A snack paid for with my BCH

A few days ago, I was asking myself the question. Should I hold or spend my BCH? This is definitely a trick question. At first glance, I would quickly say Hold. The price of BCH now is inviting to accumulate more. I have my personal goal of accumulating 1 BCH with my earnings on Noise.cash. And I hadn't thought of spending my BCH sats until I've met my goal. But then also a few days ago, I read an article by @D.B.Cooper that set my alarms. You can read it here. In it, he recalls a bit of the history of BTC and calls not to let the same happen with BCH. I won't give you the details because I know that everyone will read his article. But I hook with a phrase that I quote below

"Focus on usage guys, if you get the opportunity to spend then spend, post about spending not investing".

When I started using cryptocurrencies, I remember BTC promised what BCH promises today, as D.B. Cooper recalled in his article. I started in 2015, in those years the money management situation in Venezuela was very difficult. Exchange control made people look for a way to protect what they had. Most looked for haven in the dollar. But some saw a light in BTC, which not only promised to be a safeguard of value. But also a way to avoid controls and allow to move and use money without imposed regulations.

The first time I paid with cryptocurrencies, I felt happy and powerful. On that occasion, it was with Dash. But also on some others, I used BTC. Today, that is impossible with BTC. The BCH can make a big difference in the economies of countries under control like the ones that Venezuela has experienced.

Today, our currency is still devalued. But nowadays, dollars circulate freely in the economy. Even so, cryptocurrencies have gained a space that they maintain. And there are still new opportunities. In a country where the local currency's higher value banknote is 1 million BsF, and that is the equivalent of approximately US $ 0.28 today. But tomorrow as a result of the constant devaluation of our currency, we are sure that it will be worth less. Imagine the number of banknotes a person would need to pay for something worth 50 dollars. Not to mention, that cash is scarce. In addition, a percentage of the population is unbanked. So the opportunities are huge for Bitcoin Cash in this country.

And while I'm not going to give up my goal of accumulating 1 BCH with my Noise earnings. I'm also going to make it a point to use BCH to pay whenever I can and do my bit in adoption.

So today, I decided to use some fiat I had on my Uphold account and convert it to BCH to start my mission. The first thing I did was consult the map of Bitcoin.com. I'd already done this in the past. But this time, I took the job of looking for a place nearby to spend my BCH more seriously. According to the map, in Venezuela, there are more than 600 spots that accept Bitcoin Cash. And in Caracas and its surroundings 572. That is to say, for now, most of the businesses that accept Bitcoin Cash in Venezuela are concentrated in the capital region.

So I did my homework and found the place where I would use my BCHs for the first time. And yesterday, after the driving lessons I've been giving my son these days. I went to accomplish my mission.

A snack paid for with my BCH

The place I chose is a bakery located in a neighborhood called Los Palos Grandes. Upon entering, my vision went directly to the cashier looking for the much-desired logo of the BCH. And voila, there it was waiting for me. Immediately, under the slightly embarrassed look of my son, I began to take photos. The cashier also looked at me with a face of I don't understand anything.

We went to the counter to order a couple of coffees (dos marrones ;) ) and sweets. And then I went to the cashier to pay for the order.

I told the cashier that I wanted to pay with BCH, and she looked at me a little incredulous. Loudly, she asked the manager if that Bitcoin worked, and he said yes. So she gave me the amount I had to pay in dollars, and the manager came over curious to see how I made the payment.

I scanned the QR code, dialed in the dollar amount, and voila.

I paid for my snack of the day with BCH that easily.

By judging the incredulous face of the cashier, who was hallucinating because I wanted to pay that way, and also seeing me took photos like a possessed. Probably, I was the first customer to pay at that bakery with BCH. But the truth is that I had never entered that bakery before. Although, I'd been in the area many times. And today, they gained a new customer for when I find myself in that neighborhood.

My son still can't forgive me for putting him through the embarrassment of taking all the photos at the bakery. I told him to get used to it because from now on, I'll be looking for more opportunities like this to pay with BCH.

A curious fact to finish

The sweets that my son and I had for a snack today are common in the bakeries here.

They are puff pastry in the shape of an elongated biscuit filled with whipped cream and covered with chocolate and glazed sugar. But the funny thing is they are called Lenguas de Suegra (Mother-in-law's Tongues). If you ask me why. I don't know. I've asked that question many times, and no one seems to know why. But I thought it was something curious to share. If you can think of a reason that explains that name, leave a comment. Maybe we can find an explanation for this enigma. Who knows?

This is all for now, my dear readers. Thank you very much if you have come this far. And remember focus on usage.

To all my wonderful sponsors, thank you all! But especially, I want to thank @HappyBoy, who recently renewed my sponsorship. And @ARTicLEE for the increase in the amount of my sponsorship. You guys rock!

All images are mine.

Until next time. :)

July 16, 2021