Fiji elects pro-bitcoin leader Sitiveni Rabuka as Prime Minister
Fiji elected Sitiveni Rabuka as its new Prime Minister, marking the first time a pro-bitcoin leader has been appointed to the position in the Pacific island nation.
Rabuka, a former military officer and politician, has previously expressed his support for bitcoin and its potential for Fiji and the region. Lord Fusitu’a, a Tongan aristocrat and former Tongan parliamentarian, took to Twitter on Dec.29 to spread the news from his country.
The news of Rabuka’s appointment has been met with excitement from the bitcoin community, as it could signal a shift towards greater cryptocurrency adoption in Fiji. In a tweet, Lord Fusitu’a shared his support for Rabuka and stated that he had explained to the new prime minister “how Fiji can do bitcoin legal tender like Tonga.”
Lord Fusitu’a previously indicated in a Nov.13 tweet that he had a half-hour phone discussion with Sitiveni Rabuka to offer him ideas on how to start BTC mining using renewable energy and the best path for Fiji’s adoption.
A new dawn for Fiji and crypto
The announcement raised speculation about the possibility of bitcoin becoming legal tender in Fiji and other Pacific islands. If Rabuka follows through on his pro-bitcoin stance, it could pave the way for greater adoption and acceptance of the cryptocurrency in the region.
The appointment of a pro-bitcoin leader as prime minister also comes when bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are gaining mainstream acceptance and adoption worldwide. With Rabuka at the helm, Fiji could join the growing list of countries exploring using bitcoin and other digital currencies as a legitimate form of payment.
Rabuka’s pro-bitcoin stance could also have broader implications for the region. Fiji is a member of the Pacific Islands Forum, so the nation has the opportunity to influence other Pacific island nations and potentially encourage them to consider the adoption of bitcoin.
It remains to be seen how Rabuka’s pro-bitcoin stance will play out in practice. For now, the appointment of a pro-bitcoin leader as prime minister is a promising development for the future of bitcoin adoption in Fiji and the Pacific region.
