I Tried Living on Stablecoins for a Month in Colombia

An interview with Leo, a digital nomad who decided to ditch banks and tried living on stablecoins while travelling through Colombia.

I Bet On Crypto:
Leo, you’ve been living the digital nomad life for years, but this time you did something different – a month living purely on stablecoins. No local bank cards, no cash withdrawals from ATMs. Why Colombia, and why stablecoins?

Leo:
I’d been freelancing from Europe for years and was tired of foreign transaction fees, blocked cards, and lost banking access while abroad. Stablecoins felt like the future – fast, borderless, and predictable. Colombia was my testing ground because it’s a rising nomad hotspot: affordable, beautiful, and increasingly crypto-friendly.

Week 1: Medellín – City of Eternal Spring and the Start of the Experiment

I Bet On Crypto:
How did you kick things off?

Leo:
I started in Medellín – El Poblado, to be exact. It’s got palm-lined streets, rooftop coworking spaces, and the friendliest people. I booked an apartment on Airbnb, but I paid the host directly in USDT (Tether) after messaging them. Many Colombians are already familiar with crypto, so it wasn’t weird at all.

I Bet On Crypto:
Did you run into any problems using stablecoins for daily expenses?

Leo:
The first few days were tricky. Most cafés and restaurants don’t accept crypto, so I used my crypto card from ByBit, which converts USDT to pesos instantly. I could tap it at restaurants, grocery stores, even at Pergamino Café, a popular nomad spot. For taxis, I used Bitrefill to buy Uber and Rappi gift cards in crypto.

Lifestyle Notes:

• 🏠 Coliving tip: Selina and Masaya are both popular among nomads. Both have reliable Wi-Fi and social vibes.
• ☕ Coworking picks: Semilla Café Coworking (great coffee, quiet), WeWork El Poblado (networking hub).
• 🌇 Weekend escape: Take the cable car up to Parque Arví for views and hiking trails.

Week 2: Cartagena – Living the Beach Life with USDT

I Bet On Crypto:
So you left the mountains for the coast.

Leo:
Exactly. Cartagena is pure Caribbean magic – pastel streets, salsa rhythms, and sea breeze. I stayed in Getsemaní, where I found a coliving place called Viajero Hostel that surprisingly accepted partial payment in crypto through Binance Pay.

I Bet On Crypto:
Did you face issues converting crypto to pesos?

Leo:
Nope. I used Binance P2P, where locals trade stablecoins for pesos at the market rate. I met a trustworthy trader through reviews and swapped $100 worth of USDT for COP in ten minutes. No ATM lines, no fees.

Lifestyle Notes:

• 🏖 Must-see: Rosario Islands day trip – crystal clear waters and fresh ceviche.
• 🍹 Where to eat: La Cevichería (seafood heaven) and Demente Tapas Bar (hip, digital-nomad friendly).
• 🧘 Tip: Cartagena can be hot – get coworking passes at Selina Cartagena for AC and ocean views.

Week 3: Santa Marta & Tayrona – Going Off-Grid with a Wallet in My Pocket

I Bet On Crypto:
How did crypto hold up in more remote places?

Leo:
Surprisingly well! In Santa Marta, the internet is patchier but still fine for remote work. I used my Trust Wallet app for everything. When I went hiking in Tayrona National Park, I kept only $20 worth of pesos (from P2P trades) for emergencies. Everything else – transport, food, stays – was prepaid using crypto cards.

I Bet On Crypto:
Did locals know about crypto?

Leo:
More than I expected. Some younger Colombians in hostels trade USDT as savings because of the peso devaluation. In a beach shack near Costeño Beach, I met a bartender who asked if I could pay for beers in USDT. I sent him $3 worth right there via QR code. He said it happens often with tourists now.

Lifestyle Notes:

• 🏕 Stay: Costeño Beach Surf Camp – laid-back, surfer vibe, good Wi-Fi (for beach standards).
• 🐒 Do: Hike Tayrona’s trails, see Cabo San Juan.
• 🥥 Eat: Coconut rice, grilled fish, and fresh juices – all under $10.

Week 4: Bogotá – Back to the Big City with a Stablecoin Routine

I Bet On Crypto:
How did Bogotá compare?

Leo:
Bogotá felt more like a European capital – cool weather, museums, and serious coworking energy. I stayed at Selina Parque 93, again paying through crypto. I was even able to use my WhiteBIT Card for daily groceries. By now, living on stablecoins felt normal – almost easier than juggling banks.

I Bet On Crypto:
What about safety, taxes, or regulations?

Leo:
Colombia is relatively crypto-friendly. People use it informally, but it’s not banned. I kept my transactions small and transparent. As for safety, the same rules apply – stay in known areas, use ride apps, and don’t flash expensive gear. Oh, and store larger sums in hardware wallets.

Lifestyle Notes:

• ☕ Cafés: Libertario Coffee and Café Cultor – both remote-worker havens.
• 🧠 Culture: Museo del Oro, Monserrate cable car, Sunday Ciclovía bike day.
• 💡 Coworking: Selina, Tinkko, and HubBOG are favourites.

The Results – Did Stablecoins Work?

I Bet On Crypto:
So after a full month, how would you rate the experience?

Leo:
9/10. Stablecoins gave me total control of my money – no freezing accounts, no foreign fees, no conversion losses. Many merchants don’t take crypto directly, so you rely on crypto cards and P2P. But the flexibility is unbeatable.

I Bet On Crypto:
Any advice for others wanting to try the same?

Leo:
Yes:

1. Use multiple wallets (e.g., Trust Wallet + MetaMask + exchange app).
2. Keep backup funds in fiat for emergencies (I haven’t needed any of those, but a reserve fund will give an additional peace of mind).
3. Use stablecoins like USDT or USDC to avoid volatility.
4. Use crypto cards – they make daily spending seamless.
5. Learn about local P2P exchanges to get the best rates.

Final Thoughts

Living on stablecoins wasn’t just an experiment – it was a glimpse into the near future.
For digital nomads, stablecoins bridge freedom and practicality: instant access, global usability, and no borders.

As Leo put it:

“Crypto didn’t just make my life easier – it made me feel free. I wasn’t a foreigner with a blocked card anymore. I was a citizen of the internet, paying for coconut rice with digital dollars.”