Help me pick a country to lobby

[teddy5145]

Maybe go for Third World Countries, they sure need a bitcoin adoption
I would Suggest my own country, Indonesia
I read an article said that Indonesia could be the place where bitcoin could grow
There are many people who doesn't know what Bitcoin is, and so far there is no law regarding acceptance nor regulations on Bitcoin
So Bitcoin in Indonesia is still grey in here

[HarryKPeters]

Third world countries are maybe easier, but it won't give bitcoin a higher reputation. The problem with bitcoin is it's anonimity.
For politicians it's easy to use country money to do fraudulent transactions etc. So maybe it's better to get some major company in and have them pay salaries i bitcon and/or accept bitconi payments on invoices..

[Oscoda]

South america or africa will give bitcoin a bad name, since those countries have on default quite a high corruption rate.
Go for a big country and you will reap good results.

[LiteCoinGuy]

I'm feeling secure in bitcoin's future here in the USA. But what about the rest of the world? Could I get anywhere with countries in Africa? Or what about places that have laws restricting bitcoin, Perhaps I could convince them to be more welcoming.
I'd like to take a diplomatic mission in 2016 with the goal of helping BTC adoption in a place that is struggling. I am not sure where I would be most effective though. Does anyone here have a suggestion of a country to visit? Perhaps you have contacts in your country that would help, or you are getting nowhere in your country and think something like this would help. What do you think?

List of suggestions:
Jamaica (tarsua) - Nice, a smaller more approachable government. Maybe a tourism tie-in? Thanks. 

North Korea if you have some balls.



 

[erre]

You can be a Nigerian prince!

[MarketNeutral]

The smaller and wealthier the nation, the better.

[RodeoX]

Thanks for all your input guys! Some good stuff to consider in these posts. I have been away for a couple weeks, but I see things have been moving here.
After some consideration I am going for a harder target, Iceland.

Iceland has a big advantage in terms of mining. Very cheep energy and cold weather could help Iceland to become a global center for mining. However the government there is quite shy about international finance. The 2008 market collapse was a disaster for their economy and they passed a bunch of laws that make it unfriendly to bitcoin.

I'll be in Reykjavík at the end of this summer and my plan is to show tour operators how bitcoin could benefit them. I also plan to meet with someone from the finance ministry and present any findings to them.

[AtheistAKASaneBrain]

There are a bunch of impoverished countries that would make great progress with Bitcoin, for example Venezuela is under insane amounts of devaluation, their local currency is worth nothing, anyone living in the first world (USA or Europe) can live like a millionaire on there, of course, have fun dealing with the high amount of criminal activity.
I don't see a clear way to introduce Bitcoin there... but definitely it would help.

[franky1]

Thanks for all your input guys! Some good stuff to consider in these posts. I have been away for a couple weeks, but I see things have been moving here.
After some consideration I am going for a harder target, Iceland.

Iceland has a big advantage in terms of mining. Very cheep energy and cold weather could help Iceland to become a global center for mining. However the government there is quite shy about international finance. The 2008 market collapse was a disaster for their economy and they passed a bunch of laws that make it unfriendly to bitcoin.

I'll be in Reykjavík at the end of this summer and my plan is to show tour operators how bitcoin could benefit them. I also plan to meet with someone from the finance ministry and present any findings to them.

iceland is already very bitcoin mining heavy. its not as negative as you may think
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDK90WWh8Ck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A-mcSOGolM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5A8E7yMt2E
(i could keep going but google has the answers)

atleast you will meet lots of people already doing it, but it seems your not bringing anything new to that country in regards to mining.. but maybe just trying to lobby retailer acceptance should be your concentration instead of mining.

[HarryKPeters]

There are a bunch of impoverished countries that would make great progress with Bitcoin, for example Venezuela is under insane amounts of devaluation, their local currency is worth nothing, anyone living in the first world (USA or Europe) can live like a millionaire on there, of course, have fun dealing with the high amount of criminal activity.
I don't see a clear way to introduce Bitcoin there... but definitely it would help.

Such a country would be a great testcase.
A west European country or the USA will be too hard, but such countries which have a good name, could be the perfect example.

[RodeoX]

Thanks for all your input guys! Some good stuff to consider in these posts. I have been away for a couple weeks, but I see things have been moving here.
After some consideration I am going for a harder target, Iceland.

Iceland has a big advantage in terms of mining. Very cheep energy and cold weather could help Iceland to become a global center for mining. However the government there is quite shy about international finance. The 2008 market collapse was a disaster for their economy and they passed a bunch of laws that make it unfriendly to bitcoin.

I'll be in Reykjavík at the end of this summer and my plan is to show tour operators how bitcoin could benefit them. I also plan to meet with someone from the finance ministry and present any findings to them.

iceland is already very bitcoin mining heavy. its not as negative as you may think
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDK90WWh8Ck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A-mcSOGolM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5A8E7yMt2E
(i could keep going but google has the answers)

atleast you will meet lots of people already doing it, but it seems your not bringing anything new to that country in regards to mining.. but maybe just trying to lobby retailer acceptance should be your concentration instead of mining.

I think you are spot on Franky. I was only leading with mining because they are uniquely positioned to be a dominant force in that space. And what country of 300k does not want to be a world leader at something?
As you point out, the real battle is retail. That is especially true for a small country with it's own currency. Icelandic Króna are useless outside of Iceland. It would be great to use bitcoin or have an ATM at the airport for dumping Króna on the way out. Otherwise you are inevitably stuck with $20 worth of monopoly money.
Iceland is working hard right now to develop their tourist industry. I'm going to try showing them the advantages of allowing tourist to pay with BTC. In the mean time I have a lot to learn about Iceland, it is a weird place. 

[franky1]

I think you are spot on Franky. I was only leading with mining because they are uniquely positioned to be a dominant force in that space. And what country of 300k does not want to be a world leader at something?
As you point out, the real battle is retail. That is especially true for a small country with it's own currency. Icelandic Króna are useless outside of Iceland. It would be great to use bitcoin or have an ATM at the airport for dumping Króna on the way out. Otherwise you are inevitably stuck with $20 worth of monopoly money.
Iceland is working hard right now to develop their tourist industry. I'm going to try showing them the advantages of allowing tourist to pay with BTC. In the mean time I have a lot to learn about Iceland, it is a weird place.  

yea stick away from the mining side when you arrive. as thats like trying to talk strangers into investing $200million into these weird boxes that together suck up more electric then a town to create a currency they have never used..

instead its easier and cheaper to get a few bars, hotels and restaurants accepting it..
if you get that..
.. then you can show them the mining side.. but not before that.

so yea concentrate on the retail side and the remittance (bitcoin atm at airports/hotels) and show people that its a real currency. then they will throw $200mill at mining rigs without a headache or lobbying

[countryfree]

Iceland might a smart choice. Just tell the people BTC isn't linked to any government, that should please many out there. Some lost a fortune after the 2008 crisis, their whole life savings which were in the bank just vanished, with the government the only one to blame. So don't think about lobbying the government, convince the people!

[btcprospecter]

Good idea I agree Iceland would be a good country to try to lobby. Alot of people commenting on this thread have hit the nail on the head with this one

[OROBTC]

...

RodeoX, I agree re Iceland.  Also agree with above comments to try to spread BTC at the retail level.

Last I checked at our local Starbucks, they still do not accept BTC.

iCEBREAKER's suggestion of a "hawala" country is good too.  But, my guess is that you would need to know the language pretty well to make progress.  And those places are dangerous.

China & India?  Mmm, only of you are very comfortable in its/their culture(s)...

I saw good cases made for Mexico and Brazil, yeah, maybe so, but again the language.  Argentina as well, there is a very active group there.  FORGET Peru (the country I know best other than the USA), no one knows about it nor cares about it (there are no capital or currency controls in Peru).

My opinions only.

[Rizky Aditya]

you should try Jamaica, no-one knows about the coin here and i think it would be nice if we had a larger local community

It would be very nice to have some Jamaican Bitcoin users. But I just don't see this ever happening. If some people in the U.S.A don't want to use it, what makes you think Jamaicans will want to use it.

[robelneo]

Philippines iS a great market to tap you should take a second look at it they could be the first asian that embrace bitcoin potential we have a large lending company here and they only use bitcoin and that community is 100k and still growing if you succeed you can make Philippines a good example but you will have a hard time as many politicians and bankers are oppose to it 

[franky1]

Philippines iS a great market to tap you should take a second look at it they could be the first asian that embrace bitcoin potential we have a large lending company here and they only use bitcoin and that community is 100k and still growing if you succeed you can make Philippines a good example but you will have a hard time as many politicians and bankers are oppose to it 

by saying you already have a large community, means that it needs no support as those in the community can do their part.
EG 100k people talking is better than rodeox, just one man.

i think places that do not even have any bitcoin retail presence at all should be the go-to place

[n2004al]

I'm feeling secure in bitcoin's future here in the USA. But what about the rest of the world? Could I get anywhere with countries in Africa? Or what about places that have laws restricting bitcoin, Perhaps I could convince them to be more welcoming.
I'd like to take a diplomatic mission in 2016 with the goal of helping BTC adoption in a place that is struggling. I am not sure where I would be most effective though. Does anyone here have a suggestion of a country to visit? Perhaps you have contacts in your country that would help, or you are getting nowhere in your country and think something like this would help. What do you think?

EDIT: Going to Iceland!  

Good to hear about such initiatives that make me feel good. I am a convinced follower of bitcoin but never able to do such things. First of all because I cannot understand how must act if I would do such kind of things. I must go to the streets and stop various people on the road to speak those about bitcoin? Don't seems to much effective. To try to go on their televisions and radio stations to speak about bitcoin? The best way to use but who can be able to open their doors for me. To speak with some friend found here in bitcointalk? Why me can do more than him in his country? Why me is best than him? So, to conclude: I would like to read from the OP the way chosen by him to realize its aim when will arrive in the country chosen by him (the Island for example). I'm curious to know what I wrote in order to do the same thing in my county when bitcoin has a very few spread.

[Windpower]

Mexico or Brazil.
Maybe Brazil because they are bigger and have more money, for now

Brazil is already into Bitcoin. There is another thread about this already. They are ahead of the game.