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During the last few years, Saint Kitts and Nevis, the dual-island nation in the Caribbean, has become a hotspot for bitcoin cash adoption and other islands like Antigua and Sint Maarten have also seen growing crypto acceptance. This week, a member of Sint Maarten’s Parliament requested to get his entire salary paid in bitcoin cash and while a large swathe of merchants in Saint Kitts and Nevis accept the crypto asset, it’s become so user-friendly employees have requested to have their payroll settled in bitcoin cash.

Bitcoin Cash Adoption Surges in Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sint Maarten, Antigua — Elected Sint Maarten Official Sparks Interest in BCH Payroll 

On March 20, 2022, data stemming from the web portal map.bitcoin.com indicates that there are several hundred merchants throughout a number of Caribbean islands that accept bitcoin cash (BCH). Bitcoin cash is a peer-to-peer, decentralized digital currency that allows users to transact without a third party in a very inexpensive manner. Metrics from the website map.bitcoin.com show that large concentrations of BCH acceptance derive from islands like Antigua, Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sint Maarten, and a few other islands in the Caribbean.

For instance, Saint Kitts and Nevis has 129 bitcoin cash (BCH) accepting merchants with a population of just over 53,000 residents. BCH supporting establishments include Sharkies Souvenirs, Kings Mini Mart, The Perfume Shop, Glitter Jewelry, St Kitts Resort Wear, Dem Timez Bar, Grant & Powell Attorneys, Food Centre, Cocoplums Garden Bar & Grill, and dozens more.

Sint Maarten and the surrounding area have 123 BCH accepting businesses with a population of 41,000. BCH accepting merchants in the region include businesses like Rafi Barber Shop, Cabinet Physical Therapy, Nature Animal Hope Hill, Ours Private Chef, Oasis Food & Drinks, Beds N’ Beyond, Rick’s, and Elite Travel Caribbean. Merchants from Saint Kitts and Nevis and Sint Maarten have discovered that the Bitcoin Cash network is a lightning-fast, secure, borderless peer-to-peer electronic cash system with low processing fees.

Presently, Antigua’s population of 99,300 residents has 69 merchants that accept bitcoin cash. Merchants on the island that accept BCH include establishments such as Skullduggery Cafe, Antigua Yacht Club Resort, 5 Senses, Clean Food’n Jooce, Creole Antigua Tours, Barefoot Antigua, Cool Cabana, Catherine’s Cafe, Axxess Marine Antigua, and Sheer Rocks Restaurant.

Employees From a Myriad of Businesses Seek Bitcoin Cash Payroll Following Sint Maarten MP’s Announcement

Angel investor and Bitcoin.com’s founder Roger Ver resides in St. Kitts and the crypto investor and entrepreneur has promoted the use of peer-to-peer electronic cash in the country for years. On March 18, The St. Kitts-Nevis Times reported that Ver has been seeking approval for cryptocurrency automated teller machines (ATMs) on St. Kitts. The following day, Rolando Brison, the leader of the United People’s Party and member of Sint Maarten’s Parliament announced he requested his entire salary to be paid in bitcoin cash.

MP Brison believes his country should embrace blockchain technology and cryptocurrency solutions. “By having my entire salary paid in bitcoin cash (BCH), I hope to signal my belief that it represents a viable additional means of commerce, transacting, and savings in St. Maarten,” Brison told the press on Saturday. “Bitcoin cash is already the most widely accepted cryptocurrency on the island and is increasingly accepted in the Kingdom, the region and the world,” the Sint Maarten MP added. Brison further said that he is exploring possibilities to legislate BCH and make it a national currency.

In a tweet published on March 19, Brison further said: “I can do all my groceries, pay rent, even make my car payments in BCH, its already widely accepted on the island so works for all citizens.”

On Sunday, Sunny Gehani, a businessman from Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Sint Maarten, said that with bitcoin cash adoption becoming so widespread, employees from several businesses in Saint Kitts and Nevis want to be paid in bitcoin cash. Gehani mentioned employees looking to be paid in BCH stem from businesses like Square Duty Free, which has several locations in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Employees working for merchants such as the restaurant Asian Voyage, the designer jeweler RK Gems, the spa and salon Beauty Inside Out, and Frigate Bay’s Buddha Bar have requested to be paid in BCH as well.

“The number of merchants in Saint Kitts and Nevis accepting bitcoin cash is rising on a daily basis — At the same time, the rest of the Caribbean has been showing great interest as well,” Gehani added.

Interest in bitcoin cash has also spread, as BCH accepting merchants can be found in Montserrat, St. Barths, Guadeloupe, Anguilla, and Puerto Rico. Gehani remarked that he’s been in contact with business owners from these regions where bitcoin cash is trending. Moreover, Gehani concluded that merchants from India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) have also been showing interest in accepting bitcoin cash for goods and services.