El Salvador Visualizes Its Bitcoin City On A Volcano That Mines Crypto
Image via FR-EE
When you think of El Salvador, it’s probably not its sandy beaches that spring to mind. Nor might it be its busy nightlife.
Nay; if you’ve been in the loop, you might be thinking of the Bitcoin. The Central American country is the first nation to recognize Bitcoin as legal tender. It even plans to build a whole city dedicated to the Bitcoin, in which volcanoes will power cheap and renewable cryptocurrency mining. Dozens of volcanoes call El Salvador their home—so its government thought, why not give them something constructive to do?
On May 9, the country’s president Nayib Bukele unveiled scale models of the Bitcoin City being designed by architecture firm FR-EE and its founder Fernando Romero. The planned metropolis will lean on the Conchagua volcano along the Gulf of Fonseca.
#Bitcoin City is coming along beautifully â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/A6ay8aAREW
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) May 9, 2022
The city will be shaped like a coin, alluding to the cryptocurrency, as well as house a volcano-fueled geothermal power plant to mine Bitcoin.
Bukele additionally previewed visualizations of abstract landmarks and an airport which will form some of the city’s infrastructure. At its heart is a plaza depicting the Bitcoin symbol.
Landmarks and all… pic.twitter.com/PefwGp8yC6
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) May 9, 2022
And the airport 🥺 pic.twitter.com/FDXXS5o8bL
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) May 9, 2022
Though, it’s worth noting that Midas’ touch won’t help design the city. Instead of it being gold-plated as portrayed in the concepts, Bukele emphasized that Bitcoin City will be veiled in the colors of green and blue from an abundance of trees and the surrounding sea.
And no, the city won't be made up of golden metal; that is just the architect's choice of color for the scale model.
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) May 10, 2022
The actual city will be mostly green (trees) and blue (sea) 🤩
Some of the views: pic.twitter.com/oKeg9K408j
Trees everywhere 😠pic.twitter.com/kVUDHx2DlC
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) May 10, 2022
Bitcoin City is being envisioned as a full-fledged city with residential and commercial facilities, and its own transportation network—which means citizens and visitors will feel the full force of a metropolis under their feet. Luckily, they’ll be able to climb up to a levitating vantage point at the peak of the volcano and absorb gorgeous views of green and blue.
With a beautiful lookout in the volcano 🥺 pic.twitter.com/mlkQ19k5AH
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) May 10, 2022
The proposed city is being funded by a US$1 billion Bitcoin bond, half of which will finance its infrastructure. The remainder will be set aside to purchase more Bitcoin.
#Bitcoin City at night. pic.twitter.com/n6RXn9BkU0
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) May 10, 2022
