TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras.- the cryptocurrencies they came to Honduras then the first was inaugurated ATM at the beginning of the week in a business center a Tegucigalpa.
The use of this currency is beginning to unravel in Central America for virtual assets following the upcoming debut of Bitcoin as legal tender currency a the Savior.
In Honduras, an ATM since Tuesday allows you to purchase the most used digital currency, Bitcoin and Ethereum, With lempiras, the local currency, and is handled by TGU Consulting Group, By the Honduran Juan Mayen.
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Mayen, 28, returned to his country in 2019 after studying in United States, He said he hopes the launch of the ATM can meet the growing demand for digital currency in the country and help educate Hondurans about cryptocurrencies.
“There was no automated way to be able to buy digital currency,” he said in an interview with an international media outlet.
“If you wanted, you had to do it peer-to-peer (person to person), Look for someone who has, who is willing to do it, meet in person and bring ics amount of cash, something very inconvenient and dangerous with the environment in Honduras, ”he added.
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An Ethereum was listed on Friday at $ 3,237 and 1 Bitcoin was in $ 48,140.
At the moment, only digital currency can be purchased at “la bitcoinera”. In the future, Mayen said, it will also be possible to sell them and, according to the reception, more units will be installed in the coming months.
The cashier has KYC due diligence measures (know your customer): it requires scanning an official ID, and completing security data such as a phone number, in addition, the purchase limit is 9,000 lempiras (About $ 380).
Mayen said that in Honduras many software developers are paid in digital currency so the cashier will be very helpful when Bitcoins or Ethereum can be sold.
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In addition, it will be a cheaper option to send remittances. In 2020, Hondurans living in other countries – mainly the United States – sent their relatives home more than $ 5.7 billion, around 20% of the country’s GDP.
The fever for digital currency has increased in recent months in Central America after the Congress of El Salvador approved in June a proposal by President Nayib Bukele to make the country the first in the world to adopt Bitcoin as the legal tender.
Recently, two bills were introduced in the Panama Congress. One of them seeks to regulate the use of Bitcoin on the isthmus and to consider digital currency as a legal tender.
This week, Bitcoin Foundation President and pioneer of digital currency Brock Pierce met with Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández and then arrived in Panama to talk with President Laurentino’s government officials Cortizo and exhibit in a forum about Bitcoin.
“We see a lot of potential to start business here in Panama,” said Pierce, who goes to June was in the Savior to meet with officials. “Legislators and regulators have the facility to pass the necessary laws to (…) attract market and innovative companies here.”