Bitcoin Core Developer Reports Near‑Zero Bitcoin Payments at El Salvador’s Bitcoin Beach

Bitcoin Core contributor Jon Atack, who has lived in El Zonte – known locally as Bitcoin Beach – since 2022, said his recent purchase was the first Bitcoin payment recorded there in an entire month. The observation highlights a sharp drop in everyday Bitcoin usage in a community once touted as a flagship adoption site.

First Bitcoin Payment in a Month

Atack recounted that after paying for his lunch, the vendor informed him it was the first Bitcoin transaction they had seen that month. He noted that previously the area saw many such payments, but now they are “practically non‑existent.”

Shift to Card Payments

When asked how most customers now pay, the vendor said almost everyone uses cards. Atack attempted to offer a tip in satoshis, but the vendor was unable to locate her Bitcoin app and declined, describing Bitcoin payments as “dead.”

Context and Reactions

Atack emphasized that his account is anecdotal but comes from a vendor with three years of experience in the zone. Reactions ranged from concern about an “economics problem” to skepticism, with some users reporting successful Bitcoin payments elsewhere in the region.

Broader Adoption Efforts

El Zonte is also the site of a pilot ATM network that dispenses 500‑satoshi “banknotes,” launched on 1 January 2026, indicating ongoing attempts to promote Bitcoin usage despite the reported decline.