José Luis Garcia, the CEO of Lightning Koffee, launched his coffee startup in October with the goal of introducing Medellín businesses to Bitcoin. His coffee beans, known as “The Bitcoiners Coffee,” are locally sourced and processed and have a sweet after-taste. Garcia believes that his Colombian coffee can help reduce reliance on the unpredictable Colombian peso and promote the adoption of Bitcoin. Currently, Lightning Koffee accepts cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin but plans to start accepting fiat payments through Mastercard and Visa in the future. The company joins other Medellín businesses that are integrating crypto and consumables, such as Mind Cafe, which accepts Bitcoin and Lightning payments and offers a metaverse-themed environment for customers. Garcia is part of a group of local Bitcoiners working to promote Bitcoin’s circular economy in the city. However, there is still a knowledge gap among Colombians about Bitcoin’s potential as a financial tool, and many still view it as a means to get rich quickly. This has limited the expansion of Bitcoin’s circular economy in Medellín, with only a few places accepting Bitcoin as payment. Despite this, there are signs of growth in Bitcoin and Lightning development in the city, which could increase Bitcoin spending in the area. To further promote Bitcoin adoption, Kumuly suggests the need for local Bitcoin-only tech companies that build Bitcoin products for the people and merchants of Medellín/Colombia.
