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El Salvador Survey Shows Bitcoin’s Lindy Effect in Action

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El Salvador’s misguided critics got some new ammunition this week.

A recent survey revealed just 7.5% of Salvadorans use Bitcoin for transactions, and that 92% of Salvadorans do not. But while some (cue: Steve Hanke) may look at these numbers and think “Oh, well that experiment failed,” I disagree.

Even putting aside the increased tourism, business activity, and international notoriety, El Salvador’s Bitcoin legal tender law has been a success.

El Salvador currently has a population of around 6.3 million, meaning 475,000 (7.5%) people are now using Bitcoin for transactions. The fact that almost half a million citizens now use BTC in their daily life for transactions is pretty impressive, but the Lindy effect means we can expect this figure to increase with time.

Considering the history of El Salvador, it was obvious from the beginning that the entire country was not going to start using this new payments technology from day one. El Salvador has a history of failed currency regimes. It takes time for any new system to build trust.

As I pointed out three years ago, I believe Bitcoin needs to become a store of value first before it can become a medium of exchange. Bitcoin today, even with it being a $1.4 trillion dollar asset, is still just a drop in the ocean compared to vast global wealth.

There is still a common consensus in the general public that Bitcoin is risky to get into, and that will need to change before more people in more countries start using it on a daily basis.

Bitcoin is still a new asset class that is growing up. The more it grows up, the more credibility it earns, the more price increases, the more innovation happens that sprouts new transactional and custody solutions to meet non-technical people where they are.

This will take a long time, but it’s a process that is underway.

I see many Bitcoiners online who are so bullish that they believe that adoption as an everyday transaction method will happen suddenly over the next few years, but this discounts real-world data, like this survey, which shows the process is much slower.

All this is to say that if Bitcoin is going to see worldwide merchant adoption and use by everyday individuals, we’re going to need to see a much higher price, Bitcoin will need to be easier to use, and more trusted than it is today.

Exactly how long will it take? I don’t know for certain. But if you think of it as a loading bar, we’re already 7.5% complete on our way to 100% of Salvadorans transacting in Bitcoin.

Remember, this is progress. Nothing happens overnight.

This article is a Take. Opinions expressed are entirely the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.



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Ohio introduces second Bitcoin reserve bill

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The State of Ohio has introduced a second Bitcoin reserve bill as crypto legislation gains momentum across the U.S. ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Ohio House GOP Majority Whip Steve Demetriou proposed legislation to allow the state to manage a strategic Bitcoin (BTC) reserve, Satoshi Act Fund founder Dennis Porter shared on Dec. 19 during an X Spaces event.

Demetriou’s bill follows a similar proposal from Representative Derek Merrin, which would also position Ohio as a Bitcoin reserve holder. Speaking on X Spaces, Demetriou explained that his legislation would enable Ohio to allocate up to 10% of its state-controlled funds toward a BTC stockpile.

“Bitcoin can help tap into Ohio’s existing energy reserves,” Demetriou added. Ohio is famed for having massive natural gas reserves and a competitive energy grid.

The Ohio GOP Majority Whip provided no specific timeline for the bill’s passage but expressed hope that House bureaucracy would not delay progress.

American legislative conversations have increasingly focused on BTC-related proposals following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the recent election.

Earlier, Porter said that the Bitcoin renaissance was spotted amassing momentum in over 12 states and counting. Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania were a few states that weighed BTC reserve laws.

In Washington, Senator Cynthia Lummis has advocated for federal BTC reserve policies. Responding to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, Lummis argued that the Senate should authorize the central bank to hold Bitcoin. Powell previously clarified that the Fed cannot own BTC under current laws.





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Wyoming seeks developers for state-backed stablecoin

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The State of Wyoming is hiring blockchain developers to support the creation of its government-issued stablecoin currency.

The Wyoming Stable Token Commission has issued public Requests for Qualification to attract talent for its stablecoin initiative, known as “Project WYST.”

Stablecoins are digital currencies that trade with 1:1 dollar parity, allowing users to deploy U.S. dollars in blockchain markets and decentralized finance venues. The sector has over $200 billion in circulation, and stabelcoins feature in most cryptocurrency transactions, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.

Applicants have until Dec. 12 to submit their proposals for roles that include token development, support, listing, on-chain analysis, reserve management, financial auditing, and ecosystem intelligence.

WYST details remain limited, but Commission discussions indicate it may launch on Ethereum or Solana networks.

The Wyoming Stable Token Act, passed in 2023, authorized the state to issue stablecoins. According to the WyoStable Commission website, WYST is designed to represent and be redeemable for one U.S. dollar held in trust by the state. Tokens will only be issued in exchange for U.S. dollars.

WYST is a proposed virtual currency representative of and redeemable for one (1) United States dollar held in trust by the state of Wyoming as provided by W.S. 40‑31‑106. Stable tokens shall only be issued in exchange for United States dollars.

WyoStable Commission website

Wyoming has positioned itself as a web3 leader with U.S. borders. In March, the state officially recognized decentralized autonomous organizations as legal entities.

The landmark crypto bill reaffirmed sovereign acceptance for DAOs amid regulatory uncertainty, predominantly from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Kraken also launched its licensed custody solution in the state in March.

Back in February 2023, local lawmakers passed a bill to protect crypto self-custody, protecting the right to hold Bitcoin (BTC) and other digital assets. Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis was at the forefront of Federal Congressional efforts to establish a national Bitcoin reserve. Thousands penned letters supporting her BITCOIN BILL, per crypto.news reporting.

Other states were following suit and mulled Bitcoin reserve legislation as the U.S. voted its first pro-BTC president in Republican Donald Trump.





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Bitcoin advocate hints at ‘strategic reserve’ laws in 10 US states

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Satoshi Act Fund founder Dennis Porter announced that several U.S. states are preparing to propose legislation for sovereign Bitcoin reserves.

In an attempt to front-run President Donald Trump’s Bitcoin (BTC) promise, Porter has lobbied local policymakers to introduce legislation for BTC stockpiles across 10 state jurisdictions. Porter disclosed the development via an X thread, highlighting efforts from his Satoshi Act Fund organization toward passing Bitcoin-focused laws.

I can now officially confirm and announce that 10 states will be introducing ‘Strategic Bitcoin Reserves’ legislation here in the great United STATES of America. We are going to win with Bitcoin. We will lead the world. No one will come close. The word will follow our lead.

Dennis Porter, Satoshi Act Fund founder and CEO

The public BTC supported also announced a joint discussion with Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis regarding her BITCOIN ACT, suggesting that Porter has engaged federal lawmakers to position the U.S. as a Bitcoin leader.

Lummis’s proposal would transfer 207,000 BTC seized by authorities to the Treasury Department. The Senator also pushed to convert U.S. gold certificates to finance BTC purchases and accumulate one million coins over five years.

“The race is on. Let the game theory begin,” Porter tweeted, referring to President Trump’s plan to establish a government BTC stockpile from America’s existing $19 billion horde.

Nations, states, and governments are rushing to grab portions of BTC’s 21 million fixed supply following Trump’s victory at the presidential polls. Within the U.S., Pennsylvania already passed a bill legalizing BTC payments and crypto self-custody. The state also introduced a bill paving the way for its own BTC reserve in November.

On the international front, Brazil’s Senate considered pitching a national BTC reserve to President Luiz Inácio Lula da SilvaCongressman Eros Biondini submitted the idea to Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies as crypto.news reported.





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