Mayer Mizrachi, the mayor of Panama City, has suggested letting ships use Bitcoin
$104,254.33
as a way to move faster through the Panama Canal.
He shared the idea on May 29 during a panel at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas.
The session also featured El Salvador’s Bitcoin policy advisors, Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert, with Mike Peterson from Bitcoin Beach acting as the moderator.
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Mizrachi proposed that ships paying in Bitcoin could be allowed to jump ahead in the queue. He described it as a possible incentive that would encourage the use of cryptocurrencies while giving cargo operators a chance to save time.
The Panama Canal is one of the most important waterways in global trade. It connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and allows vessels to avoid the much longer trip around South America.
Ships already pay different amounts based on their size, cargo type, and schedule preferences. Mizrachi’s proposal would add an extra option, paying in Bitcoin in exchange for faster access.
Along with the canal idea, Mizrachi has also proposed creating a Bitcoin reserve for Panama City. Since the capital city generates over half of the country’s economic activity, he argued that such a step could be taken without national approval.
He also urged lawmakers to avoid rushing into cryptocurrency regulation. Mizrachi said:
Don’t touch it, don’t get near it, don’t even look at it, let it operate, let it function.
Recently, Ross Ulbricht, who once faced a life sentence, spoke before a live audience at the conference. What did he talk about? Read the full story.
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