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June 3, 2025 · By Benoit

Beyond Borders #12: The rhythm of global progress

My First Bitcoin's Node Network drew a record 35 participants from 17 countries to its May 29 General Assembly, where independent educators across Africa, the Americas, Europe and beyond shared cohort graduations, merchant adoption milestones and new programs.

Beyond Borders #12: The rhythm of global progress

Independent educators are changing the world. They unite once a month in a General Assembly of the Node Network, an initiative from My First Bitcoin, to create a thriving ecosystem of educators around the banner of “independent, impartial, bitcoin-only and community-led bitcoin education”. The GA from May 29 was attended by a record of 35 individuals!

Welcome to this eleventh edition of this series & all progress that has been made in the past month. Welcome to the stories from these 17 countries!

1. BTCLearn (Canada)

”We’ve recently set up a BTCPay Server to help onboard merchants and are offering the platform to any Node that wants access. It’s easy to set up with wallets like Aqua, Strike, or Nostr Wallet Connect, fully self-custodial, and we’re happy to provide onboarding support. Merchants can register directly at merchant.btclearn.org.

We also signed the lease for a physical coffee shop and education space. While we await construction permits, we’re working toward an opening by the end of July. Alongside this, we’re developing a Lightning-based rewards system using Bolt Cards. The idea is simple: once people receive Bitcoin on a card, they’ll be motivated to download a wallet to check their balance - and from there, they’ll be linked to educational resources within the companion wallet.

One of our most valuable discoveries has been the ability to create demo online stores using BTCPay. By using existing assets from a merchant’s website, we can show them how to start accepting Bitcoin in minutes, at zero cost. The fact that these stores can even run as web apps on any phone with internet access makes this a powerful, accessible tool for adoption.”

First stop Canada, next stop Zambia.

2. BitJR Academy and Space (Zambia)

”We’re excited to share that we were recently accepted into the Mi Primer Bitcoin community and have officially joined the Node Network. Even before joining, we successfully hosted our first cohort, celebrated a graduation, and held a meetup - an incredible experience that showed just how much the kids are already learning about Bitcoin.

We’re now focused on fully integrating the Mi Primer Bitcoin Diploma into our curriculum for kids aged 6 to 17. Our ongoing efforts include organizing interactive and educational Bitcoin competitions and seeking financial support to help sustain and grow our project.

As a new node, we’re in an active learning phase - trying out different strategies to find the best ways to engage young learners. Each session offers valuable insights and helps us improve our approach.

We’re also thrilled to announce our official collaboration with Bitcoin Victoria Falls. Their support and seed funding - our first external backing outside of our Geyser fund - have given us renewed motivation and a meaningful step forward in our journey.”

From Zambia to Bitcoin Country!

3. Un Pulmón Más (El Salvador)

”We’re excited to share that we’re currently finalizing an agreement with the mayor of our city to launch a program that will bring Bitcoin education to over 200 local market business owners. This is a major step forward in connecting Bitcoin with real-world commerce.

At the same time, we’re preparing the pilot program for Bitcoin teachers in El Salvador, set to begin in the first week of June. This initiative aims to strengthen our educator network and build capacity for long-term impact.

One of our key discoveries has been the power of circular economies when rooted in local communities - creating real connections that drive sustainable Bitcoin adoption.

And finally, we’re gearing up to celebrate Environmental Day with the launch of a new program for entrepreneurs focused on climate impact. It’s an exciting moment of growth, and we’re proud to keep pushing forward with purpose.”

One mission, new ground - hello Netherlands!

4. Kirscha (Netherlands)

”We’re thrilled to share that we handed out our first four Bitcoin Diplomas last week during a celebratory dinner at “Bühne,” a restaurant in the Netherlands that accepts Bitcoin. We paid for the meal using our own wallets, making it a fun and fitting way to close out our study time together.

Looking ahead, we’ve started rewriting the Mi Primer Bitcoin book into a simpler version tailored for our students aged 11 to 17. While the original is excellent, we found it a bit too complex for teens and younger learners. Our goal is to finish this adapted version by the end of August, with easier language, interactive quizzes, and fun educational games. We’d love to collaborate with anyone interested in brainstorming ideas for interactive chapter-based activities - just let us know, and we’d be happy to connect in a break room!”

Next stop: Kenya. The Core is calling.

5. The Core (Kenya)

”We’re continuing to build momentum with our mentorship program and ongoing cohort, now impacting students across Cohorts 1 to 6. Our focus on circular economy education remains strong, and we’re excited about the progress so far. Don’t miss our next meeting and check out updates on our new website: thecore.africa.”

Next stop Uganda - Bitcoin education on the move.

6. School of Satoshi (Uganda)

”We’re excited to be developing a mentorship program for our alumni, creating ongoing support beyond graduation. Our website is also currently under construction to better showcase our work. In Episode 3 of Bitcoin Kiboozi, we feature Leaticia Erumbi - a proud graduate of Bitcoin Dada’s Cohort 6 and a passionate Bitcoin saver. Her story reflects the growing impact of our community.”

Next stop: Zambia. The journey continues.

7. Bitcoin Victoria Falls (Zambia)

”We had our biggest meetup yet on Bitcoin Pizza Day, with 106 attendees full of curiosity and excitement. Our community is growing fast, and we’re proud to have over 61 merchants now accepting Bitcoin. We continue to host monthly meetups, run physical classes - including one in a nearby village - and actively engage local businesses. One key takeaway: hands-on experience is just as vital as theory when introducing Bitcoin. Next week, we’ll celebrate the graduation of our 7th cohort and are preparing to launch a merchant adoption workshop next month.”

From Zambia back again to Bitcoin Country.

8. My First Bitcoin (El Salvador)

”We successfully completed the first pilot of the Teacher Certification Program with Penguin in Paraguay, with 22 participants and fantastic feedback. We’re now expanding both in-person and online opportunities - partnering with NGOs in El Salvador to bring Bitcoin education to young adults preparing for their first jobs, rescued girls, and rural communities. We’re also working on a self-paced intro class in English and Spanish, so other nodes can easily access and use it in their own outreach.”

From El Salvador to South Africa - Bitcoin connects the continents.

9. Bitcoin Ekasi (South Africa)

”We were recently approached by Exonumia, founded by KG (creator of the Mchankura app), who focuses on translating Bitcoin educational materials into African languages. This collaboration is a big step forward as we aim to have the My First Bitcoin Diploma Manual translated into our local language by the end of July.

Our current Bitcoin Diploma class is going strong with 16 students - 10 newcomers and 6 graduates from previous cohorts. One key lesson we’ve learned: networking with other nodes is essential to success.

We also had a great time celebrating Bitcoin Pizza Day in two locations - one in the Central Business District and another during our regular monthly movie night in the JCC Camp community. Meanwhile, Bitcoin Ekasi founder Hermann is attending the Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas, representing our growing African presence.”

Next stop: the beautiful DR!

10. Bitcoin Dominicana (Dominican Republic)

”We had our biggest Bitcoin Pizza Day yet in the Dominican Republic, celebrating alongside the Unido For Satoshi community. Together, we’ve joined forces to drive Bitcoin adoption through grassroots education, merchant onboarding, and real-world use. This partnership brings fresh energy to our shared mission of building a circular Bitcoin economy - by the people, for the people.”

From the Dominican Republic to the USA.

11. Bismarck Bitcoin (USA)

”We’re proud to announce our first two students have graduated with the Bitcoin Diploma in North Dakota - marking a milestone for our Bitcoin Club at the local college! We’re holding off on reporting final numbers to Mi Primer Bitcoin as we expect another 2–3 graduates next month. Our next class is coming up Saturday, May 31, and will focus on the Lightning Network.”

The journey continues: from the U.S. to Haiti.

12. Yes Bitcoin (Haiti)

”We’ve launched a free registration form for those interested in joining our upcoming Cohort 3 Bitcoin training. On May 22, we hosted our first Bitcoin Pizza Day meetup with 32 attendees - mainly former students - where we shared pizza, drinks, and 10,000 sats each to encourage local Bitcoin circulation.

In St. Michel Grand Riviere, we’ve connected with several businesses, including a school now accepting Bitcoin for tuition and preparing to teach Bitcoin in both primary and secondary classes. We’re also planning a media campaign with radio, livestreams, and student-led outreach to expand Bitcoin awareness in underserved areas.

Looking ahead, we’re targeting new regions like Grande Riviere du Nord, Hinche, and Cap-Haitien to bring Bitcoin education and circular economy practices to more communities.”

From the Caribbean heat to the desert sun. Hello Arizona!

13. Arizona Bitcoin Community (USA)

”We’re currently working with new collaborators to build our nonprofit organization and continue expanding our efforts to introduce young people to Bitcoin. Partnering with local groups has been key in helping communities better understand its value. Interestingly, posting info on community center corkboards has sparked several inquiries - a small but effective outreach method. We’re also in discussions with a potential location to begin hosting classes soon.”

From Arizona to Bolivia!

14. Bitcoin Research (Bolivia)

”We’re proud to have our first graduates from the Mi Primer Bitcoin diploma program! We also hosted our very first decentralized Bitcoin Pizza Day, with participating pizzerias accepting Bitcoin and even sharing pizza with the local volunteer firefighters. The energy was amazing - workers showed real interest in Bitcoin and could become our future students.

We onboarded a group of violinists who received Bitcoin tips during the event, and we’ve now reached 46 locations accepting Bitcoin, including several local businesses and even a street vendor. While we’re still getting familiar with the platform and don’t have a final student count yet, we’re excited to keep learning and growing along the way.”

Next stop: Curacao!

15. BTC Curacao

”We recently took part in a meeting hosted by a fellow MPB node, where we explored the concept of circular economy and discussed how to apply those insights here in Curaçao. Our Bitcoin Training Room is still in progress, and once it’s ready, we’re excited to launch our first cohort.

In the spirit of collaboration, we’d like to share two great tools with the community: Keet.io and HiveTalk.org - both are alternatives to Zoom for online meetings and communication.

We’re also celebrating a milestone: the first foundation in Curaçao has started accepting Bitcoin, and we’ve proudly listed them on our website.”

Next stop: Pura Vida land - hello Costa Rica!

16. Bitcoin Jungle (Costa Rica)

”We’ve started an exciting collaboration with an emerging independent Bitcoin community center (BCE) in Orosi, Cartago, Costa Rica. Together, we’ve launched a hybrid MPB class - participants gather in person while teachers from Bitcoin Jungle join remotely. Meanwhile, an in-person cohort is also nearing completion, with new classes planned to keep the momentum going.

We also discovered independent Bitcoiners in Aserrí, San José, are holding meetups and one-day classes inspired by MPB. We’re looking forward to supporting them with resources like books to strengthen education efforts.

We visited the MPB office in El Salvador and were deeply inspired by the space, the team, and their generous support - including the donation of 80 MPB books. Huge thanks to Miguel and the whole team. At Jungle, we’re always ready to give back and keep the collaboration strong.”

Next and last stop: Ghana!

17. Bitfiasi Initiative (Ghana)

”Over the past month, we successfully launched our Bitcoin Circular Economy pilot in Dodowa, onboarding our first merchants and taking a big step toward making Bitcoin part of daily life in the community. We’re continuing weekly meetups, developing a 21-day beginner course, and expanding local outreach with a dedicated liaison. Our Sound Money webinar series also continues strong, offering fresh topics each month.

We’ve found Telegram channels with discussion groups significantly boost engagement, and connecting Bitcoin to real-life financial stories helps build trust faster. We’re also building a small media team to better share stories from the ground and preparing a high school outreach to inspire the next generation of Bitcoiners.”

Join the Network!

If you are a community leader and bitcoin educator and want to be part of the Node Network, check out our GitHub page.

If you want to use our open source Bitcoin Diploma workbook, you can! It’s available on GitHub as well.

For any questions about the Node Network or any other international collaboration, feel free to reach out to Arnold Hubach (arnold@miprimerbitcoin.io).