Presidential Candidate in Suriname Envisions Embracing Bitcoin Like El Salvador
A hopeful candidate for the presidency in Suriname has expressed her desire to model the adoption of Bitcoin after the example set by El Salvador. Maya Parbhoe, the candidate, has pledged to give Bitcoin legal tender status if elected, with the aim of replacing the Surinamese dollar with the popular cryptocurrency. She cited El Salvador’s decision to embrace Bitcoin as a source of inspiration and hope for the future.
Currently, El Salvador stands alone as the only country to have recognized Bitcoin as legal tender. While other governments have discussed the possibility of following suit, none have taken concrete action yet. Recently, officials from Argentina engaged in discussions on Bitcoin adoption with their counterparts in El Salvador.
Parbhoe, speaking in an interview with Bitcoin Beach’s Mike Peterson, praised El Salvador and its President Nayib Bukele for demonstrating that it is possible to challenge global powers. She emphasized her goal of replacing the Surinamese dollar with Bitcoin and drew parallels between El Salvador and Suriname as relatively small Latin American nations.
Parbhoe, who is vying for office in Suriname’s 2025 elections, envisions a future where Bitcoin replaces the national currency. She aims to eliminate the Surinamese dollar in favor of Bitcoin, highlighting the potential for building a new economic system through cryptocurrency adoption. Pointing to the country’s high level of IT literacy and connectivity, Parbhoe believes that Suriname is perfectly positioned for Bitcoin adoption.
In addition to granting legal tender status to Bitcoin, Bukele’s government in El Salvador has also been investing state funds in the cryptocurrency. The government has acquired a significant amount of Bitcoin and is storing it in secure cold wallets in a physical vault within Salvadoran territory.
Parbhoe’s vision for Suriname reflects a growing global trend towards embracing cryptocurrencies as a means of advancing economic innovation and positioning countries as leaders in the technology sector. With plans to “color the world orange,” a nod to Bitcoin’s unofficial color, Parbhoe is determined to lead Suriname into a new era of financial autonomy and technological advancement.
