Bitcoin Jungle
Bitcoin Lightning wallet powering Costa Rica's circular economy with zero-fee payments for locals, merchants, and tourists.
Why We Recommend Bitcoin Jungle
Bitcoin Jungle operates as a nonprofit, open-source community project built on the proven Bitcoin Beach/Galoy wallet codebase, which has been battle-tested in El Salvador's circular economy. The project maintains transparency through its open-source foundation, allowing anyone to audit the underlying code.
The wallet implements daily transaction limits and automated internal audits for suspicious activity to protect users. Data is encrypted in transit, and the project does not hold bank accounts, reducing counterparty risk. With over 380 merchant locations accepting Bitcoin in Costa Rica and average payments under 20,000 colones (~$35 USD), the system is designed for everyday spending rather than large-value storage.
Bitcoin Jungle is a member of the Bitcoin Association of Costa Rica and has built strong local trust since launching in late 2021, with 80% of users being Costa Rican residents. The project operates without fees or commissions, demonstrating its community-first, non-commercial mission.
Best For
Bitcoin Jungle is ideal for tourists visiting Costa Rica who want to spend Bitcoin directly at cafes, restaurants, markets, and local businesses without converting to fiat currency. The dense merchant network in the Golden Triangle region (Dominical, Uvita, Tinamaste) makes it practical for daily purchases.
Costa Rican merchants and small business owners benefit from free Bitcoin acceptance with no commissions, simple QR-based point-of-sale payments, and integration with the local SINPE payment system through Bull Bitcoin for fiat conversions when needed. Farmers, artisans, and vendors at local markets can accept Lightning payments instantly.
Beginners with no prior Bitcoin experience are well-served by the project's educational resources and community support via WhatsApp. The app is designed for people who simply have a smartphone and want to participate in the local Bitcoin economy, with hand-holding available for first-time users and merchants.
Services & Features
- Zero-fee Lightning payments
- 380+ accepting merchants in Costa Rica
- Fiat conversion via SINPE/Bull Bitcoin
- Merchant point-of-sale tools
- Free business onboarding
- Community education resources
- Interactive merchant map
- Web and mobile wallets
Considerations
This is a custodial Lightning wallet best suited for spending money rather than long-term savings - keep larger amounts in self-custody. The app is Costa Rica-focused and explicitly does not accept US users. iOS users must change their App Store region from the United States to download.
