Last Sunday, September 1, AsoBlockchain, ReFi Costa Rica and Starknet came together to celebrate an event that transcended beyond a simple breakfast. In the heart of the Butterfly Kingdom Farm, an oasis of peace and transformation in Escazú, the Regenerative Crypto Brunch was held. This meeting brought together almost 40 blockchain technology enthusiasts, developers, entrepreneurs and nature lovers to explore how blockchain can contribute to the regeneration of Costa Rica.
With a welcoming atmosphere and a delicious Costa Rican breakfast, attendees had the opportunity to exchange ideas and immerse themselves in the world of regenerative finance and blockchain technology. The day began with a welcome by Karla Córdoba Brenes, President of AsoBlockchain, who highlighted the importance of education and collaboration in building a blockchain ecosystem in Costa Rica.
Ronny Castillo presented the progress of ReFi Costa Rica’s Incubator project, which was launched in 2023. This initiative seeks to promote the creation of innovative solutions that promote regeneration. In addition, ReFi Costa Rica was shortlisted for cohort 16 of the VC Lab, a program designed to support the creation of new impact investment funds.
Then representatives from three of the participating projects shared their progress. Randall Saborío presented the work of Diamante Bridge Collective in the southern part of the country, focused on collective land ownership and participatory governance. Arturo Montanaro shared how Landia works with organizations and communities in Guanacaste, strengthening their projects and using tools such as GIS to map properties and account for environmental services. Finally, Karla Córdoba, Omar Hurtado and Alfredo Bonilla presented the progress of CofiBlocks, a project that seeks to create a marketplace for the purchase and sale of coffee using Starknet technology.
In an enriching presentation, Ranulfo Paiva Barbosa, Starknet Ambassador, explained how this layer 2 scaling technology is transforming the blockchain landscape. He detailed concepts such as Account Abstraction, which simplifies interaction with accounts, and zero-knowledge proofs (zk STARK), which guarantee the security and efficiency of transactions. Paiva Barbosa emphasized Starknet’s potential to scale both Ethereum and Bitcoin, and shared his vision of a Costa Rican ecosystem where blockchain drives regenerative and collaborative businesses. He also informed us about the various learning and financing opportunities available for developers and entrepreneurs in the Starknet ecosystem.
The experience was further enriched by a coffee tasting led by Natalia Hernández, member of AsoBlockchain. The coffee tasted was from Beneficio Las Peñas, one of the members of CofiBlocks. This sensory activity allowed attendees to appreciate the quality and unique flavor of Costa Rican coffee.
The Butterfly Kingdom Garden was the perfect complement to this event. Attendees were able to marvel at the beauty of butterflies and learn about their life cycle, a process that symbolizes transformation and growth.
The Regenerative Crypto Brunch was a clear example of how collaboration between different actors can drive innovation and regenerative development. The participation of representatives of projects such as Diamante Bridge Collective, Landia, CofiBlocks, Vagabonds Labs, Gaia Impact, RegenerOsa, eNotario, Hallos, InBest Program, and members of the ReFi Costa Rica, Dojo Coding and Ethereum Costa Rica communities, enriched the debate and generated new ideas. Thanks to all the people associated with AsoBlockchain and the members of the Education Committee for their work and support during the activity.
Costa Rica is positioned as a benchmark in the region in terms of the adoption of blockchain technologies and the promotion of regenerative practices. Events such as the Regenerative Crypto Brunch are essential to strengthen this ecosystem and build a more just and equitable future. This event was sponsored by ReFi Costa Rica and the Starknet Foundation.
