Brazil’s bitcoin town is named State Capital
The governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite, passed a law that officially designates the city of Rolante as the State Capital of Bitcoin. The signing on 7 August 2025 was held in a ceremony with state authorities, business leaders, and community leaders.
The measure ratifies and grants institutional support to a movement that already transforms the local economy, so much so that 2023 Rolante was already popularly recognized as the most bitcoiner city in Latin America, as reported by CryptoNoticias at that time.
The bill, promoted by Congresswoman Nadine Tagliari Farias, was approved in May and signed yesterday by the governor at an official ceremony. This new designation adds to the traditional identities of the city, recognized for its rich gastronomic tradition, and now seeks to merge tradition and innovation to stimulate the economy, attract tourism, strengthen its international projection, and modernize payment systems.
Congresswoman Nadine described the event as a recognition of the region’s largest bitcoinization movement. He is proud to recognize something so symbolic for the municipality, he said.
For his part, Ricardo Stim, of the “Bitcoin é Aqui” movement, stressed that the decision demystifies old prejudices and shows that governments seek to support innovation and community movements.
Does this step help dispel the old impression that it was not worth getting involved with bitcoin because governments would prevent it. Recognizing Rolante, the government shows that it does not intend to interfere, but rather, to help them, and, in doing so, encourages other cities in Rio Grande do Sul and Brazil to move forward with the use of bitcoin as a currency to generate prosperity.
Ricardo Stim, leader of the Bitcoin community on Aqui de Rolante.
The ceremony featured a wide representation of political and community power, including the Chief Secretary of the Civil House, Artur Lemos Junior, and the president of the commercial association, Eduardo Timmen.
The news generated mixed reactions. While some social media users celebrated the milestone as a step forward, others expressed doubts. “I don’t understand how bitcoin can favor a city,” Ernane Pfuller said, calling it a high-risk investment. Another resident noted that Governor Leite’s participation undermined the credibility of the initiative.
However, from other projects of bitcoin citadels that grow in Brazil, such as Praia Bitcoin in Jericoacoara, in the northeast of the country, they expressed their regret for not receiving government support for recognition of their initiatives.
“If we had 1% of that support from the Governo Do Ceará (state to which the project belongs), it would be perfect, but here we cannot even recognize our initiative,” said Fernando Motolese, leader of Praia Bitcoin.
Their efforts have revolved around the establishment of the first Bitcoin Community Bank in that town, but so far, the authorities and regulators have rejected their proposal.
In Brazil, bitcoin communities are multiplying. They are citadel projects or circular economies that pursue the dream of turning their territories into movements based on the pioneering digital currency.
Therefore, Rolante’s government recognition could inspire other regions to explore the potential of bitcoin, transforming its economic realities, as well as the global perception of the benefits offered by the invention of Satoshi Nakamoto.
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