British media personality and commentator Russell Brand has confirmed his participation as a speaker at El Salvador's 2025 Global Bitcoin Conference, scheduled for November 12–13, 2025, in San Salvador. The announcement, made by The Bitcoin Historian on social platform X, quickly went viral, highlighting the event's growing cultural significance.
El Salvador became the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021 under President Nayib Bukele, with the government investing $150 million in a national implementation that included the Chivo wallet, providing each citizen with $30 in Bitcoin to encourage adoption. Despite initial public resistance—with 68% of Salvadorans opposing the move—digital wallet usage has increased by 20% since rollout, and areas like El Zonte, known as "Bitcoin Beach," have evolved into crypto hubs attracting tourism and investment.
The conference, hosted by the Salvadoran government, is expected to draw over 1,500 attendees, with a higher turnout anticipated this year due to Brand's involvement. It will feature panels, workshops, and networking sessions focused on decentralization, digital economies, and Bitcoin's role in daily life. Brand, who has shifted his public profile to explore themes of power, censorship, and economic freedom through his popular podcast and YouTube channel with over 11 million subscribers, adds a new cultural dimension to the event, framing Bitcoin as a lifestyle and social movement rather than just a financial tool.
While Bitcoin adoption in remittances remains limited at 1.7% as of 2023, and the IMF has pressured El Salvador to reduce reliance on Bitcoin, Brand's appearance is poised to renew interest and position the country as a global epicenter for Bitcoin culture.
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