Imagine you’re 40 years old. You’ve worked hard for the last 20 years, built a business, maybe even sold it, and now you’ve got at least 100 million shillings to your name.

You’re ready to retire and travel the world with your family. You’ve done your part. It’s time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

But here’s the challenge: how do you carry that money with you across the world for the next 40 years in a way that’s safe, convenient, and retains its value?

The Four Most Common Options

1. Gold

Gold has always stood the test of time. For centuries, it’s been the standard for measuring value. So you might think, “Why not save in gold and use it to move around the world?”

But imagine having to carry 7 kilograms of gold everywhere you go. You’re not going to feel secure leaving it in your hotel room, so you’ll probably have to walk around with it. And when it comes to paying for things, how are you going to use gold to buy something worth ten dollars? It’s impractical.

On top of that, there’s the issue of safety at checkpoints or borders. Gold is simply not an efficient way to store or move your wealth globally.

2. US Dollar Bills

Next up: $100 bills. I chose dollars because they’re widely accepted and powerful due to the influence of the United States. If you decide to store your 100 million shillings in $100 bills, that’s roughly $775,000, about 7.74 kilograms of paper money.

Again, you’re carrying serious weight around. Walking anywhere with that kind of money is risky. People will notice, and you become a target.

And even if you manage the safety issue, what happens when you visit countries that don’t accept the US dollar? You’ll have to exchange it for the local currency, like Kenyan shillings or Lesotho’s currency, and that comes with conversion fees.

Worse still, over 40 years, the US dollar will lose value due to inflation. Just like every fiat currency, its purchasing power will erode over time.

3. International Bank Accounts

Then there are international financial channels like PayPal, Skrill, or even credit/debit cards tied to banks like Barclays. These can help you transact globally. But again, they come with issues.

For starters, you’re charged a fee just to keep your money there. Every transaction incurs charges, sometimes minor, but when you’re crossing borders or dealing with multiple banks, it adds up.

There’s also the headache of constantly converting currencies when you travel. If you’re in Kenya, you’ll need Kenyan shillings. In Lesotho, it’s something else. And exchange bureaus or banks always charge a premium. And, just like holding dollars, your banked money, if pegged to fiat, will lose value over the years due to inflation.

The Better Option: Bitcoin

Thankfully, there’s Bitcoin. And Bitcoin changes the game.

Bitcoin allows you to save your entire fortune in something as small as a Ledger wallet, smaller than your phone. You can walk around with it, and no one will ever know you’re carrying millions. That removes the weight, the fear, and the visibility issue.

 And if you prefer not to carry the hardware wallet, you can keep part of your money in online wallets like Wallet of Satoshi, Muun Wallet, or Phoenix. That’s for daily spending, while your bulk savings remain secure offline.

Bitcoin also eliminates most transaction fees. Thanks to the Lightning Network, you can make micro-payments of $1 or even less and only pay the equivalent of 1 Kenyan shilling or less in fees. And it doesn’t stop there; whether you’re transacting a small amount or sending a million shillings, the cost stays minimal.

What makes Bitcoin truly powerful is that one Bitcoin is one Bitcoin everywhere. Whether you’re in El Salvador or Kenya, the value and identity of Bitcoin remain the same. And even if you need to convert it, innovations like Tando in Kenya make it easy to offload your Bitcoin directly into M-Pesa.

Most importantly, Bitcoin holds its value. Since its inception in 2009, despite volatility, the general trend has been up. Something worth thousands of Bitcoins in 2010 can’t even fetch one Bitcoin today. Bitcoin preserves wealth; it’s a long-term savings vehicle that could potentially grow your wealth, not shrink it.

Real-World Proof That Bitcoin Is Global

You might think this is all theory. But it’s not. Let me give you some real examples.

African Bitcoin Conference 2025 2024

During the African Bitcoin Conference in Nairobi in 2024, thousands of people from around the world came to Kenya. People from the US, from across Africa, and even high-profile names like Jack Dorsey.

And none of them needed to convert their foreign currency into Kenyan shillings. Why? Because they had Bitcoin. And because we have Tando.

With Tando, they could convert Bitcoin into Kenyan shillings on the spot and send it directly to M-Pesa. That meant they could eat at restaurants, pay for services, and live in Kenya with no friction.

If they would have decided to stay in Kenya for 12 years more months, they’d be just fine, no need for exchange bureaus.

And this kind of innovation isn’t just happening in Kenya. Every week, new Bitcoin payment solutions are launching across the world.

Platforms like Bitnob operate in countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Benin, and Togo. If you’re in any of these places, you can buy, sell, and offload Bitcoin easily.

In Tanzania, there’s ChapSmart, a service that allows people to receive remittances via Bitcoin. The sender buys Bitcoin and sends it to ChapSmart, which converts it into Tanzanian shillings and deposits it into the receiver’s account. 

Bitcoin is not a theory anymore. It’s real, and it’s happening now.

Stories of People Living on Bitcoin

Let me share a few people who have proven this is possible.

1. Paco de la India

This guy created a challenge to travel to 40 countries in 400 days using only Bitcoin. He paid for everything, from food to taxis to even duplicating keys, using Bitcoin. It’s a story that shows Bitcoin is not just global, it’s usable.

2. The Bitcoin Family (The Taihuttus)

This Dutch family sold everything, bought Bitcoin, and hit the road. They now live a minimalist lifestyle, moving from country to country with nothing but Bitcoin. They believe in its future and are building their life around it. And the best part? Their Bitcoin has appreciated far beyond what they sold to acquire it.

3. Joe Nakamoto

Joe Nakamoto is a journalist and content creator producing street-level reports and documentaries on Bitcoin adoption. He’s been to over 40 countries, showing how Bitcoin is helping real people in real situations.

I even met him here in Kenya during the ABC conference in 2025 2024. His work proves that Bitcoin is solving problems across borders.

Bitcoin Is the Real Global Currency

So what does all this tell you?

Bitcoin is global money. It works everywhere, and:

• You don’t need to swap currencies when crossing borders.
• You save on fees.
• You don’t need permission or a bank.
• It’s fast, secure, and borderless.
• It holds its value across economies.
• It stores your wealth across decades.

But the most important thing?

Bitcoin isn’t controlled by anyone.

Not a government. Not a company. Not a politician.

It’s like the internet, accessible to anyone, anywhere. If the internet turned the world into a global village, Bitcoin is turning it into a global market and bank.

A Case Study in Financial Freedom

Take the story of Roya Mahboob from Afghanistan.. She’s one of the first female tech CEOs in her country. She built a company to give women tech jobs, software development, and content creation, and she founded a nonprofit to teach digital skills.

But Afghanistan is a country where women are restricted. Women couldn’t open bank accounts, couldn’t transact without male approval. Roya was going against the grain. And for that, her bank accounts were frozen, payments delayed or blocked, and her business nearly shut down.

Then she discovered Bitcoin.

With Bitcoin, she could pay her employees instantly and without censorship. It allowed her company to continue operating, and her female staff, many of whom couldn’t even open bank accounts, gained financial autonomy.

Bitcoin didn’t just help her; it empowered her entire team. It gave them freedom.

Why This Matters

Bitcoin is more than just money.

It is secure, borderless, and permissionless financial freedom. It thrives in broken systems and repressive regimes. It’s for the unbanked, the censored, the global traveler, the small business, and the visionary builder.

And if that’s what the world needs more of, then that’s what Bitcoin delivers.

We live in an increasingly unpredictable world. Countries are in debt. Currencies are inflating. Wars are being fought. Information is censored.

What you need in such a world is a tool that empowers you beyond the failures of traditional systems.

That tool is Bitcoin.

At BitBiashara, we continue to train and educate people on Bitcoin. If you ever want to learn more, visit bitbiashara.com. There are resources, guides, and a growing community ready to support you.

If you’re ready to get on the Bitcoin standard, reach out. We’re here to help. Thank you for your time. I hope you enjoyed this and learned something valuable.