Maya Parbhoe, a presidential candidate in Suriname’s 2025 elections, is making waves with her bold vision to transform the South American nation into a Bitcoin-centric economy.
Inspired by Nayib Bukele’s pioneering crypto efforts in El Salvador, Parbhoe aims to go even further by rooting Suriname’s economy entirely in Bitcoin, tackling systemic corruption, and modernizing its financial infrastructure.
A Bitcoin-Centric Agenda for Suriname
If elected, Parbhoe’s first priority will be to declare Bitcoin as legal tender. Within a year, she plans to phase out the Suriname dollar in favour of Bitcoin and ensure that all salaries are paid in BTC.
Her broader economic agenda includes dismantling the central bank, privatizing public services, issuing national Bitcoin bonds, and implementing widespread deregulation.
For Parbhoe, Bitcoin represents more than just a currency, it is a solution to Suriname’s entrenched issues of corruption and financial inefficiency. She believes Bitcoin’s decentralized nature offers a path to bypass traditional systems prone to manipulation.
“We need to build an alternative where we don’t replicate the same issues that created this mess in the first place but build on what Satoshi Nakamoto started,” Parbhoe stated.
Personal Connection to Bitcoin
Parbhoe’s passion for Bitcoin runs deep. A self-described tech enthusiast, she first delved into the world of cryptocurrency in 2014, engaging with communities like Whale Pool and attending crypto conferences. Her commitment to Bitcoin is personal, rooted in her desire to address corruption, an issue that deeply affected her family.
Her father’s murder, allegedly orchestrated by a hitman amid a national scandal, solidified her resolve to fight systemic corruption. For her, Bitcoin is a tool to bring transparency and accountability in Suriname.
Tackling Systemic Issues
Suriname’s financial system, according to Parbhoe, is plagued by inefficiency. She revealed that the Central Bank and commercial banks determine exchange rates using basic Excel sheets, and the country lacks a robust capital market. This, she argues, has stunted Suriname’s economic growth.
Parbhoe sees Bitcoin as a chance to rebuild Suriname’s financial infrastructure from the ground up, avoiding the pitfalls of the fiat system. Her proposed Bitcoin standard aims to attract foreign investment, stimulate economic activity, and empower citizens.
Challenges Along the Way
Parbhoe’s efforts to promote Bitcoin have not been without obstacles. She recounted an incident involving Paul Mehilal, chairman of Suriname’s E-gov platform, who allegedly demanded a bribe in exchange for supporting a Bitcoin legal tender proposal. Despite such setbacks, Parbhoe remains undeterred, pushing forward with her vision.
In May 2023, Parbhoe met with Samson Mow, a prominent Bitcoin advocate, at the Miami Bitcoin Conference. Together, they pitched Suriname as a potential Bitcoin nation. Their meetings with key figures, including Suriname’s President Chan Santokhi, were promising, with discussions centred around executive orders to make Bitcoin legal tender.
While challenges remain, Parbhoe’s determination to create a Bitcoin nation in Suriname is unwavering. For her, the move isn’t just about cryptocurrency, it’s about creating a transparent, innovative, and corruption-free future for her country.
Maya Parbhoe’s Bitcoin-centric campaign is ambitious, tackling entrenched corruption and proposing a revolutionary economic shift. As the 2025 elections approach, her vision could make Suriname a global leader in crypto adoption, inspiring other nations to explore similar paths.
