UPDATE: 9 September 2024
https:// x.com/BitcoinEkasi/status/1833157731899105412
The local municipality's legal department has informed us that a formal proposal is being drafted for submission to the town council, for voting, possibly as early as end of September 2024.
Read the full update: https://x.com/BitcoinEkasi/status/1833157731899105412
UPDATE: 7 April 2025
htps:// x.com/BitcoinEkasi/status/1833157731899105412
The Mossel Bay Town Council voted in favour of approving the alienation of land for the purpose of building our new Ekasi Center. However, the not-so-good-news is that the price is way too high. And it's a lengthy process to contest the price.
Read the full update: https://x.com/BitcoinEkasi/status/1909276255876472913
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This donation page is made possible by Voltage! Run a node and support our efforts by opening a channel with us!
In
August 2021, we set out to create a Bitcoin circular economy in a South
African township, using a well-established community platform in The Surfer Kids Non-Profit, and we've made significant progress toward that goal.
We've continued on-boarding shops in the township, where
our staff of surf coaches, teachers, lifeguards and project leaders spend their salaries, all paid 100% in Bitcoin only. As of April 2025 we pay 22 weekly salaries, 10 full-time and 12 part-time.
The scope of the project has grown significantly and as of April 2025 our best estimates of the numbers are as follows:
DAILY interaction with Bitcoin:
22 - Staff
30 - Staff Dependents
75 - Business Owners Business
112 - Business Owners Dependents
WEEKLY Interaction with Bitcoin:
126 - Painted Shack Residents
20 - Thrift Shop Customers
MONTHLY Interaction with Bitcoin:
50 - Children Earning Rewards
20 - Local Primary School Staff Members
20 - Other (People attending movie nights, meetups, purchasing sats, etc., etc.)
Nearly 500 people are USING Bitcoin.
Watch "The Bitcoin Ekasi Story" for a deeper understanding:
Throughout 2022, 2023 and 2024 there's been too many highlights to name them all, but the release of Lekker Feeling, which led to a very successful fundraiser, and the renovations of The Surfer Kids' HQ, at Diaz Beach, were right up there!
And, of course, Adopting Bitcoin Cape Town in 2024 and again in 2025!
And as part of the conference's core organizing team, alongside the conference host, Machankura, and the original Adopting Bitcoin brand, we're fully committed to bringing South Africa's only Bitcoin-only conference back to the mother city in 2026!
Another major highlight was the construction of the Bitcoin Bowl!
Now fully open to the general public, this project raised the profile of our organization and has helped countless people ponder the existence of Bitcoin. For many people, including the local Mayor of Mossel Bay, the Bitcoin Bowl has served as a first touch-point with freedom money.
With the completion of this major construction project in July 2024 we set our goals on something bigger:
Construction of a new Ekasi Center.
Modeled after places like Bitcoin Park (Nashville) this center will become a new hub for Bitcoin education, collaboration and community building. A place where both local, international, newbies and seasoned Bitcoiners can find the support they need and share their own experience, helping one another navigate the tumultuous transition to a global Bitcoin standard.
The highlighted piece of land is located in the heart of the township and has an incredible 180 degree view of the Indian Ocean.
The land belongs to the local government (Mossel Bay Municipality) with whom we have a longstanding (10-year) relationship, thanks to The Surfer Kids' proof of work. As of April 2025 we have obtained formal approval to go ahead with development.
See latest update: https://x.com/BitcoinEkasi/status/1909276255876472913
This new center has been a long time coming.
Community Bitcoin education is an absolute necessity to ground this
project with a solid foundation. Thus, in October 2022, we opened our first Ekasi Center, but we always knew that it'd be a temporary solution until we found the right location to build something permanent.
This new center is that permanent solution. Once completed the property will be fully owned by Bitcoin Ekasi & The Surfer Kids and can be used as a hub to further drive the adoption of Bitcoin, with in the local community, South Africa, Africa and the rest of the world.
Considering the location it will no doubt be one of the best places to host a Bitcoin event and we look forward to hosting many fantastic events here!
1 BTC
Donate 1 BTC and get an entire outside wall at the new Ekasi Center, to decorate with a custom design of your choice. Your input in the design will be welcomed but will be subject to applicable constraints. Names & company logos may be added, within reasonable bounds.
10 million sats
Donate 10 million sats and have your name (or a company/organization name) individually engraved on a 300mm x 500mm stainless steel plate, along with a personal Bitcoin-related message of inspiration & hope, mounted on an internal wall at the new Ekasi Center.
1 million sats
Donate 10 million sats and have your name (or a company/organization name) individually engraved on a 150mm x 200mm stainless steel plate, mounted on an internal wall at the new Ekasi Center.
100k sats
Donate 100k sats and have your name engraved on a commemorative plaque, alongside the names of other donors, mounted on an internal wall at the new Ekasi Center.
10k sats
Donate 10k sats and have your name listed on a dedicated supporters page on our website.
How to qualify your Donation
Any donation made on or after 1 January 2024 qualifies. Donations will not automatically qualify for the above. To qualify your donation for the above please send an email with the date, amount (in sats), a screenshot, and a Txid (in the case of on-chain payments) to:
hermann@bitcoinekasi.com 
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