Cuba Bitcoin is Cuba's first Bitcoin-only community, based in La Habana. Co-founded in 2021 by Catry_a, Forte11, and Bitalion, the group promotes Bitcoin education, organizes meetups, and fosters open debate about the role of Bitcoin in one of the most economically restricted countries in the Western Hemisphere. The community's Telegram group was created on December 7, 2022, and the first in-person meetup took place in January 2023.
Overview
Operating in a country with severe capital controls, a dual-currency system, and limited access to the global financial system, Cuba Bitcoin addresses a population for whom financial sovereignty is not an abstract concept but a daily necessity. The community focuses exclusively on Bitcoin -- not cryptocurrency in general -- reflecting a conviction that Bitcoin's properties as censorship-resistant, permissionless money are uniquely suited to the Cuban context.
Cuba's monetary situation, with the Cuban peso suffering persistent devaluation and the embargo cutting the island off from most international payment networks, makes peer-to-peer Bitcoin transactions and the Lightning Network especially relevant. Cuba Bitcoin helps islanders navigate this reality through education and practical support.
The community is part of Cruzada21, a program organized by La Crypta and Veintiuno that provides Bitcoin infrastructure to Latin American communities.
Activities
Cuba Bitcoin organizes regular meetups in La Habana where participants discuss Bitcoin fundamentals, self-custody practices, and the practical challenges of using Bitcoin in Cuba's unique economic environment. The community also hosts open debate sessions encouraging critical thinking about money, sovereignty, and technology. Their work has inspired the creation of spin-off communities, including La IslaBTC on the Isle of Youth. The community is active in Havana, Sancti Spiritus, Las Tunas, and Nueva Gerona, with 30+ active members on Nostr and over 100 persons reached through its educational programs.
The community's professors -- BTCLNAT, Hhobbitt, and Jacalfonso -- lead a range of educational programs. Cuba Bitcoin has delivered four editions of the Mi Primer Bitcoin diplomado, with the first graduation in October 2023 producing 19 graduates. In March 2025 the community launched "Bitcoin Facil," a streamlined Bitcoin education course. Other programs include Trezor Academy and the Curso Basico Cubano de Bitcoin.
Cuba Bitcoin became the first Latin American country to host a Mostro P2P node -- a non-custodial peer-to-peer Bitcoin exchange running on Nostr and the Lightning Network.
Self-Hosted Infrastructure
The community runs its own Bitcoin infrastructure stack:
- LNbits -- lnbits.cubabitcoin.org
- BTCPay Server -- btcpay.cubabitcoin.org
- Cashu Mint -- mint.cubabitcoin.org (currently offline)
Tools Developed
Cuba Bitcoin has developed several open-source tools:
- LaChispa -- a mobile Bitcoin/Lightning wallet
- ElCaju -- an ecash wallet
- Kmbalache -- a Nostr-based peer-to-peer exchange
Significance
Building a Bitcoin community in Cuba presents challenges that few other communities face: unreliable internet, government surveillance, restricted financial infrastructure, and a population with limited access to smartphones and hardware. Cuba Bitcoin's persistence in this environment demonstrates the resilience of grassroots Bitcoin adoption and its relevance precisely where traditional financial systems fail most completely.