Protesters burn Bitcoin ATM as part of protest against President of El Salvador

by



[ad_1]

Bitcoin critics and those protesting against the policies of El Savador President Nayib Bukele have destroyed a crypto kiosk in the nation’s capital.

Media Teleprensa and others posted videos on social media showing a Chivo-backed kiosk in San Salvador burning amid crowds of journalists and protesters on Wednesday. The Bitcoin Machine (BTC), one of several put in place by the Salvadoran government since its acceptance of cryptocurrency as legal tender in the country, could be seen disfigured by anti-BTC logos and a sign that read “La democracy is not for sale ”.

The mayor of San Salvador, Mario Durán noted town workers had withdrawn from the area after receiving threats, but were planning to return later this afternoon. At the time of publication, the damage appears to be limited to the Chivo machine in Plaza Gerardo Barrios in the center of the capital, but protesters are also believed to have burnt furniture from one of the shops in the square.

The Chivo kiosk – similar to a Bitcoin ATM – is one of some 200 in El Salvador, part of the government’s rollout to accept BTC as legal tender alongside the US dollar. President Bukele said he hoped crypto ATMs would end up being “all over” the country, but said no one would be forced to use Bitcoin.

Even before the Bitcoin law went into effect on September 7, El Salvador faced resistance to the seemingly sweeping legislation. Protesters calling themselves the Popular Resistance and Rebellion Bloc marched through the streets of the capital in July, while a group of retirees, veterans, disabled retirees and other workers formed their own demonstration the following month.

Related: Bitcoin detractors in El Salvador: Opposition groups rally as crypto law rolls out

On the same day the country’s Bitcoin law went into effect, the price of the crypto asset fell below $ 43,000, prompting Bukele to say he had “bought the drop” with the purchase. an additional 150 BTC. At the time of publication, the BTC price is $ 47,978, having increased by more than 3% in the last 24 hours.