Argentina Team Updates

[cylonmaker2053]

We have scheduled a new meetup at the Buenos Aires Bitcoin Center. We are going to do a mini open space, select the hottest topics together and talk about them.

http://www.meetup.com/es-ES/BitSharesBA/events/229480611/

Nice I will try to be there so we can talk about BitArs and building a bridge to buy BitUSD and BitGold (maybe we can help bring some liquidity in this market)

Abrazo!

Great to hear, guys! Like i said earlier, i think going straight to bitUSD use for you guys makes the most sense. you can leverage the relatively high volume, market makers focusing on that currency pair, and take advantage of the natural propensity for Argentinians to use USD. in the end, it'd be better for your customers/users to migrate to something more stable than ARS.

Anyway, best of luck and I'll have to try to meet up with you guys when I'm in BA next Spring!

[hcf27]

We have scheduled a new meetup at the Buenos Aires Bitcoin Center. We are going to do a mini open space, select the hottest topics together and talk about them.

http://www.meetup.com/es-ES/BitSharesBA/events/229480611/

Nice I will try to be there so we can talk about BitArs and building a bridge to buy BitUSD and BitGold (maybe we can help bring some liquidity in this market)

Abrazo!

[fran2k]

We have scheduled a new meetup at the Buenos Aires Bitcoin Center. We are going to do a mini open space, select the hottest topics together and talk about them.

http://www.meetup.com/es-ES/BitSharesBA/events/229480611/

[cylonmaker2053]

What percentage of merchants accept USD in Argentina? If non-trivial, then maybe bitUSD would be a better payment method than bitARS. that way you can piggyback on, and contribute to, the liquidity of the dominant smartcoin at the moment. another benefit to any Argentinian using it is that it wouldn't have the same ARS-USD depreciation you guys are plagued with down there. accumulating bitUSD would also be much more useful if/when we get some bitUSD-USD gateways up here for you to clear back into plain old USD (or BTS, BTC, gold, bitGOLD, or whatever else people may want).

I dont think is legal to accept USD or any other currency in Argentina as a payment option, I agree that USD is way more stable and BitArs wouldnt really work for "saving" money. However we are thinking of possible using BitArs in a different way, more like an online decentralized payment solution, sort of like a reliable PayPal (Which we only have with limited access). We may even have some cooperation with the Bitcoin Embassy to act as a bridge!

we are going to it some thought and put out a statment soon,

Really appreciate your comments!

Regards

Cool, best of luck! I'd be very interested to hear how things work out, which route you decide to go. I do financial research for a living, so any cool developments that come with some data would be a bonus 

[hcf27]

What percentage of merchants accept USD in Argentina? If non-trivial, then maybe bitUSD would be a better payment method than bitARS. that way you can piggyback on, and contribute to, the liquidity of the dominant smartcoin at the moment. another benefit to any Argentinian using it is that it wouldn't have the same ARS-USD depreciation you guys are plagued with down there. accumulating bitUSD would also be much more useful if/when we get some bitUSD-USD gateways up here for you to clear back into plain old USD (or BTS, BTC, gold, bitGOLD, or whatever else people may want).

I dont think is legal to accept USD or any other currency in Argentina as a payment option, I agree that USD is way more stable and BitArs wouldnt really work for "saving" money. However we are thinking of possible using BitArs in a different way, more like an online decentralized payment solution, sort of like a reliable PayPal (Which we only have with limited access). We may even have some cooperation with the Bitcoin Embassy to act as a bridge!

we are going to give it some thought and put out a statment soon,

Really appreciate your comments!

Regards

[cylonmaker2053]

What percentage of merchants accept USD in Argentina? If non-trivial, then maybe bitUSD would be a better payment method than bitARS. that way you can piggyback on, and contribute to, the liquidity of the dominant smartcoin at the moment. another benefit to any Argentinian using it is that it wouldn't have the same ARS-USD depreciation you guys are plagued with down there. accumulating bitUSD would also be much more useful if/when we get some bitUSD-USD gateways up here for you to clear back into plain old USD (or BTS, BTC, gold, bitGOLD, or whatever else people may want).

[hcf27]

Hello,

I found this old thread and I have also been looking for Bitshare supportes in Argentina.

I have been contemplating the idea of creating a smartcoin for Argentinians Peso, is this something you guys have evaluated yet?

I am willing to support and help you guys in whatever way possible.

Just drop me a PM if you think I can help in any way..

it's great you're rallying support from other Argentinians, but--and this is just my American perspective--wouldn't it be useful for Argentinians to park funds in bitUSD instead of a bitARS? we're having a tough time creating enough liquidity with bitUSD, so i would think the problem would be worse for a bitARS.

what would be very useful for your local market would be a gateway from ARS to BTS, then people could buy whatever other BTS-synthesized assets, like bitUSD, bitGOLD, etc.

Yes, you are right the liquidity would be a problem, specially for a coin that has a tendency of constantly depreciating....

This is why I think the utility of having bitArs would be to allow argentinians to trade BTS assets with their local currency, a gateway for them to obtain bitArs with pesos would be needed for this to happen.

I think argentinians would trade a lot more if they knew about the possibility of doing it in a decentralized exchange, currently we are the number 1 country in latin america using Bitcoin however there is not 1 big exchange in Argentina, I think this is because trust issues (hell we dont even trust goverment, nevermind an exchange). Most of the trades are being carried out trough LocalBitcoins, or brookers who are contacted via Facebook.

So, in conclusion, yes you are right, it would be really hard to provide liquidity for BitArs and this smartcoin will probably lose value over time, like the real argentain peso does, but if we can find real use for it and get people to use the exchange then it would be worth it.

P.S: I am already in very preliminar talks with some of Argentina´s Bitshares Team to "put our money where our mouth is" and provide some initial liquidity by shorting some of our BTS and generate the initial "reserve" of BitArs

[cylonmaker2053]

Hello,

I found this old thread and I have also been looking for Bitshare supportes in Argentina.

I have been contemplating the idea of creating a smartcoin for Argentinians Peso, is this something you guys have evaluated yet?

I am willing to support and help you guys in whatever way possible.

Just drop me a PM if you think I can help in any way..

it's great you're rallying support from other Argentinians, but--and this is just my American perspective--wouldn't it be useful for Argentinians to park funds in bitUSD instead of a bitARS? we're having a tough time creating enough liquidity with bitUSD, so i would think the problem would be worse for a bitARS.

what would be very useful for your local market would be a gateway from ARS to BTS, then people could buy whatever other BTS-synthesized assets, like bitUSD, bitGOLD, etc.

[hcf27]

Hello,

I found this old thread and I have also been looking for Bitshare supportes in Argentina.

I have been contemplating the idea of creating a smartcoin for Argentinians Peso, is this something you guys have evaluated yet?

I am willing to support and help you guys in whatever way possible.

Just drop me a PM if you think I can help in any way..

[fran2k]

New Bitshares 2.0 talk and giveaway coming at the monthly Buenos Aires July Bitcoin meetup, more details in the event thread.

[cylonmaker2053]

We are planning our first exclusive Bitshares Meetup to be in one week at the Buenos Aires Bitcoin Space. We halted our BitUSD paper wallets giveaways as ElMato & Dargon LimeWallet (ex Bitshares Wallet) is currently not working but we will encourage participants to bring their laptops so they could install the desktop wallet and register an user.

Just to add to @rnglab updates. Yesterday Bitshares meetup went great. See more details at the meetup thread. Buenos Aires has the biggest Bitshares meetup group! How is this community still so small?!

 

[fran2k]

We are planning our first exclusive Bitshares Meetup to be in one week at the Buenos Aires Bitcoin Space. We halted our BitUSD paper wallets giveaways as ElMato & Dargon LimeWallet (ex Bitshares Wallet) is currently not working but we will encourage participants to bring their laptops so they could install the desktop wallet and register an user.

Just to add to @rnglab updates. Yesterday Bitshares meetup went great. See more details at the meetup thread. Buenos Aires has the biggest Bitshares meetup group! How is this community still so small?!

[rnglab]

Who controls this argentina-marketing-matt608 delegate?

I do until they get their own delegate elected or setup to take this one over. The funds are spooling up with a balance currently of around 200k BTS.

Most funds are being saved, we will post our full accounting asap.

Here is a simple accounting spreadsheet. We have 156,199 BTS and 1,038 bitUSD at fran2k's account (moving BitUSD to BTS right now ), plus another 202,574 BTS that Riverhead is holding as he kindly manages the argentina-marketing.matt608 delegate.

We've been looking forward for protocol update to make the right moves. That includes delaying the new delegate registration, and doing just small but strategic diffusion while saving most funds for the big launch that's almost here.

[cylonmaker2053]

You can make a lot of money with the referral program with such a business, see https://bitshares.org/technology/referral-rewards-program/

You may have to shares the referral rewards with the one you programmed the wallet if you don't have your own. You maybe could also use the whitelabel wallet the core devs are preparing...

Now this is really interesting; I need to learn a lot more and think about how this could be leveraged by fielding sales teams and incentivizing money changers to use bitUSD.

Does anyone who has participated in this program have any feedback they can provide? Are all fees automatically dispensed in BTS? Any issues?

[cylonmaker2053]

They are working on the "Lime" Wallet.  I'm guessing it will be released after 2.0 is released... along with Moonstone

Cool, Lime wallet could be the type of solution I need. Def need to look into it more...thx!

[santaclause102]

I'm very excited to hear about the progress in Argentina. Here in the US, you guys are used as one of the prime examples for where crypto could have its largest impact.

I'll be heading to Central America later this year and hope to set up a beta version of a remittance business, basically empowering a local team with some money, processes, and tools for accepting or dispensing crypto for cash; I'm toying with either using BTC or BTS, but think that, from a purely marketing perspective, it might be easier for locals to adopt bitUSD over BTC bc USD is so pervasive; selling a digital USD seems like an easier sell to me.

What we need is a super simple app, or device, wallet to start distributing. I don't know of any that use bitUSD, but there are plenty of ways to start using BTC; at least, they're all in English that I know of. Do you guys know of any really good Spanish language apps?

You can make a lot of money with the referral program with such a business, see https://bitshares.org/technology/referral-rewards-program/

You may have to shares the referral rewards with the one you programmed the wallet if you don't have your own. You maybe could also use the whitelabel wallet the core devs are preparing...

[lil_jay890]

I'm very excited to hear about the progress in Argentina. Here in the US, you guys are used as one of the prime examples for where crypto could have its largest impact.

I'll be heading to Central America later this year and hope to set up a beta version of a remittance business, basically empowering a local team with some money, processes, and tools for accepting or dispensing crypto for cash; I'm toying with either using BTC or BTS, but think that, from a purely marketing perspective, it might be easier for locals to adopt bitUSD over BTC bc USD is so pervasive; selling a digital USD seems like an easier sell to me.

What we need is a super simple app, or device, wallet to start distributing. I don't know of any that use bitUSD, but there are plenty of ways to start using BTC; at least, they're all in English that I know of. Do you guys know of any really good Spanish language apps?

They are working on the "Lime" Wallet.  I'm guessing it will be released after 2.0 is released... along with Moonstone

[cylonmaker2053]

I'm very excited to hear about the progress in Argentina. Here in the US, you guys are used as one of the prime examples for where crypto could have its largest impact.

I'll be heading to Central America later this year and hope to set up a beta version of a remittance business, basically empowering a local team with some money, processes, and tools for accepting or dispensing crypto for cash; I'm toying with either using BTC or BTS, but think that, from a purely marketing perspective, it might be easier for locals to adopt bitUSD over BTC bc USD is so pervasive; selling a digital USD seems like an easier sell to me.

What we need is a super simple app, or device, wallet to start distributing. I don't know of any that use bitUSD, but there are plenty of ways to start using BTC; at least, they're all in English that I know of. Do you guys know of any really good Spanish language apps?

[santaclause102]

Who controls this argentina-marketing-matt608 delegate?

I do until they get their own delegate elected or setup to take this one over. The funds are spooling up with a balance currently of around 200k BTS.

[Riverhead]

Who controls this argentina-marketing-matt608 delegate?

I do until they get their own delegate elected or setup to take this one over. The funds are spooling up with a balance currently of around 200k BTS.

[santaclause102]

Who controls this argentina-marketing-matt608 delegate?

[fran2k]

Yesterday we did a talk at one big university, ITBA, around 30 students came. More info and pictures in the event thread.

We did the same talk on May's Bitcoin Meetup.

We are planning our first exclusive Bitshares Meetup to be in one week at the Buenos Aires Bitcoin Space. We halted our BitUSD paper wallets giveaways as ElMato & Dargon LimeWallet (ex Bitshares Wallet) is currently not working but we will encourage participants to bring their laptops so they could install the desktop wallet and register an user.

Most funds are being saved, we will post our full accounting asap.

[karnal]

Cool, guys. Are the people extra receptive about crypto in Argentina? Given the track record of the currency in the last decade there..

[fran2k]

Yesterday we did a talk at one big university, ITBA, around 30 students came. More info and pictures in the event thread.

[Akado]

found this today http://www.coinbuzz.com/2015/04/19/satoshitango-one-of-argentinas-top-bitcoin-exchanges/

[CLains]

Great update! 

[TurkeyLeg]

Outstanding! Keep up the great work! An impressive amount of feet hitting the streets here.


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[donkeypong]

Wonderful. I only wish you guys had more funding. That will come, in time.

[ripplexiaoshan]

Excellent update, expecting more good news from your team!

[cusknee]

Excellent post and plan!

[fran2k]

Bitshares Team Argentina
Formerly argentina-marketing-matt608

Updates on delegate team

We want to thank matt608 for his great work as Argentina Marketing partner and his initiative on creating this delegate. We are proud to have his confidence as delegate successor and wish him the best for his upcoming projects.

We agreed with Matt on a delegate replacement for argentina-marketing-matt608 and he kindly accepted to keep it running for a while so we can  coordinate a delegate swap proposition.

With actual team reorganization we are working voluntarily. No one is getting paid for their contributions, at least until we prove being valuable for the network.
If a specific service needs to be paid to someone that will be proposed in advance.

Who we are:

• Francisco Dosca (@fran2k). Event Organizer and Speaker on presentations. Marketing.
• Matias Romeo (@elmato) Programmer. Main developer of LimeWallet (ex BitWallet) Already delegate (elmato). Speaker on Bitshares presentations.
• Pablo Tutino (@dargonar) Programmer. Main developer of LimeWallet (ex BitWallet) Shares delegate with Matias Romero (elmato).
• Etienne Marcus (@etimarcus) Programmer & Designer. Speaker on Bitshares presentations. See Intro.
• Maria Palma (@monaro). Photographer and filmmaker.
• Nahuel Peerz (@rnglab). Multitask. Sysadmin.

Work already done

• Promoting Bitshares on the monthly Buenos Aires Bitcoin meetup.
• This has been done in four meetups in a row since December 2014.
• Three Bitshares talks
• One wallet workshop
• Three BitUSD paper wallet giveaways.


• Participation in many other events from or in collaboration with local Bitcoin community, always promoting Bitshares in some way
• Translations, creation and promotion of content:
• BitShares101 ebook already translated into spanish. Also did the LaTeX edition, we could do another languages.
• Brochures, stickers, paper wallet designs and more. Tri-fold already translated and being printed.
• Collaboration with the video production team
• Audio and video registration of talks and podcasts. Two already done with matt608.
• [2015-01-22] BTC 2.0: Bitshares & Sidechains - Buenos Aires Meetup
• [2014-12-11] Introduccion a BitShares & bitUSD - Buenos Aires Meetup
• Short video: Bitshares ¿Qué es y cómo funciona? (Bitshares: What is and how it works?)


• Collaboration with @elmato and @dargonar for LimeWallet (ex BitWallet) testing and promotion (mobile wallet assisted installations on Meetups: attenders instantly redeems BitUSD paper wallet giveaways flawlessly with great acceptance).
• Paper Wallets: https://bitsharestalk.org/index.php/topic,11847.msg188492.html#msg188492
• Our past meetups:
• [2015-06-18] Buenos Aires - Encuentro Bitshares!
• [2015-05-29] Buenos Aires - Talk at May's Bitcoin Meetup
• [2015-05-20] Buenos Aires - Talk and Paper wallet giveaway at ITBA
• [2015-03-20] Buenos Aires - Paper wallets Giveaway and Install Workshop
• [2015-02-19] Buenos Aires - Bitcoin 2.0: Bitshares, Sidechains y Ethereum
• [2015-01-22] Buenos Aires - bitShares & bitUSD, DACs, Blockchain Based Apps &+
• [2014-12-11] Buenos Aires - bitShares & bitUSD Meetup

Goals

• Start a monthly Bitshares dedicated Meetup (mainly focused on entrepreneurs, investors and traders by now):
• Introductory, technical and economy/market talks.
• BitUSD paper wallet giveaways.
• Assisted mobile wallet installation.
• Attendees redeems their very first BitUSD after presentations.
• Promoting BitShares 101 and  desktop Wallet. Brochure with QR and URL download links (referral/trackable downloads when possible)
• BitShares tri-fold distribution.
• Budget: 1 BitUSD per paper wallet + print costs. Let’s set a limit on 200 BitUSD for this month (might be less depending on attendance)
• Keep promoting Bitshares on monthly Buenos Aires Bitcoin meetup and other Bitcoin related events as usual:
• We have been bringing monthly crypto related meetups and drinkups for about a year
• And participating on the organization of the yearly Latin America Bitcoin Conference “LaBitCoinf”, next one at the end of year in Mexico).
• Stands, talks, paper wallet giveaways, installing LimeWallet mobile wallet, and Bitshares promotional material are planned for every suitable event.
• Budget: Paper wallets + printing costs,  Included above.
• Building local Bitshares community “Bitshares Buenos Aires”
• Promote local Meetup group Bitshares Buenos Aires Meetup
• Create and promote Facebook community / page.
• Start testing impact on Facebook paid advertising, initially just promoting Bitshares 101 book and tracking downloads to measure campaign effectiveness.
• Budget: 100 BitUSD to test on Facebook advertising
• Sponsor Ariel Aguilar Bitcoin Evangelist conferences on his May’s tour:
• Stand with Bitshares logo in the banner, Tri-fold and paper wallet giveaways on top tier conferences. (See his Bitcoin Evangelism Plan Crowdfunding Campaign)
• Ariel’s 250USD funding plan offers “Your Brochure/Coupon handout to attendees/VIP's”. Also tickets for team members to be in the stand.
• His is confirming and stand May in Red Innova Conference May 13-14th.
• Also he will be sharing an stand in the Feria del Libro which is one of the biggest of the country with around 100k-1M attendees during more than two weeks.
  
  • Some of his confirmed activities for first half of 2015 (where Bitshares sponsorship would be present as long as we fund it):
  • Organization of Bitcoin Argentina's monthly meetups. They include two to six talks each.
  • Talks at the Buenos Aires Institute of Technology and other universities
  • Bitcoin stand at the Economics, Finance and Investments Expo (EFI) at the Hilton Buenos Aires (in talks to get a talk).
  • Introductory talks at the Bitcoin Center Buenos Aires (as many as possible, currently at one per week).
  • In talks to present Bitcoin to managers of BNP Paribas bank.
  • Further talks for Venezuelans and other foreigners.
  • Flyer handout at target locations (office buildings, universities, financial downtown, etc)
  • Talk at UTN (Technological University of Tucuman) - Tucuman
  • Budget: 250 BitUSD

Funds

Given our main goal to target already crypto-friendly public until Bitshares stable release, expenses have been low. As long time active members of  Bitcoin community from Argentina we already have place, resources and audience to create Meetups and promote  Bitshares on many conferences and other crypto related events. Costs are usually limited just to BitUSD paper wallet for giveaways, printing promotional material and little else.

Matt has around 1500 BitUSD delegate savings and has already covered his delegate registration fee.

We want to keep this direction while making bigger plans and also testing new strategies to be ready for the upcoming times.

We’d like to hear all views that contribute to align the community on a steady course.[/list]