How El Salvador's Bitcoin Ecosystem Launched a Tech Company in 28 Countries | Edgar Borja of K1 Technology

Why trust a custodian with your sats? Edgar Borja (@k1elsalvador) breaks down K1's self-custody Bitcoin ATM, on-chain and Lightning buying, and Bitcoin in Bolivia.

Edgar walks through K1's new update, buying Bitcoin on the Lightning Network and on-chain, what's happening with Bitcoin adoption in Bolivia, and what it's like pitching investors 5,000 times. K1's machines now support on-chain and Lightning purchases with full self-custody, cutting out Strike, Blink, and OpenNode entirely. Edgar demos a live on-chain purchase and explains why every K1 transaction is RBF disabled, so once it's broadcast, it's final.

K1 machines now run in 28 countries. That growth reflects real tech innovation in Bitcoin hardware, built for the global market from day one. The team solved for different bill sizes, currencies, and KYC rules in every country they shipped to. Edgar covers how KYC gets configured machine by machine, why K1 stays buy-only for now, and a cash-dispensing module already demoed at the Adopting Bitcoin conference.

Small business owners get a direct pitch here. Edgar walks through the three K1 tiers, Mini, Mini Plus, and Mini Global, plus pricing and why the bill acceptor is the hardest part to build. If you're exploring digital asset management or a new source of business growth, a Bitcoin ATM in a coffee shop or corner store is a low-friction way to start.

Then there's Bolivia. Edgar saw a fiat currency failing in real time, banks offering 6 Bolivianos to the dollar while the street rate hit 10. The government built its own workaround digital payments network just to keep money moving. This is what pulls people toward hard money. Watching their savings shrink every week, people in Cochabamba are turning to Bitcoin.

Edgar also shares K1's education tools: a crayon-and-paper workshop that teaches private keys, and a board game called MerkColor that teaches Merkle trees in under a minute. He talks about pitching investors an estimated 5,000 times on a Bitcoin startup accelerator and reality show, plus his advice for founders: fall in love with the problem you're solving. Hit subscribe, share this with someone who thinks Bitcoin ATMs are just coin machines, and tell us in the comments if you'd trust a machine with your private key.

—Bitcoin Beach Team


Learn more about the guests:
X: https://x.com/K1ElSalvador
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/k1elsalvador
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k1elsalvador
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/k1elsalvador/
Web: k1.sv
Email Address: borja@k1.sv

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Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode:
00:00  Intro
01:40  How many countries run K1 Bitcoin ATMs now?
02:07  How does a self-custody Bitcoin ATM let you buy Bitcoin on-chain?
08:49  Can you buy Bitcoin from an ATM without KYC?
13:08  Where are Bitcoin ATMs actually installed in the real world?
16:23  Why are Bolivians turning to Bitcoin as their currency collapses?
25:18  What is it like pitching a Bitcoin company on a startup accelerator reality show?
37:42  How do you teach kids about private keys and self-custody using crayons?
47:31  Which self-custody Bitcoin ATM should you buy and how does shipping work?
57:29  Is Bitcoin still winning in El Salvador after the IMF deal? 

Live From Bitcoin Beach