Where is the Bitcoin Development?

I travelled the world only to find that Crypto's physical presence is shockingly scarce.

As some of you may know, I have just finished a 3 month world wide trip where I visited 8 countries; throughout Europe and a considerable time in South Africa. While the trip was primarily for a different work purpose, I made it a point to look for any physical indication that there is Bitcoin / Crypto activity going on.

For context, I have dabbled or worked in the Crypto industry since 2017 and consistently hear about all the Crypto and Bitcoin development going on around the world. So with the excitement of a toddler going to Disney world, I set out on my first international trip since Covid to see all the progress in Crypto on the international stage**. However, the ONLY Crypto related thing I saw after months of traveling and walking hundreds of kilometres was one - I repeat A SINGLE - BTC ATM in Barcelona. The ATM felt less like an advancement in a new technology, and more like a jail cell.

So what’s happening!? Where’s all this development I’ve heard of?? No wonder the main stream view of Crypto is that it’s a scam or only for criminal activity. Not only are the big news mainstream news moments about Scams <insert FTX and many other initiatives Here>, but for people to use Crypto in their daily lives they must be treated like a criminal and that’s only if they can even find a way to interact with the Crypto world. So I want to issue a challenge, and open the door to conversation.

First the challenge: To those in my network working on Crypto projects. We can and must do better. Stop fearing failure or doing this because you want online recognition. We need to stop being satisfied with small wins and start dreaming bigger. How can we expect the world to adopt this technology if we keep bunting the ball instead of swinging for the fences.

Second, the conversation: To everyone else in my network, what do you need so Crypto could become useful in your life OR what do you believe those of us working in and around Crypto can do to start changing the bad reputation Crypto (but specifically Bitcoin) has?

**I want to add a caveat, I didn’t look on all the BTC maps to find businesses in the area, instead trying to run across things organically; I am sure there was more around that I passed.