From tuk tuks to COVID tests, YouTuber tests Bitcoin use cases across multiple countries

A YouTuber began a journey in September to see whether or not he might survive solely on Bitcoin as a way of cost whereas touring to 40 completely different countries.

Speaking to Cointelegraph on Monday, YouTuber Paco De La India — or “Paco from India” — mentioned although the unfold of omicron had considerably altered his unique journey plans, he was nonetheless stunned at how many individuals had accepted Bitcoin (BTC) in countries the place crypto was in a authorized or regulatory gray space. Beginning his journey within the Indian metropolis of Bengaluru, Paco offered his belongings in September 2021 and principally relied on BTC donations to fund his journey — which, to date, has taken him across India, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and Cambodia.

The YouTuber, who mentioned he most well-liked to use non-custodial wallets and Lightning for BTC transactions, initially deliberate to go to 40 countries for 10 days every, however COVID restrictions had considerably altered his itinerary. Paco is working round obligatory quarantines, the necessities of many countries that vacationers keep inside their borders for at the least 14 days, and the extra prices for polymerase chain response, or PCR, tests.

Paco, talking from Siem Reap, Cambodia

According to Paco, two individuals conducting his COVID check in India for journey to the UAE accepted BTC in lieu of fiat rupees with out hesitation. In addition, he was in a position to negotiate with check takers in Thailand for a PCR check to journey to Cambodia. The YouTuber attributed a part of the explanation behind the acceptance of crypto funds to officers extra involved with verifying vaccine certificates than COVID tests.

“At the tip of the day, it’s a chunk of paper,” mentioned Paco. “It’s only a piece of paper [for] which [there] isn’t any method attainable to confirm. The solely factor that they’re checking proper now could be the vaccine, due to the QR code.”

Related: Cryptocurrency Adoption: How Can Crypto Change the Travel Industry?

Though many countries have introduced plans to confirm the authenticity of COVID-19 check outcomes utilizing blockchain know-how, there doesn’t appear to be a world customary for immigration officers to acknowledge tests carried out in overseas nations. For instance, vacationers flying to the United States are required to full a fast COVID check inside 24 hours of arrival, however not all well being passport apps really useful by U.S. airways can acknowledge theQR codes supplied by overseas testing facilities.

In addition to COVID tests, Paco mentioned he had been in a position to survive on Bitcoin as a technique of cost usually by sheer probability, by no means forcing crypto on an unsuspecting occasion and stunned at what number of random distributors have been open to it. According to the YouTuber, he had been pressured to keep away from most public transportation in these 4 countries and use his debit card to gas his bike, however was connecting with extra individuals on the bottom.

“Thailand is tremendous crypto-friendly,” mentioned Paco. “Cambodia is one other [super friendly] place. UAE, it seems to be like that however I really feel it’s simply between the richest individuals.”

He added:

“I’ve modified my method quite a bit. I’ve gone extra from speaking to the outdated individuals who have already lived their life to discovering younger people who find themselves actually tech-savvy […] They’re actually inquisitive about [Bitcoin]. It’s at all times: They need to earn cash. Everyone simply seems to be at Bitcoin as getting cash.”