It is not unusual that single women from Europe/the US are whistled upon on the street by men from cars in Paraguay. Direct approach attempts to get phone numbers dates are also more prevalent than the same women experience in Europe/the US. LATAM (incl Py) is not︀ a good fit if it bothers someone.
Safety, low profile... Yes, many "crypto-retirees" are here,︁ and they live a low-profile, comfortable lifestyle. If you buy a two-bedroom flat for 120k︂ in Recoleta/Villa Morra, you live in a good zone, and nobody cares. You don't wear︃ flashy clothes... nobody cares. You drive Kia Seltos... nobody cares.
We analyze this for some,︄ and there are some obvious things (and many still violate them).
- Don't attend bitcoin/crypto︅ meetups. It seems logical, but many crypto people needed further explanation as to why attending︆ and spreading the gospel is not wise. Simply, if I would hunt for crypto-stashed people,︇ I would probably start here. Probably even become a trustworthy member, contributor, making presentations...
- You want to stay anonymous/out of the system, so you exchange crypto for fiat cash︈ with a local vendor. Well, that's great. But who is the local vendor? Besides the︉ fact he is charging you 2-5% on a transaction, what do you know about him?︊ Not all his clients are friendly digital nomads/retirees; maybe his nose is also a vacuum︋ cleaner, and he likes to drink and talk.
- p2p with Binance is sexy and︌ works, but the person sending you FIAT knows your identity.
- Suppose you don't plan︍ on living a bunker life but also have a social life and interacting with locals.︎ In that case, it is better to have a cover story of what you do:️ programming, consulting etc. (have some general knowledge about it).
- For men... they tend to let their guard down around available and good-looking women. Then, they tend to peacock (even those usually driving Kia Seltos), and start to brag. That's a bad idea.
These are basics... then there are some things like having a separate phone, Google Pixel, for your crypto activities (with Graphene, only VPN wifi, no SIM). Not having large balances and transfers in local banks. Maybe someone has someone in the bank... (trust me, it is not a stretched reality)
Buying a property... it is possible in crypto. Even regular foreign investors︀ who have FIAT do it nowadays (in Py) because it is more convenient from a︁ regulatory perspective. Still, technically, you shouldn't even trust a developer (even tho your one apartment︂ means nothing when they regularly have Argentinian clients buying 10apts in the same building). When︃ they announce a project, many developers offer financing for 3 years (sometimes without interest); you︄ do a 20% downpayment, and the rest you pay as you wish (monthly, quarterly) until︅ the building is finished. This could further profile you little down in a chain as︆ someone "normal".
One bad case I witnessed (actually a woman) who came as a crypto-retiree.︇ Her problem was that she didn't have that much crypto and wanted the house. So,︈ she ended up in a neighborhood with no foreigners and even locals; it was mostly︉ lower class. She got robbed twice. They were non-violent. The thief forgot his flip-flops at︊ her house also :-D If you go to live in such an environment as a︋ foreigner with no Spanish, zero local friends, and a single woman, you don't go to︌ work... you are a target: crypto or non-crypto.
Safety, low profile... Yes, many "crypto-retirees" are here,︁ and they live a low-profile, comfortable lifestyle. If you buy a two-bedroom flat for 120k︂ in Recoleta/Villa Morra, you live in a good zone, and nobody cares. You don't wear︃ flashy clothes... nobody cares. You drive Kia Seltos... nobody cares.
We analyze this for some,︄ and there are some obvious things (and many still violate them).
- Don't attend bitcoin/crypto︅ meetups. It seems logical, but many crypto people needed further explanation as to why attending︆ and spreading the gospel is not wise. Simply, if I would hunt for crypto-stashed people,︇ I would probably start here. Probably even become a trustworthy member, contributor, making presentations...
- You want to stay anonymous/out of the system, so you exchange crypto for fiat cash︈ with a local vendor. Well, that's great. But who is the local vendor? Besides the︉ fact he is charging you 2-5% on a transaction, what do you know about him?︊ Not all his clients are friendly digital nomads/retirees; maybe his nose is also a vacuum︋ cleaner, and he likes to drink and talk.
- p2p with Binance is sexy and︌ works, but the person sending you FIAT knows your identity.
- Suppose you don't plan︍ on living a bunker life but also have a social life and interacting with locals.︎ In that case, it is better to have a cover story of what you do:️ programming, consulting etc. (have some general knowledge about it).
- For men... they tend to let their guard down around available and good-looking women. Then, they tend to peacock (even those usually driving Kia Seltos), and start to brag. That's a bad idea.
These are basics... then there are some things like having a separate phone, Google Pixel, for your crypto activities (with Graphene, only VPN wifi, no SIM). Not having large balances and transfers in local banks. Maybe someone has someone in the bank... (trust me, it is not a stretched reality)
Buying a property... it is possible in crypto. Even regular foreign investors︀ who have FIAT do it nowadays (in Py) because it is more convenient from a︁ regulatory perspective. Still, technically, you shouldn't even trust a developer (even tho your one apartment︂ means nothing when they regularly have Argentinian clients buying 10apts in the same building). When︃ they announce a project, many developers offer financing for 3 years (sometimes without interest); you︄ do a 20% downpayment, and the rest you pay as you wish (monthly, quarterly) until︅ the building is finished. This could further profile you little down in a chain as︆ someone "normal".
One bad case I witnessed (actually a woman) who came as a crypto-retiree.︇ Her problem was that she didn't have that much crypto and wanted the house. So,︈ she ended up in a neighborhood with no foreigners and even locals; it was mostly︉ lower class. She got robbed twice. They were non-violent. The thief forgot his flip-flops at︊ her house also :-D If you go to live in such an environment as a︋ foreigner with no Spanish, zero local friends, and a single woman, you don't go to︌ work... you are a target: crypto or non-crypto.
