Inside Costa Rica’s Growing Bitcoin Circular Economy

The embryo of each Bitcoin Circular Economy is unique.

The purposes of Bitcoin Circular Economies are diverse and, as they grow, the projects develop their own identity: education, P2P, payments, wallets etc. The quests of their protagonists often shape the origin of each, with characteristics and needs that define them. The founders, who decide to pursue this social, technological and economic adventure, define the spirit of the project. The Bitcoin Jungle project was born in the heart of the Costa Rican jungle, where a vibrant community of expatriates and digital nomads from all over the world is trying to develop a more conscious way of living in harmony with nature.

Two men lit the spark that gave birth to Bitcoin Jungle. Over time, others joined the fire, but two were the energies that aligned to start this project. One a developer and serial entrepreneur; the other a journalist, retired teacher and democracy activist. 

Both shared two deeply rooted beliefs in their hearts. First, Costa Rica is the best place in the world to live. Second, Bitcoin is an enlightening technology that can lead humanity to a more peaceful and evolved lifestyle.

Richard Scotford lived in Hong Kong for more than 20 years. He worked as a teacher and freelance reporter for various media outlets, always as a political analyst. Richard witnessed firsthand the peaceful protests that began there in 2014 with the “Umbrella Movement,” which later became a symbol of resistance. Without mincing words, Richard supported Hong Kong’s democratic struggle against the Chinese Communist Party, which imposed an election system where the people could only choose among candidates selected by the party. Through his articles, Richard became part of Hong Kong’s political scene, and when his friends and colleagues began to be imprisoned, he decided it was time to take a new direction in life.

At the time, Richard knew nothing about Bitcoin and admits that he crossed off the list of all the mistakes that cryptocurrency users usually make before coming into Bitcoin.

“We were scammed, we lost money until mid-2018 when we started to understand the differences between Bitcoin and the other cryptocurrencies.”

The realization about Bitcoin and the profound impact it could have on the world came at a very special time in the lives of Richard and his wife. 

“We were in the middle-class trap, where we had everything we needed. All we could do was have more or better stuff. A better car, a fancier boat, a bigger house or join a better club. I call it a trap because there was nothing extra to own. It was clear that our happiness was not going to change by having more or better things. We wanted to do something radically different and that’s how we ended up in Costa Rica.”

At first, the couple explored the diverse climates and landscapes of the country. They found many similarities with the jungles of Hong Kong, enjoyed the volcanic beaches of the Pacific Ocean as well as…