The private city of Próspera, a special economic zone in Honduras, and the autonomous region of Madeira in Portugal are next to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender.
Samson Mow, former Chief Strategy Officer at BlockStream, is focused on driving the adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender in various jurisdictions and countries around the world. Recently, Mow announced his retirement from the company blockchain to fully dedicate themselves to this goal and discuss with the leaders of various countries and regions the possibilities of adopting Bitcoin. Now, his efforts are beginning to bear fruit.
During a podcast with CoinMarketCap at the Bitcoin Conference 2022 Miami, Mow surprised everyone by revealing that the private city of Próspera, a special economic zone in Honduras, and the autonomous region of Madeira, in Portugal, are adopting Bitcoin as legal tender .
Próspera is a private and autonomous city located on Roatán Island that operates under the Employment and Economic Development Zone (ZEDE) regime. This city is the first in Honduras to take the initiative to implement Bitcoin within its local economy, despite the caution that the Central Bank of Honduras maintains towards this cryptocurrency. In late March, the bank denied rumors of legalizing Bitcoin as a currency in the country.
However, Joel Bomgar, the president of Honduras Próspera Inc., confirmed that in the charter city residents can transact with Bitcoin (BTC) freely. Bomgar assured that it is possible to acquire goods, products and services with Bitcoin, in addition to paying municipal taxes and judicial fees with this cryptocurrency.
It may interest you: Breaking News - In Peru, the municipality of La Molina promotes the adoption of Bitcoin
Próspera encourages investment with Bitcoin
The president of Honduras Próspera Inc. also announced that the city will begin creating Bitcoin bonds a. According to him, Bitcoin bonds will attract potential foreign investors through a reliable and secure financial instrument, with which many are familiar.
Bitcoin investors who are interested in Próspera will also be able to enjoy special benefits, according to their legislation. the city said that combining Bitcoin with its services can help transform impoverished communities into thriving centers of innovation.
Although the president of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, has indicated that the country could follow in the footsteps of El Salvador and adopt Bitcoin as legal tender to escape the hegemony of the United States and the dollar, the Central Bank has been quite reserved about regard.
According to Forbes, the entity recalled that Bitcoin is not yet regulated in the country and that it is working on the possible development of a CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency). Currently, the Central Bank of Honduras is in the technical and legal study and analysis phase to determine the feasibility and viability of issuing its own digital currency.
Madeira will also adopt Bitcoin as legal tender
In the same way that is happening in Próspera, the autonomous region of Madeira will also become a friendly jurisdiction for the main and most capitalized cryptocurrency on the market, according to Mow.
Citizens and residents of Madeira, one of the largest islands in Portugal, will be able to use Bitcoin as legal tender within their jurisdiction. The president of the regional government of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, confirmed plans to boost the economic development of the region through the adoption of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies.
"I believe in the future and I believe in bitcoin”said Albuquerque, who was also present at the Bitcoin Conference 2022 Miami this Thursday.
Madeira will work to create a friendly and appropriate regulatory environment for Bitcoin, to allow the cryptocurrency to be used as a means of payment and transfer of value by its residents and companies.
Bitcoin Regulation in Mexico
On the other hand, Mexican senator Indira Kempis took advantage of the occasion to ratify her interest and fight to integrate Bitcoin into Mexico's financial system.
In February, following his visit to El Salvador, Kempis said he would present a bill to boost the adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender in Mexico. Now, during her participation in the Bitcoin Conference 2022, the Mexican senator indicated that she wants to sit down with the country's president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, to discuss the regulation of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies.
In Mexico, Ricardo Salinas Prieto, one of the richest man in Mexico and a great Bitcoin activist, enabled payments with BTC to its chain of Elektra stores last December.
Continue reading: A US senator believes that Bitcoin will grow as a currency
