, what would you say is the percentage paid through Lightning Network as opposed to main net or other forms of payment?
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It's a 100% BTC. The BFF main sponsorships were all done on-chain at the beginning of the year. You can imagine that I basically ran out of funds in the middle of the year. Big learning here: take a part and hold it in fiat. It's sad, but it's still more stable than BTC. Also: I have to pay income tax on the Bitcoin value from February now although the value was lost just by price going down. I learned a lot this year ;-) The donations through Geyser are estimated 90% Lightning.
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I'm sorry to hear that. Perhaps your tax burden could be alleviated since it's a charity. As a retired US lawyer, I'm familiar with the non profit laws in the US. Surely there must be some similar structure in your jurisdiction. Perhaps a local lawyer could help you out?
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Thanks for your concerns. It's not a registered charity. I didn't want to go that route in the first year, because I had no idea if I'd get any funds at all. Since my goal is to spend everything before the end of the year, the tax burden should be not too high.
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In any event, best of luck. I will follow your progress and I'll keep donating. I feel like Africa can benefit most from bitcoin, and that bitcoin can benefit most through Africa
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Do you have any personal experience regarding people living in the countries using the CFA franc? If so, is it easier to make the case for bitcoin with them?
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No, I haven't been in one of these countries yet. I can't speak to that.
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