**Title:** Embracing Bitcoin: The Rise of the Bitcoin Jungle in Costa Rica
**Meta Description:** Discover how the Bitcoin Jungle in Costa Rica is revolutionizing payments with Bitcoin, making it easier for expats and locals to transact seamlessly.
**URL Slug:** bitcoin-jungle-costa-rica
**Headline:** The Bitcoin Jungle: A New Era of Digital Payments in Costa Rica
In the heart of Costa Rica’s Puntarenas province lies the Bitcoin Jungle, a thriving circular economy where over 600 merchants accept Bitcoin. This vibrant community has become a haven for Bitcoin enthusiasts, including Francis Pouliot, a Canadian expat and founder of Bull Bitcoin, who has made Uvita his home for the past three years. Pouliot aims to create a welcoming environment for fellow Bitcoiners visiting the region and Costa Rica as a whole.
To facilitate seamless transactions, Pouliot and his team at Bull Bitcoin developed a web app that integrates with the Bitcoin Jungle wallet, an open-source custodial Lightning wallet, as well as other Lightning wallets. This innovative app allows users to pay for a wide range of goods and services using Bitcoin over the Lightning Network, even if the merchant does not directly accept it. By utilizing the app, users can settle their bills in the local currency, colónes, through Costa Rica’s national electronic payment system, SINPE (Sistema Nacional de Pagos Electrónicos). This system is akin to how services like Strike and Bull Bitcoin operate in the U.S., Europe, and Canada, enabling users to convert Bitcoin to fiat for everyday transactions.
With over 90% of Costa Ricans over the age of 18 using SINPE for daily payments, the Bull Bitcoin app provides a straightforward solution for non-residents to engage in the country’s digital economy. This is particularly beneficial for those who wish to live by a Bitcoin standard, as Pouliot explains, “This allows people to live exclusively off of Bitcoin. Every merchant that accepts fiat payments over SINPE in Costa Rica can now accept payments from a Bitcoiner.”
**How the Bull Bitcoin Costa Rica Web App Functions**
When users make a payment through the Bull Bitcoin web app, the transaction is processed via a Bull Bitcoin Lightning node. Once the payment is received, Bull Bitcoin executes a fiat payment through SINPE on behalf of the user. This system has proven effective, with Bull Bitcoin processing thousands of Bitcoin-to-fiat conversions daily. From May 2024 to May 2025, the company handled 32,774 such transactions.
Pouliot emphasizes the reliability of the Bull Bitcoin web app, likening it to the dependability of a credit card. Many residents, including Pouliot himself, rely on this service for their daily needs. “If you’re at the gas station in Costa Rica and you don’t have a credit card, you need that Lightning-to-SINPE payment to work because otherwise you’re in a tough spot,” he explains. “This is how many of us live here. We don’t use credit cards. We don’t carry cash. So, if I go to the gas station, this app better work.”
**Conclusion**
The Bitcoin Jungle in Costa Rica represents a significant shift towards a Bitcoin-centric economy, providing both locals and expats with the tools to thrive in a digital financial landscape. As more merchants adopt this technology, the potential for Bitcoin to become a mainstream payment method in the region continues to grow.
**FAQ**
**Q: How does the Bull Bitcoin app help non-residents in Costa Rica?**
A: The Bull Bitcoin app allows non-residents to make payments in Bitcoin and settle them in the local currency, colónes, through the SINPE system, enabling them to participate in Costa Rica’s digital economy without needing a local bank account.
