The Association of Blockchain is pleased to announce that its members and partners represented Costa Rica on the world stage at Bitcoin 2026 in Las Vegas, one of the world’s leading Bitcoin conferences.
Costa Rica was featured in the Genesis Stage panel “Bitcoin Meets Conscious Living in Costa Rica,” where local leaders and entrepreneurs discussed the country’s growing Bitcoin ecosystem, its practical use in everyday life, and its connection to the Costa Rican Pura Vida lifestyle.
Speakers included Lee Salminen, co-founder of Bitcoin Jungle; Sergio Chaverri, CEO of AYA Capital; and Ben Ashara, CEO of Secret Keys Costa Rica. Together, they offered a broad perspective on Bitcoin’s growing role in Costa Rica — from everyday payments and merchant adoption to real estate, relocation, and long-term lifestyle planning. The discussion also explored whether Costa Rica is emerging as a quiet leader for Bitcoiners seeking to live outside the traditional banking system.
Lee Salminen spoke about the development of Bitcoin Jungle, a circular economy initiative that began in the Uvita area and has since expanded across the country. He explained how Bitcoin and Lightning payments are helping residents, visitors, and local merchants transact more easily, including in cases where businesses receive local currency while customers pay in Bitcoin.
Sergio Chaverri addressed Costa Rica’s legal, political, and financial environment. He highlighted the country’s political stability, territorial tax system, and open regulatory approach as factors that have made Costa Rica increasingly relevant for Bitcoin users, investors, and high-net-worth individuals. He also discussed how larger transactions, including real estate purchases, can be structured through compliant off-ramp solutions or Bitcoin-backed liquidity, allowing holders to access funds without selling their Bitcoin.
Ben Ashara shared his experience as a long-term resident and entrepreneur helping people relocate to Costa Rica. His remarks focused on quality of life, family, community, clean food, clean water, and the long-term value of land and food security. He connected the Bitcoin conversation with a broader vision of resilience and conscious living in Costa Rica.
The event also featured the “Pura Vida Bitcoin” stand – this Costa Rican representation space showcased the country’s potential for Bitcoin-focused visitors, investors, and future residents, including opportunities in premium real estate, investment and residency guidance, lifestyle experiences, and access to Costa Rica’s growing network of Bitcoin merchants and communities.
Costa Rica’s participation at Bitcoin 2026 marks an important milestone for the country’s blockchain and Bitcoin community. The presentation showed not only individual projects, but a wider ecosystem forming around practical payments, education, investment infrastructure, relocation services, and local adoption.
The Association of Blockchain congratulates its members and partners for representing Costa Rica internationally and for contributing to a global conversation about how Bitcoin can support real communities, responsible investment, financial sovereignty, and a better quality of life.
