My visit to Próspera, Roatán, Honduras

Roatán is a Honduran island located in the western Caribbean. The island's history is marked by challenges, including diseases introduced by Europeans, invasions by various nations, and a legacy of illegal activities such as piracy. When you land in Roatán you immediately feel a burst of heat and humidity, the island is close to the equator and the temperature stays above 25°c all year long.

The people living here have multiple ethnic origins; African, European and Indigenous descendants mix. Tourists mostly come from North America and mainland Honduras, to enjoy the island's beautiful beaches. Cruise ships bring a lot to the economy of the island, as they sometimes almost double the population. In order to develop the economy, efforts have been made by the Honduran government to attract investors with new legislation, following which the 2013 Zone for Employment and Economic Development law was passed.

This law allowed the U.S.-based startup Prospera Inc. to found the Próspera ZEDE. The project began operations in 2017 after securing agreements with local landowners and the Honduran government. The zone operates under its own legal framework based on common law principles rather than Honduran civil law, while keeping the Honduran criminal law. It offers an extremely low-friction environment for businesses as taxes inside the zone are between one and five percent! 

Próspera markets itself as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, targeting technology companies, financial services and medical tourism, while allowing residents and businesses to run for its governance council. The project faces opposition from local communities and indigenous groups who argue it undermines Honduran sovereignty and will lead to expropriations; as a result, a law was passed to make expropriations illegal inside the zone.

The Bitcoin Center, Próspera

Próspera features a Bitcoin Center, it is found near French Harbour. It has some coworking space and a coffee shop, and it is located on the top of a hill with a spectacular view.

The Bitcoin Center was built by Amity Age, a bitcoin mining company. The bar accepts only bitcoin and cash, no cards! Shendy is the barista, she's from the island and loves reggae and island music. She makes delicious coffee, tea and smoothies! You can also buy some fun Bitcoin merch as a souvenir.The view from the second floor covers both sides of the Island

Ariana Dixon is the manager of the Bitcoin Center. The center provides education on all things Bitcoin through workshops and mini-conferences. She first heard about bitcoin during a date on the island, and soon became friends with the small Roatánese Bitcoin community, she learned how to be a bitcoiner by hanging out with them and that's how she met Dusan Matuska, the founder of Amity Age.

Ariana Dixon at the ₿itcoin Center

Beta District, Próspera

About 10 minutes ride from French Harbour you will find an entrance to Próspera.

The Duna Tower looks like it's out of a science-fiction movie, its modernity contrasts with the tropical surroundings. It looks like a tech entrepreneur's dream.

The terrace is huge and goes all around the building. People often hang out at the pool where the view is spectacular.

Inside the Duna tower you will find co-living spaces where people hang out, play ping-pong, cook, exercise, and more. There is a small wood workshop as well, and an enclosure to grow mushrooms. People from the tower and guests often gather and share meals, work, or relax. There are also meeting rooms where you can discuss business or play board games. A mini bus service runs to the neighboring city for people without transportation. The tower has apartments to rent or for sale; when staying there you will meet plenty of people, some that are bitcoiners.

Manuel Avendaño has his workshop in Duna, a makerspace for his prototyping company. He is a trained mechanical engineer and works with 3D models, he builds electric knives and loves open-source designs.

The New Port

Another interesting fact is that Próspera is about to inaugurate a new port, the project is handled by Dane Melvin. A sixty-ton ship is scheduled to commute between Fort Myers, Florida and Próspera twice a month. The ship will carry three standard twenty-feet containers plus a refrigerated one. This development will give new opportunities to local entrepreneurs for the importing and exporting of goods, all within a very favorable tax environment. Dane also takes care of the emergency services in Próspera, and has plans to build an heliport in order to operate search and rescue as well as Medevac flights in the Bay Islands area.

The Bitcoin District

The Bitcoin District is a company founded by Tomek Kołodziejczuk, a bitcoiner and data scientist. It aims at developing a Bitcoin economy inside Próspera. It organizes events for bitcoiners, like Bitchill, games tournaments (with amazing prizes) and an upcoming hackathon in August. The company also develops bitcoin-friendly real estate and their first project, Orangeville, looks very promising.

I highly recommend that you meet Tomek during the Coworking Tuesdays, every Tuesday at the Bitcoin Center.

I visited the island thanks to the Bitcoin workaway program, an initiative sponsored by Amity Age to implicate bitcoiners in the building of a new economy. As an artist and engineer, I learned a lot about Bitcoin and its amazing community; you don't have to be a developer to get involved! The community is welcoming to all that share the same interest in liberty and freedom.

Charles Oziouls

LINKS : 

Próspera is open for ₿usiness : https://www.prospera.co/en/business

The ₿uilders at Amity Age : https://www.amityage.com/

Focus on ₿itcoin with The Bitcoin District : https://thebitcoindistrict.com/

Participate in the tournament : https://www.infinita.city/games/landing#categories

Stay in Duna Tower : https://www.dunaresidences.com/

Listen to the author's music : https://www.linktr.ee/charlesoziouls 

Follow the author on Fountain and Nostr : https://fountain.fm/artist/CO7ICBDReEGWUpwclGiJ

Add the author on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/charlesoziouls/