A series of free Dash-themed conferences is set to begin in Venezuela, starting in September.
These conferences are intended to be beginner’s conferences, introducing new users to Dash, a cryptocurrency of which very few in Venezuela are aware. The first of 12 monthly conferences will be held in Caracas on the 19th of September.
According to Eugenia Alcalá Sucre, Dash Caracas founder and organizer of the conferences, the reception so far for the upcoming conferences has been positive and immediate:
“[People have been] very receptive!!! We have over 200 people registered for the conferences, and we have not even started with the media tour properly. In the last month, people from at least other 5 Venezuelans cities apart from Caracas have contacted me asking me to hold the conferences there to.”
Dash’s rewards, governance, and community attractive to potential attendees
Most Venezuelans are unaware about cryptocurrencies in general, especially Dash, and their ability to buy them. Once educated, Sucre sees enthusiasm surrounding Dash’s governance system and masternode rewards, as well as its energetic and committed community.
“I think it is really exciting for them that we (Venezuelans) can actually and legally buy Dash using VEF. Also, once they understand the governance system they love it. The functioning and the reward of Masternodes intrigue them. And when they get in touch with the Dash community, for example, via Dash Nation Slack, they just fall in love with it.”
With an inflation rate of over 1,000%, the Venezuelan bolivar is rapidly eating into the purchasing power of its users. Using a more sound money like Dash is therefore an attractive option once discovered.
Despite the touchy political climate, no resistance yet
In a country experiencing heightened levels of political and economic strife, some enterprising citizens have turned to cryptocurrency, mining in particular, to find some financial relief. While cryptocurrency is still legal, in some cases there have been reports of arrests of miners over concerns of “energy theft” because of the electricity used in mining.
While Sucre doesn’t rule out running into trouble down the road, and has taken some preventative measures, she anticipates the conferences will go fairly smoothly:
“No government actors have reacted (yet). And the only resistance that I have seen is people scared for me or for themselves, in fear of governments retaliation. But I am confident this work of spreading the word about Dash is both legal and worthwhile, and already now a couple of lawyers that are well-versed in cryptos (just in case).”