John Dennehy

What an inspiring day yesterday I attended the 5th nostr:nprofile1qqs0vzw43dp9x3v8drvm4udj326dld0ku6gdnxajwcxg8h36ssxragsprdmhxue69uhkzmrvv4ek7tngv93rxumfw3ax2m3wv3jj7qgewaehxw309akxjemgw3hxjmn8wfjkccte9e3k7mf0jzjm6m Bitcoin Educators Unconference, this one at nostr:nprofile1qqs9mus73mq3ug08kug2cltvj3p8gpawd85n5l70p59rach6cn7usjcpp4mhxue69uhkyunz9e5k7tcpzemhxue69uhk2er9dchxummnw3ezumrpdejz7mlnsyp in Nashville Wow Each Unconference is unique--for example, tons of interest in privacy & 501c3's yesterday, while at the previous Unconference, in El Salvador, the most popular topic was Circular Economies There is one thing they all have in common though. Every single time I leave more confident than ever that not only is a better world possible, but that it's already here if you know where to look

The full schedule for the rest of the day, including incorporating the popular pitches from this morning. nostr:nprofile1qqs0vzw43dp9x3v8drvm4udj326dld0ku6gdnxajwcxg8h36ssxragsprdmhxue69uhkzmrvv4ek7tngv93rxumfw3ax2m3wv3jj7qgewaehxw309akxjemgw3hxjmn8wfjkccte9e3k7mf0jzjm6m nostr:nprofile1qqs9mus73mq3ug08kug2cltvj3p8gpawd85n5l70p59rach6cn7usjcpp4mhxue69uhkyunz9e5k7tcpzemhxue69uhk2er9dchxummnw3ezumrpdejz7mlnsyp

Let's go!

In August nostr:nprofile1qqs0vzw43dp9x3v8drvm4udj326dld0ku6gdnxajwcxg8h36ssxragsprdmhxue69uhkzmrvv4ek7tngv93rxumfw3ax2m3wv3jj7qgewaehxw309akxjemgw3hxjmn8wfjkccte9e3k7mf0jzjm6m ran out of money Here’s an update on what has happened since: We took a step back and identified some core problems: communication & consequences. In response, and as part of a larger re-structuring, we created a more decentralized operations infrastructure with an emphasis on information sharing. We also created aggressive savings goals for the next 5 quarters (Q4 2024 and all of 2025) and mandated team wide penalties if we did not meet those goals. We knew it would be hard, but we wanted to turn a negative into a positive and make sure we were planning far into the future with sustainable raising and spending. We wanted to make sure we would never run out of funding again. I’m extremely happy to report that the team has been absolutely crushing it ever since. In Q4 we over-raised and put some away into savings. We had identified Q1 as perhaps the hardest quarter to raise in—and yet we were still we able to save. This is the communication part now—we plan to be as transparent as possible with fundraising, and that includes sharing our failures as well as our successes. We are now in the strongest financial position we have ever been in—and it’s thanks to YOU. Most of our funding is from individual donations. Follow the money. Always. We take ZERO funding from governments and regularly turn down corporate sponsors. This makes fundraising more difficult—but bitcoin education must be independent & impartial and we will never compromise that to make fundraising easier. We are not teaching WHAT to think, we are teaching HOW to think. We now have a runway to work with which helps us plan farther into the future, insulates us from dry stretches, and ensures our fierce independence. Shout out to the community for supporting us throughout this journey and proving that we can scale bitcoin education without compromising our independence. And shoutout to the entire nostr:nprofile1qqs0vzw43dp9x3v8drvm4udj326dld0ku6gdnxajwcxg8h36ssxragsprdmhxue69uhkzmrvv4ek7tngv93rxumfw3ax2m3wv3jj7qgewaehxw309akxjemgw3hxjmn8wfjkccte9e3k7mf0jzjm6m team. Each year we get a little better, but the current iteration in 2025 has really pushed the movement into a new realm. This team turned a negative into a positive, and consistently sees every challenge as an opportunity to build stronger, better and to recommit to the mission LFG!

On my to nostr:nprofile1qqs9mus73mq3ug08kug2cltvj3p8gpawd85n5l70p59rach6cn7usjcpp4mhxue69uhkyunz9e5k7tcpzemhxue69uhk2er9dchxummnw3ezumrpdejz7mlnsyp in Nashville! Thursday is the nostr:nprofile1qqs0vzw43dp9x3v8drvm4udj326dld0ku6gdnxajwcxg8h36ssxragsprdmhxue69uhkzmrvv4ek7tngv93rxumfw3ax2m3wv3jj7qgewaehxw309akxjemgw3hxjmn8wfjkccte9e3k7mf0jzjm6m educators unconference Gonna be a great week 🔥

Four days until the next Bitcoin Educators Unconference! This one will be in Nashville at nostr:nprofile1qqs9mus73mq3ug08kug2cltvj3p8gpawd85n5l70p59rach6cn7usjcpp4mhxue69uhkyunz9e5k7tcpzemhxue69uhk2er9dchxummnw3ezumrpdejz7mlnsyp This will be a decentralized conference where nothing is for sale and everything is given away. Come to learn & come to share how to be a better bitcoin educator

we are not free the walls to our cage are mostly transparent--unseen and untouched--but if you challenge the status quo you will find the edges of your cage

I 🧡 NY Back for the first time since moving to El Salvador in 2021, and it feels good :)

Today is the two-year anniversary of the Independent Bitcoin Educators Node Network On March 29th, 2023 nostr:nprofile1qqs0vzw43dp9x3v8drvm4udj326dld0ku6gdnxajwcxg8h36ssxragsprdmhxue69uhkzmrvv4ek7tngv93rxumfw3ax2m3wv3jj7qgewaehxw309akxjemgw3hxjmn8wfjkccte9e3k7mf0jzjm6m returned the countersigned MOUs to the very first 'nodes' In two short years that network has become self-governing and grown to include projects and educators in 39 nations! This has been a grand experiment to make real the phrase: we are more than the sum of our parts! Happy birthday! Here's to many more!

Good morning from El Salvador We are now in DAY 51 since the government rescinded Bitcoin as legal tender, at the request of the IMF (effective 30 April) It was obvious from the start that most people were unaware of how IMF loans work & why nations ask for them anyway. It was also obvious that the El Salvador govt had no interest in people learning about either--and when govt tells you to stop asking questions, is exactly when you should be asking questions It was an uphill battle that is now won There are lots of people asking these questions now Ironically, what did it for many Bitcoiners was @nayibbukele himself who addressed the concerns in a tweet--by calling anyone who questions him a 'whiner' lol. this is the head of a nation anyway, his immature projection of 'bitcoiners abandoning El Salvador' created a critical mass of people starting to look closer and realize things are not adding up that critical mass with many Salvadoreans was the saga that played out on facebook regarding Chivo Pets. In summary, the govt annouced they were closing Chivo Pets (likely related to the IMF agreement) and got lots of backlash from the local population. The president blamed Salvadoreans, saying they complained too much and thats why it was closing. A day later Chivo Pets was re-opened (it operated at a loss, subsidized by Chivo Wallet which now must be shut down or sold off. I suppose Chivo Pets will move to a new govt dept that can absorb the loss now) Let's pause a second and compare the two situations Both were prompted by the IMF loan, but in both instances rather than explain things openly and honestly the president blamed whoever was asking questions. And in both cases the president ended up calling more attention to the situation and has left more people pondering for themselves what is reality and what is just marketing There are tons of people who will support, without question, whatever this govt and pres does. But, the number of people who are thinking independently about what IMF loans are and why a govt would ask for one anyway is now MUCH higher then it was 51 short days ago I'll continue to ask questions. Always I'll continue to speak truth to power. Always This journey has been liberating and enlightening but at this point my orginal objectives have all been achieved This isn't the end. This is the beginning. Grassroots bitcoin education & adoption is more important than ever in El Salvador & beyond Step one is understanding the problem--how the IMF and govt work is advanced financial literacy Step two is building the solutions. Support everyone who is building toward an alternative future--one without institutions like the IMF nor unquestioning loyalty to any politician or govt

Fuck the IMF

I would rather fail at trying to change the world, than acquise to this one

Make the IMF irrelevant

Recent changes to Bitcoin policy in El Salvador... - Bitcoin is no longer legal tender (effective 30 April) - The govt can no longer accept Bitcoin as payment for anything (effective 30 April) - the govt can not 'accumulate' bitcoin in any way, this includes stopping any public mining (effective unknown) - the govt will have to dox all their bitcoin address and holdings (to the IMF for sure, unclear if this will be made public as well) - Chivo, the govt bitcoin app, will be wound down (by end of June) the reason? El Salvador is heavily in debt, which contrary to govt posturing, has INCREASED significantly in recent years and as a lender-of-last-resort the IMF was able to attach basically whatever conditions they wanted to the loan the future? Bitcoin never needed this govt or any other govt. It should be as clear as ever that if we want a better world, it is up to us to create it. Support independent & impartial bitcoin education

According to the IMF, El Salvador is still compliant with the loan agreement--which prohibits spending public money (buying) or resources (mining) to accumulate new Bitcoin Yet more Bitcoin is added every day to the public wallet I see two possibilities 1. The govt is transferring Bitcoin from their undisclosed (to the public, but disclosed to the IMF) wallets into their public one 2. Some private entity is donating to the public wallet--perhaps Tether In both possibilities El Salvador is trying to walk the tightrope of actually complying with the IMF but projecting an image of defiance & independence to the public I still think the best action would have been for President Bukeke to just talk directly & honestly with his nation Though, I'm an idealist who thinks we can reimagine our world and build a better one. For a politician trying to be popular in the present, marketing sometimes matters more than truth--which seems to be the conclusion he came to on this issue And, sadly, he is very likely correct in the assumption that the false viral message of defiance will spread much faster and farther than a complicated and nuanced truth

question authority. always. blindly trust authority. never.

Okay, the govt of El Salvador is directly contradicting itself regarding how Bitcoin policy will change as a result of a loan agreement with the IMF Let me show you. I brought receipts Yesterday the IMF released a detailed (111 page) document outlining the agreement and supporting documentation This includes a Letter of Intent (LOI) from, and signed by, the government of El Salvador dated Feb 11th. It outlines various financial reforms they intend to make as part of them asking for an IMF loan [screenshot1/ pages 68-69]. The El Salvador govt details the changes they are proposing, including the line "....as per agreement with the IMF, we will no longer accumulate new Bitcoins in our portfolio." [screenshot 2/ page77] Clear definitions of what is considered 'the public sector' as well as a mandate prohibiting ANY new bitcoin accumulation (except via seizure) is additionally outlined [screenshot3/ page89] That was released yesterday. Today, seemingly in response to Bitcoiners reading the agreement and pointing out various changes that were agreed upon, the president tweeted that Bitcoin accumulation is 'not stopping' [screenshot4] So, WTF is happening? The El Salvador govt is disagreeing with itself--simultaneously saying they will stop accumulating Bitcoin AND that it is 'not stopping' It's impossible for both to be true

The 111 page report the IMF released last night about it's recent loan agreement with El Salvador gives A LOT of details and clarity Not only will El Salvador have to stop buying Bitcoin, they will also have yo stop mining Bitcoin this is the first time I've seen the prohibition on public Bitcoin mining here

father son hiking ❤️ San Salvador volcano

Good morning from El Salvador We are now in DAY 31 since the government rescinded Bitcoin as legal tender, at the request of the IMF (effective 30 April) I’ve been posting a lot about the IMF deal and it’s mostly negative from the perspective of anyone who wants to only cheerlead Bitcoin or El Salvador I want to make a few things clear There are great things happening here and that will continue to happen regardless of this IMF deal. I’m happy to be here The changes I’ve seen first-hand since moving here in August 2021 (one month before the Bitcoin Law went into effect) have been incredible and mostly positive. It feels like history is being written in real time and Salvadorians are generally optimistic about the future—a rare thing in this modern world That is NOT a reason to be quiet when things begin to fall off track. That is a reason to speak up, which is exactly what I am doing and will continue to do If you care about the future of El Salvador, then you should be a critical observer of it and do your best to help it continue on a positive path. Pretending everything is perfect, all the time, does not help this nation nor does it help Bitcoin