Several small towns along the Garden Route in the Western Cape, South Africa, are adopting Bitcoin as a medium of exchange, with Witsand emerging as the most prominent example.
Witsand is a small coastal town situated at the mouth of the Breede River estuary. Popular with both locals and tourists, it’s known for its water sports, scenic beaches, and Cape Fynbos landscapes. The town has a modest population of approximately 450 to 500 residents.
Beyond its appeal as a holiday destination, Witsand has also become a local leader in Bitcoin adoption, with most businesses in the area accepting the cryptocurrency.
In an interview, Witsand resident Eldry Hill described how the town has integrated Bitcoin into everyday transactions, despite the South African Rand remaining the country’s official legal tender.
SOUTH AFRICA’S POPULAR TELEVISION NEWS STATION REPORTS ON THE GROWING LOCAL ADOPTION OF #BITCOIN TECHNOLOGY pic.twitter.com/YaYXtNRW1d
— Giannis Andreou (@gandreou007) May 5, 2025
Hill explained that while the legal status of the Rand hasn’t changed, Bitcoin is being used as a practical tool for transactions. It offers a direct, bank-free alternative for sending money and making payments.
“It works incredibly easily. It’s just a newer technology – much like Zoom became during Covid-19,” Hill said.
Although Witsand is small, the use of Bitcoin among local businesses is expanding. Given its limited population, the town has one of the highest per capita Bitcoin usage rates in the world.
Visitors and locals alike can pay for a wide range of goods and services using Bitcoin – from food and holiday rentals to gym sessions, mini-golf, and water-based activities.
“You can get your boat serviced with Bitcoin, fill up with fuel, and even tip staff in Bitcoin. Everyone has their own wallet,” Hill added.
Witsand isn’t alone. Other towns along the Garden Route are also seeing increasing Bitcoin adoption. Hill noted significant growth in places like Plettenberg Bay and Stellenbosch.
“In Plettenberg Bay, the trend is picking up quickly. Just a few weeks ago they had 20 shops accepting Bitcoin. Then 40, then 50. Now it’s up to 75—and climbing,” she said.
Even large retailers are joining in.
Supermarket chain, Pick n Pay, now allows customers to pay with cryptocurrency, and is reportedly processing around R1 million in crypto transactions each month – up from just R25,000 after launching the service in February 2024.
MILESTONE | South African Retailer, Pick n Pay, Surpasses Over One Million Rand (~$55,000) a Month in Crypto Payments
Most of the crypto payments are for groceries, airtime, data, and municipal bills.
Interestingly, the majority of the spend is in #Bitcoin despite the… pic.twitter.com/FQ2uu1JnbM
— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) August 13, 2024
With the Rand having steadily weakened against the US dollar, Hill sees Bitcoin as a safeguard against inflation and monetary instability.
“The great thing about Bitcoin is that it serves as a hedge against irresponsible monetary policy – and that’s not just my opinion; that’s according to BlackRock CEO, Larry Fink,” she said.
Hill believes Bitcoin could contribute to a stronger economic foundation for South Africa.
“I want this country to flourish. And one way to do that is by building a stable economic system,” she said.
“It’s hard to maintain that if your currency keeps fluctuating.”
Another key benefit of Bitcoin is its ability to bypass traditional banking systems while preserving value – especially useful for tourists who don’t need to exchange currencies.
“You can visit the Garden Route and avoid currency exchange completely – just use Bitcoin,” Hill said.
However, she clarified that all transactions are still denominated in Rands.
“We still use the Rand – prices are listed in Rands and recorded in Rands – but the underlying asset used in transactions is Bitcoin.”
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