A Bitcoin educator from Tanzania has successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, using funds raised through Bitcoin and Nostr donations. Going by the name Kweks, he managed to crowdfund over $1,700 in Bitcoin (0.0018 BTC) to cover the expenses of the expedition. The climb served as an announcement for his newly established Bitcoin education academy in Tanzania, called the Proof of Work Academy (POWA).
Kweks and his wife recently relocated to a new city in Tanzania to establish POWA. The name of the academy is a play on words, referring to Bitcoin’s consensus protocol, proof-of-work, as well as the Swahili word “Poah,” which means fresh or cool. To generate publicity for the school and showcase his support for decentralized protocols such as Bitcoin and Nostr, Kweks financed the climb using satoshis or sats, the smallest denomination of Bitcoin.
Bitcoin Lightning Network donations poured in from all over the world through crowdfunding platforms like Geyser Fund and Zapraising. Throughout the multiday hike, Kweks provided updates on his progress and waved a giant Nostr flag, demonstrating the global support he received from the Bitcoin community. The climb not only covered the expedition costs but also served as an educational case study, introducing people to Bitcoin and showcasing its capabilities.
Kweks shared how Tanzania faces challenges with Bitcoin adoption, primarily due to a lack of local exchanges that offer easy conversion between cryptocurrency and the national currency. Popular exchanges like Coinbase, Kraken, and Gemini do not operate in Tanzania, making it difficult for locals to engage in Bitcoin transactions. During the hike, Kweks received questions from Tanzanians about how he funded the adventure and inquiries about what Bitcoin is.
Compared to his previous experience in the United Kingdom, Kweks highlighted the differences in understanding and adopting Bitcoin in Tanzania. In East Africa, there is more reliance on a barter system, making it challenging to convey the benefits of a currency with a programmed inflation rate like Bitcoin. Kweks emphasized the importance of using relatable terms and discussing rising prices of essential goods to help locals understand how Bitcoin can potentially improve their economic situation.
Kweks continues to share educational resources on Nostr and X platforms, aiming to spread awareness and knowledge about Bitcoin. Furthermore, his academy, POWA, provides free educational classes to individuals residing near Kilimanjaro. The journey up Mount Kilimanjaro not only symbolized the power of Bitcoin and decentralized finance but also shed light on the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency adoption in Tanzania.
In conclusion, Kweks, the Bitcoin educator based in Tanzania, successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, funding the entire expedition through Bitcoin and Nostr donations. The climb not only served as an announcement for his Bitcoin education academy but also showcased the global support for his work. Kweks used the climb as an opportunity to educate people about Bitcoin and highlight its potential benefits to the local community in Tanzania.
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