Bitcoins serve as a sanctuary of freedom for Ernesto Quezada, transforming from civil war to digital independence.
Ernesto Quezada, a software developer from El Salvador, has embarked on an extraordinary journey with Bitcoin, viewing it as an architecture of freedom and a declaration of independence.
Born during the harshest years of the civil war in El Salvador, Quezada lived completely in Bitcoin, managing his finances without banks or fiat currency. This choice was a form of real empowerment for Quezada, as teaching others to use non-custodial wallets, understand the network's functioning, and operate without intermediaries became a central part of his life.
In 2021, El Salvador made Bitcoin a legal tender, turning the country into a global economic laboratory. The Chivo Wallet was created and Bitcoin ATMs were installed to facilitate the use of Bitcoin in El Salvador. Quezada actively participated in local communities that promoted financial education in Bitcoin and offered workshops in community centers, collaborating with initiatives aimed at teaching the use of non-custodial wallets to young people.
Despite the legal framework that recognizes Bitcoin as legal tender in El Salvador, fiat is still the operational norm in the state bureaucracy. This contrast between the digital currency and the traditional system was so natural for Quezada that he didn't even notice the difference compared to the bureaucratic processes of the state.
However, Quezada's journey with Bitcoin was not without its challenges. The transition from using Bitcoin to receiving a salary in dollars was mentally challenging. Spending satoshis, the smallest unit of Bitcoin, felt precious due to their potential future value. Quezada believes that if you can't win in Bitcoin, converting fiat to BTC at the first opportunity is crucial to protect one's mind from the system.
In 2025, Quezada left the institution "MINISTRIO DE TRANSPORTE E INFRAESTRUTURA" after having worked for a decade in a government agency. The Chivo Wallet project is now being dismantled, and accepting Bitcoin is now voluntary and exclusive to the private sector in El Salvador.
Despite these changes, Quezada views Bitcoin as an educational instrument and a vehicle for autonomy. For him, the true value of Bitcoin lies in its ability to resist censorship, decentralize power, and offer a functional alternative to those historically marginalized by the financial system. Quezada finds Bitcoin to be a powerful tool for freedom and empowerment, and he continues to advocate for its use and understanding in his community.
