In the diverse and vibrant landscape of Peru, Bitcoin is gaining traction not through corporate backing or directives from above, but through community-driven initiatives that seek to empower underserved and unbanked populations. A prominent example of this movement is Motiv Peru, a non-profit organization co-founded by Rich Swisher and Valentin Popescu. Motiv Peru has dedicated itself to helping communities utilize Bitcoin for daily necessities, education, and local commerce. What initially began as a shoe donation program in 2019 has expanded into a network active in around ten regions, including Lima, Cusco, and Huanchaco, and has satellite initiatives in Tarapoto and Iquitos, serving over 750 families each week.
The organization operates with a team of 50, complemented by volunteers, and has established Bitcoin as a viable tool for long-term empowerment rather than a means of temporary relief. Their approach has driven significant social impact and created Bitcoin circular economies, aligning with the early Bitcoin ideals of “banking the unbanked.”
The roots of Bitcoin in Peru are historical, with one of the earliest known transactions involving Peruvian alpaca socks in 2011, when merchants like Grass Hill Alpacas accepted Bitcoin for textiles. By 2025, the landscape had expanded swiftly, with Chainalysis data indicating Peru handling approximately $28 billion in cryptocurrency transactions, primarily fueled by remittances and access to smartphones.
The story of Motiv Peru originated during a playground construction project in a remote village in Cusco, where Swisher and Popescu encountered Jonathan, a young orphan in desperate need. Their initial effort to provide clothing for Jonathan turned into a broader initiative when they realized many other children faced similar hardships. This led to the creation of the Happy Steps program, focused on providing quality footwear essential for the children’s daily commutes to school.
In 2020, as COVID-19 devastated Peru, the organization pivoted to address the urgent needs created by the pandemic. Faced with challenges in fundraising for shoes, Swisher suggested leveraging Bitcoin donations to finance food supplies. What started as a daunting task soon transformed as they connected with local merchants willing to accept Bitcoin.
Motiv then took the initiative to educate merchants about Bitcoin’s utility, adopting a grassroots approach that emphasized practical use rather than lofty promises of wealth. This led to a significant increase in merchants accepting Bitcoin, evolving Motiv into an educational hub for financial literacy.
Today, Motiv Peru stands as a well-coordinated organization dedicated to Bitcoin education, hosting programs nearly every day across 15 locations and reaching a wide audience. Their community-focused events, including a Bitcoin soccer tournament and various educational fairs, have engaged over 6,000 people, with individual Bitcoin transactions totaling between 25,000 and 30,000. Through initiatives like these, Motiv Peru continues to cultivate financial sovereignty among its communities, proving that grassroots efforts can effect profound change in people’s lives through cryptocurrency.
