Greetings from San Salvador.
Wanted to investigate whether I could use the Chivo ATM to purchase Bitcoin without giving them a phone number. However, I could not get no-KYC Bitcoin from the Chivo ATM.
Interestingly, as I probed the functionality of the software running on the ATM, a girl came up and started to talk to me about how to use it. I didn't realize why, but then I noticed that she was a representative from Chivo, wearing a Chivo shirt.
I wish that I spoke more Spanish so that I could investigate what her job actually is. It seems like she just supervises this ATM in the basement of the mall.
Travelling companion ended up speaking with the lady. Ask her about whether or not she had any Bitcoin. She does not have any Bitcoin. Because she doesn't make enough money for the work that she does. Which seemed like a bad excuse. But that was the excuse she gave.
Used a google voice # & $20 USD to create a purchase of Bitcoin: $56,691.18... 0.00034667btc
Has been ~18 hours and still no mempool record of the address
bc1py7hf2tjyr4r2v8hy2kkgzefwn2fu9l7npdnwhqd7rhexfe6hxd9sexsrul
No wonder NOBODY IN EL SALVADOR CARES TO USE BITCOIN. (I exaggerate.. But only 2 places out of 8 where I have asked to use BTC)
I'll continue to try.
Sidenote: stacker.news is fuckin rad. Excellent job, yall.
The "attendant" thing happened to me at another bitcoin ATM in south america (where, by the way, the online map at coinatmradar is full of them, but majority Athena, which don't seem to exist. at all. anyway.)
In my case, it was the girl working at a sex shop the owner of which had set up the ATM, but outside the shop (smartly, i think :D) Also to ask if I needed help using it.
That ATM, though, sent it to the mempool right away. If an ATM doesn't send to the mempool right that second, complain.
reply
@leo has been sharing posts with so much positivity in San Salvador. I'm surprised to see that your experience is so bad!
reply
Yah, sometimes people accuse me of not being starry-eyed..
reply
I was afraid this was going to be about Elon Musk's "boring company".
reply
reply
So that’s where the president is getting all his Bitcoin.
reply
I guess your $20 was eaten by the transaction fee. I thought Chivo was Lightning?
reply
Transaction fee is no excuse. Thousands of 5sat/vbyte transactions have been confirmed over the last couple days.
reply
No wonder NOBODY IN EL SALVADOR CARES TO USE BITCOIN.
How can that be? We've listened that it's a country where almost everywhere Bitcoin is accepted?
reply
Yah, well.. I'm guessing all the influencers went with a guide or something, to places prepared to accept Bitcoin. I'm not an influencer, and I have no guide, and haven't been anywhere near Zonte.
I'm keeping a list of places that have refused. Stay tuned. Like and subscribe 😅
reply
How bad to hear that, I think we can only see progress in mass adoption when awareness and education are raised. Chivo is not the best, I understood that you had installed lightning network?
reply
I have LN.. Chivo ATM may very well only support LN but it definitely accepted and then gave me a receipt for the on-chain address
reply
Chivo It has a long way to go to really be a good user experience
reply
Ugh adoption growing pains
reply
stackers have outlawed this. turn on wild west mode in your /settings to see outlawed content.