In this episode, Jeremy sits down with Jorge, founder of Cherito Cafe, to explore how Bitcoin is transforming the traditional coffee industry in El Salvador and empowering small-scale farmers. The conversation covers Jorge's journey as a third-generation coffee producer who discovered Bitcoin as the missing piece for creating a true peer-to-peer farm-to-cup system, examining the exploitative practices and high interest rates that have plagued small farmers in conventional coffee trade.
They discuss how Bitcoin enables direct, instant payments that bypass multiple middlemen in the supply chain, where farmers traditionally receive only 3 cents per cup while coffee takes six to ten months to reach consumers. Jorge explains the implementation of Lightning split payments that distribute royalties directly from their node to farmers and everyone in the value chain, showcasing what traditional payment systems cannot accomplish.
This conversation offers insights into building equitable trade systems through Bitcoin and how digital payments are creating new models of financial sovereignty for agricultural communities.
⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Jorge Cruz Rubio
00:27 Coffee Industry Background
02:17 Bitcoin Discovery Journey
04:03 Supply Chain Problems
07:57 Lightning Payment Systems
11:56 Direct Trade Model
19:58 Final Thoughts
🔗 Follow the Guests:
Jorge Cruz Rubio – LinkedIn | X | Website
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Jeremy Almond – Twitter
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