
Independent educators are changing the world. They unite once a month in a General Assembly of the Node Network, an initiative from My First Bitcoin, to create a thriving ecosystem of educators around the banner of “independent, impartial, bitcoin-only and community-led bitcoin education”. The GA from November 28 was attended by a record of 35 individuals!
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the nodes that participated in the Adopting Bitcoin conference. It was truly an extraordinary Bitcoin week that inspired and energized us. We are already looking forward with great anticipation to all the exciting projects and developments coming in 2025!
Welcome to this fifth write-up of all progress that has been made in the past month. Welcome to the stories from 15 countries!
Highlights from Bitcoin Week
“We had an incredible Bitcoin Week! From a successful graduation and Unconference to the excitement of Adopting Bitcoin 2024, we kicked off our Intro Course and completed the Teacher’s Guide, now available in English and Spanish.
The Intro Course is already being offered in places like San Salvador coffee shops, the tourist city of Suchitoto, and even online. Our Bitcoin Diploma has launched in the eastern region of the country with 2-3 chapters per session.
Looking ahead, we’ve started planning the next Unconference, led by our newest team member, Tristan, an international event planner!“
Our journey begins in El Salvador and continues onward to our next node in Zambia.
Expanding Bitcoin in Zambia
“We’ve completed the Nyanja translation of the Mi Primer Bitcoin Workbook and are preparing for its launch next year, while actively working on translating it into Bemba. Our goal is to cover at least four main languages in Zambia.
Our team has relocated to Livingstone to focus on the project full-time, eliminating the need for frequent travel. Last week, we held our final meetup of the year, marking the growth of our community. Inspired by Bitcoin Ekasi, we’re painting shops in a small market with Bitcoin branding to promote awareness and the circular economy. Shop owners will receive weekly sats as an incentive to accept Bitcoin payments.
We’re testing Bitcoin POS systems like “Opago” to onboard larger businesses. Collaboration with other organizations is helping us build credibility and expand awareness. In 2024, we completed three cohorts and aim to double that next year with 6-8 cohorts, including one focused on merchants.“
We are now setting out on an exciting journey, moving from Zambia to our next node in Haiti.
Building Foundations for Bitcoin Adoption in Haiti
“We’re making great progress with our first cohort, currently at chapter 6. Nineteen students recently completed an exam covering chapters 1-4. Cassandra, our top student, expressed concern about Bitcoin’s rising price, worried it might become harder to acquire.
Workbooks are shared chapter by chapter on WhatsApp as we finalize the Haitian Creole translation, which we aim to complete this week. With secured funding, we plan to print books for current and future students.
Teaching is done using a laptop and TV, but we’re eagerly awaiting a shipment from the US containing a projector, Raspberry Pis, t-shirts, and swag, along with a second Starlink for better connectivity.
An American pastor who supports a music school near Port-au-Prince has reached out to explore Bitcoin payroll options for their teachers. If needed, we can set up online classes via Google Classroom to teach their team.
We plan to add resources to Github, inspired by Felix’s repository, to improve transparency and accessibility. We’re also exploring collaboration with Dread from OpenSats to use his Flash application, which simplifies Bitcoin adoption in the Caribbean and could support Haiti’s circular economy.“
Our journey continues as we travel from Haiti to establish our next node in the stunning landscapes of Costa Rica.
Building Momentum in Costa Rica
“We’ve launched our first in-person class at the Uvita office and an online class with participants from Heredia. Currently on chapter 5, we’re finding that following the book and planned activities is both effective and rewarding. Graduation plans are underway, and a new class is set to start in January.
For smaller groups (10 or fewer), we encourage participants to share their experiences for more interactive sessions. During AB SV 24, we connected with the MPB crew, received swag, and secured books for our upcoming classes.“
Our journey continues as we move directly from Costa Rica to our next node in the USA.
Milestones and New Opportunities
“We successfully completed our November class and secured a new Nostr npub. Our 501(c)(3) non-profit application is in progress, and we’re brainstorming ideas for a social lunch with students. We screened the OPA documentary and received 21,000 sats in support. Excitingly, we’ll be sharing details about a new Bitcoin job opportunity at an upcoming GA!“
We’re now making our way from the USA to immerse ourselves in the stunning beauty of South Africa, where our next chapter awaits.
Expanding Education and Collaboration
“We held a Bitcoin Diploma tutorial at a local school and plan to continue school presentations in 2025 to invite more students to join.
We maintain strong connections with nearby nodes and recently welcomed the founder of Bitcoin Loxion, who shared insights and challenges. Additionally, we’re hosting movie nights to engage and educate the community.“
Our journey takes us from South Africa to our next destination, the enchanting landscapes of Indonesia, where our next node awaits.
Growing Bitcoin Education in Indonesia
“We have 15 sign-ups for our second Bali cohort starting in December and are preparing for the first cohort in Surabaya. Internal teacher training is underway as one of our graduates will co-teach the new Bali cohort. Discussions with universities in Bandung and Bali are ongoing.
We’re excited about the affordable and improved small MFB books! Next week, we’ll celebrate an online graduation with 30-50 graduates.“
We’re moving forward from Indonesia to embark on our next chapter at the vibrant node in Suriname.
Expanding Bitcoin Adoption in Suriname
“We’ve onboarded 112 merchants and hosted a successful conference where attendees spent Bitcoin with 20 vendors at a food festival, sparking local interest. Our first Mi Primer Bitcoin cohort is in its second half, and we’re also conducting internal education for the Bitcoin Sranan team.
Monthly Bitcoin meetups and showcasing books at education centers have drawn attention and engaged readers. On December 7-8, we’ll have a booth at a Christmas fair with 53 merchants, aiming to onboard more vendors and raise Bitcoin awareness.“
We’re heading from Suriname to our next chapter at the dynamic node in the Dominican Republic.
Driving Bitcoin Growth Across Communities
“We’re actively onboarding new merchants inspired by our social media outreach and connecting with fresh communities. Businesses across the country are starting to accept Bitcoin, reflecting a growing interest in its practical uses.
Our next meetup will feature a Bitcoin course and a domino contest to engage and educate the community further.“
From the Dominican Republic, we’re heading back to experience the captivating beauty of South Africa once more.
Building Momentum Locally
“We’ve recently onboarded a few local merchants, including a restaurant, expanding Bitcoin adoption in the community. Excitement is building as we prepare for a graduation event next week to celebrate the achievements of our students and continue fostering local engagement.“
Our journey takes us from the vibrant landscapes of South Africa to the breathtaking wilderness of Alaska, where our next node awaits.
2025: A Year of Connection and Growth
“We’re kicking off 2025 with an inspiring conference in Juneau, featuring Alex Gladstein and other speakers, focused on fostering ideas over profit. In We’ll host family-friendly events to build community bonds, followed by exclusive member tours.
Plans are also in motion to create a vibrant bazaar, bringing people together to celebrate and engage with our shared vision.“
Our journey continues as we leave the majestic wilderness of Alaska, heading to the dynamic hub of Pacific Northwest Bitcoin in the USA, where innovation and community thrive.
Building Community and Celebrating Growth
“We’re currently on chapter 6 of our first cohort, progressing with one lesson a week. With 15 graduates soon to celebrate, our growing community continues to thrive as members invite friends to join.
Excitement is building for an upcoming Christmas party featuring Dennis Porter, where we’re expecting 50-60 attendees. It’s set to be a memorable event, highlighting the progress we’ve made and the connections we’ve fostered.“
Our journey takes us from Pacific Northwest Bitcoin in the USA to the vibrant landscapes of Honduras.
Bitcoin Meets the Badge
“We’re gearing up to orange pill the police department, showing them how Bitcoin can be a powerful tool for transparency and empowerment. We’re ready to expand our mission and have some fun along the way—because even law enforcement deserves a crash course in sound money.“
From the warmth of Honduras, our journey takes us to the stunning charm and vibrant culture of Argentina.
“We are moving forward with establishing our physical space! This marks the beginning of an exciting journey as we set everything up to host workshops and in-person classes.
We’re energized and ready to create an impactful and engaging environment for everyone involved. Stay tuned—this is just the start!“
Empowering Women through Bitcoin Education
“We are thrilled to share that we’re hosting our second cohort graduation, marking an exciting milestone as we hold our first-ever physical meet-up. Moving forward, we’re collaborating with various communities to expand our reach, share knowledge, and teach even more individuals.
This progress reflects our commitment to spreading the word and empowering people through education and connection.“
If you are a community leader and bitcoin educator and want to be part of the Node Network, check out our GitHub page.
If you want to use our open source Bitcoin Diploma workbook, you can! It’s available on GitHub as well.
For any questions about the Node Network or any other international collaboration, feel free to reach out to Arnold Hubach ([email protected]).