In this episode, Maciej Cepnik sits down with Javier Bastardo, a Venezuelan journalist for Forbes, comms/PR at Bitfinex, and founder of Satoshi in Venezuela, for a firsthand look at Venezuela’s breaking point and what comes next, and what it means for Bitcoin.

00:02 Javier’s background
00:58 Journalism → Forbes → Bitfinex / Satoshi in Venezuela
02:56 Leaving Venezuela in 2023
06:20 How do Venezuelans leave the country
14:02 Waking up to the Caracas bombing news / first reactions
21:14 The uncomfortable part: anti-war instincts vs no other way.
22:26 What Chavismo actually is and how it took root
30:51 Venezuela was rich, so why did people feel poor?
34:26 Maduro era: oil, corruption, inflation as control
38:20 Transition phase: why the opposition can’t just take over
47:27 Oil endgame and geopolitics
56:46 Venezuela’s crypto reality: USDT dominance, Binance P2P, remittances
01:08:20 Petro + state BTC stash rumors
01:16:45 Investing in Venezuela: opportunity vs uncertainty
01:22:07 Why crypto companies should hire Venezuelans

Follow Javier on X: @criptobastardo
Follow Maciej Cepnik on X: @CepnikMaciej
Follow Aureo on X: @AureoBitcoin

Buy and sell Bitcoin in Mexico at the lowest rate - Personalized onboarding to multi-institution custody solution: Visit aureobitcoin.com

Mentioned articles in the podcast:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2026/01/05/maduro-captured-what-it-means-for-stablecoins-oil-and-bitcoin/
https://www.coindesk.com/opinion/2026/01/06/don-t-hold-your-breath-for-venezuela-s-bitcoin

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In Episode 5 of the Bitcoin Latam Report, Maciej Cepnik talks with Santiago Varela Belmont (Director at KardashevBTC and founder of La Casa de Satoshi) about why Mexico’s pension system is structurally failing, and why Bitcoin matters for retirement.

This episode is based on Aureo’s first report: “Limitations of Mexico’s Retirement Savings System (SAR) and Savings Alternatives in Mexico.” Together, they break down the key reforms of 1997 and 2007, explaining why defined-benefit promises, demographics, and Mexico’s large informal economy make the system increasingly unsustainable. They also discuss how fiat debasement quietly erodes purchasing power over time, framing Bitcoin as a means of saving. They also discuss practical paths forward, from strengthening voluntary retirement savings to how responsible Bitcoin exposure could fit into diversified portfolios.

00:00 Welcome & episode intro
01:10 Santiago’s background (economics thesis on Mexico’s pension system)
04:55 A quick history of money & saving in Mexico
07:35 Mexico’s first pension programs (1940s) + how the system evolved
10:00 1997 reform: Afores, SAR, CONSAR & the shift to defined contribution
12:30 2007 reform: expanding benefits + long-term sustainability risks
14:50 The real problem: fiat debasement vs. the financial illiteracy narrative
17:10 Why pensions are taking a growing share of Mexico’s budget
19:35 Demographics: fewer workers funding more retirees
22:00 Informality: nearly half of Mexico is excluded from the formal system
29:10 How Mexicans save today: real estate, stocks, businesses, gold
31:30 Bitcoin in a portfolio: diversification + Sharpe ratio logic
33:50 Explaining Bitcoin without sounding crazy: Savings technology.
38:50 Balancing state pensions vs. self-sovereign savings
41:10 Global examples: pension funds getting Bitcoin exposure
46:00 Scarcity: why Bitcoin is different
49:30 Community updates

We invite you to read the full report about the Mexican pensions system here (Available in English and Spanish):

aureobitcoin.com/en/blog/limitaciones-del-sistema-de-ahorro

Follow:

Maciej on X: @CepnikMaciej
Aureo on X: @AureoBitcoin
Santiago on X: @santiagovare1a
La Casa de Satoshi on X: @LaCasaDeSatoshi
Inflation calculator: inflacionmexico.com
Buy and Sell Bitcoin in Mexico: aureobitcoin.com

This podcast is part of the Aureo Media Network.

In Episode 4 of the Bitcoin Latam Report, Maciej Cepnik interviews Ronny Avendaño, founder and CEO of the Bitcoin Hardware Store, in Mexico City at La Casa de Satoshi. Ronny shares his journey from Toronto to El Salvador, how meeting “real Bitcoiners” pushed him toward self-custody, and why he started the store after realizing how hard it was to get basic Bitcoin tools like a node.

They discuss what Bitcoin adoption actually looks like in El Salvador, the country’s major improvements in safety, the remaining infrastructure gaps, and how Bitcoin can help solve real problems. The episode also covers choosing Bitcoin-only open-source hardware, helping users move off exchanges, inheritance planning, and Ronny’s plan to expand the hardware store model across Latin America.

00:06 Ronny arrives in Mexico / La Casa de Satoshi
02:07 Moving to El Salvador
04:27 Origin of the Bitcoin Hardware Store
09:15 El Salvador then vs now: safety transformation
14:05 Using Bitcoin mining to solve infrastructure problems
16:31 Setting expectations: El Salvador isn’t Bitcoin heaven yet—advice for movers
26:14 Why a physical store works
30:59 Why El Zonte?
40:36 Hiring & training
45:30 Product selection criteria
50:20 Inheritance planning
55:47 Expansion plans
58:06 Next Locations of the Bitcoin Hardware Store

Show Notes

Follow Ronny on X: @ronnyavendano_

Follow The Bitcoin Hardware Store on X: @tbhs_sv

Follow Maciej Cepnik on X: @CepnikMaciej

Follow Aureo on X: @AureoBitcoin

In this third episode of the Bitcoin Latam Podcast, Maciej Cepnik sits down with Rudy Gallardo (@bullishguate), a Guatemala-based Bitcoin community builder and entrepreneur who's organizing monthly meetups in Guatemala City. We unpack how Universidad Francisco Marroquín shaped Rudy’s Austrian-econ, liberty-first worldview, why adoption in Guatemala looks different (a relatively stable quetzal and a largely cash-based economy), and what’s happening at Bitcoin Lake near Lake Atitlán.

Rudy also shares what it’s like to build in a country with no clear Bitcoin regulations and how he’s using AI vibe coding to ship Bitcoin education tools, such as inflation calculators.

00:00 Introduction to Rudy “BullishGuate” Gallardo
00:22 From “Bitcoin is a scam” to going Bitcoin-only
03:43 UFM, Austrian economics, and a liberty-first education
07:05 Bitcoin at UFM
09:41 Building Guatemala’s Bitcoin meetups
10:13 Guatemala’s stable quetzal and the real education challenge
18:27 The next step: a physical Bitcoin hub + coworking space
20:21 What a circular economy is + the story of Bitcoin Lake
31:06 Serving cash-based communities and the unbanked opportunity
36:42 Launching an OTC desk + navigating compliance without clear regulations
41:40 AI + vibe coding for Bitcoin education
54:22 What Rudy’s bullish on for 2026

Show Notes:

✅ Follow Rudy on X: @bullishguate
✅ Follow Rudy on Instagram: @bullishgt
✅ Tools mentioned for vibe coding: Replit + Lovable
✅ Instagram (Rudy): instagram.com/bullishgt/
✅ Inflación Guatemala: inflacionguatemala.com/
✅ Inflación México: inflacionmexico.com/en
✅ Bitcoin Lake hub: https://bitcoinconfederation.org/hub/bitcoin-lake-guatemala/

In this second episode of the Latam Bitcoin Report, Maciej Cepnik sits down with Hugo “Don Chambitas” Hernández, a veteran tech recruiter who built a brand around open-salary job posts and now runs a recruitment agency matching LatAm developers with US companies. We dig into what actually gets you hired remotely, how AI is reshaping junior roles, and Hugo’s path into México’s Bitcoin scene, especially Mérida’s community, and the upcoming Mayan Bitcoin Conference.

00:00 Introduction to Don Chambitas
07:15 The Evolution of Remote Work and Recruitment
12:37 Coaching and Supporting Developers
17:23 The Advantages and Disadvantages of Remote Work
22:15 The Importance of English Proficiency in Mexico
25:40 The Future of Remote Work and AI
30:26 Tips for Securing Remote Work
35:36 The Role of Open Source in Developer Visibility
37:59 Hugo's Journey into Bitcoin
44:01 The Bitcoin Community in Merida
51:39 Financial Education and Bitcoin Adoption

Show Notes:

✅ Follow Don Chambitas on X: x.com/DonChambitas
✅ Follow Aureo on X: x.com/AureoBitcoin
✅ Buy and Sell Bitcoin in Mexico: aureobitcoin.com
✅Buy a ticket for the Mayan Bitcoin conference:

Use AUREOBITCOIN for a 10% discount on your ticket.

https://live.eventtia.com/es/mayanbitcoinconference/tickets

In the inaugural episode of the Bitcoin Latam Report, Maciej Cepnik interviews Gustavo Flores, CEO of Aureo, discussing the evolving landscape of Bitcoin in Latin America. They explore Aureo's mission to promote Bitcoin as a savings technology, the challenges of custody solutions, security concerns for Bitcoin holders in the region, and the importance of building a developer community. The conversation also touches on navigating regulations in Latin America and the future of Bitcoin technology and services.

• 00:00 Introducing Gustavo
• 01:40 Aureo's Rebranding and Mission Shift
• 05:41 Building Trust and Reputation in Bitcoin Ventures
• 09:16 Security Challenges for Bitcoin Holders in Latin America
• 13:57 Financialization of Bitcoin: Opportunities and Challenges
• 17:45 Future of Bitcoin Technology and Development
• 22:20 Developing Bitcoin Talent in Mexico
• 25:26 Building Profitable Bitcoin Companies
• 27:57 The Evolution of Bitcoin in Mexico
• 30:14 Navigating Legal Challenges in Bitcoin
• 36:31 Aureo's Future Plans and Innovations
• 42:09 Cultural Reflections on Living in Mexico

This podcast is part of the Aureo Media Network.

Buy and Sell Bitcoin in Mexico with Aureobitcoin.com

Maciej Cepnik is the CMO at Aureo.