Lorena Almada—an electromechanical engineer by trade—stumbled into a conversation that would reroute her life’s trajectory.
From doubting its legitimacy to becoming a fiery maximalist and educator, Lorena’s journey mirrors bitcoin’s own ethos: proof of work. Today, she’s a linchpin in the global bitcoin ecosystem, crafting educational pathways for newcomers, steering social strategy for JAN3’s AQUA Wallet, and co-founding Paraguay’s first bitcoin community—all while preaching the gospel of self-custody and hyperbitcoinization.
But how does an engineer trained to build physical systems become a architect of financial sovereignty? What fuels her unshakable conviction that “all roads lead to Bitcoin”? And why does she believe the future of money hinges on wallets so simple, “even your grandma can use them”? 
First things First
- Can you tell us a bit about yourself and share your journey into the world of bitcoin?
I’m Lorena Almada, an electromechanical engineer living in Paraguay. I’m a bitcoin maximalist and educator, and I’ve been involved with bitcoin since 2020.
I first came across bitcoin in 2018 while working. One day, a bitcoin miner came in to ask for racks for his ASIC machines. He was clear about wanting something cheap, so while talking with my boss, we asked him what these machines were for. He explained bitcoin to us with so much passion, calling it the money of the internet.
After he left, I went back to my desk and looked up bitcoin. I read an article on Wikipedia, but I still didn’t fully understand it. I searched online to see if there were any places in my city that accepted bitcoin because I wanted to check if it was real—if it could actually be used as a currency, just like the dollar.
I found BTC Map and saw that three places accepted bitcoin. One of them was in a shopping mall, and when I visited, I saw a sign that said, “bitcoin accepted.” At the time, I had a wallet that “earn” sats, and I had managed to accumulate $5 in bitcoin, which I planned to spend, but I set it aside.
I still didn’t grasp the essence of bitcoin. Two years later, in 2020, when I started studying finance and economics, Robert Kiyosaki mentioned bitcoin in an online course he was teaching.
That reminded me of bitcoin, so I immediately googled the best books to learn more. I downloaded The Internet of Money by Andreas Antonopoulos and The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous. After reading them, I finally understood what bitcoin was all about, and since then, I’ve been deeply involved in the bitcoin space.
In 2021, I got my first job in bitcoin with a Brazilian news website called Livecoins writing articles. Today, I run an online course for beginners called Your First Step into Bitcoin on the Educacao Real platform in Brazil. I also work with JAN3 where I’m the social media manager and also for AQUA Wallet in Spanish and Portuguese.
- What motivated you to become a bitcoin maximalist, and how has that shaped your perspective on bitcoin?
I’ve always been clear about the difference between bitcoin and altcoins, but coming from a background where finance coaches taught “don’t put all your eggs in one basket,” I believed that diversification was the way to go.
However, for a long time, I only bought bitcoin until, in a very short period—around 4 months—I applied the “diversify” strategy just because a research study recommended it, and I was following that advice.
However, that didn’t align with my values or what I truly believed in, so I went back to what matters, which is 100% bitcoin, and I even made it public on X (formerly twitter), where I stated that from now on, I was a maximalist.
The truth is, when I first entered bitcoin and gradually got to know the communities, being a maximalist was viewed negatively because people called them toxic, among other things.
But the reality is, maximalists are the best thing that can happen to a community. We’re not toxic; we just want people to realize the truth—only bitcoin matters, and everything that’s not bitcoin is a shitcoin.
Building on Bitcoin
- How did your experiences at JAN3 and AQUA Wallet influence your understanding of bitcoin and its potential?
Well, JAN3 is one of the coolest companies I’ve worked with. In January 2025, the whole team gathered in El Salvador, and that’s when I truly understood the company’s mission.
All the work they’ve been doing to accelerate hyperbitcoinization is really impressive. In fact, one of their products is AQUA Wallet, which is the part I’m involved with. Seeing all this work aimed at making bitcoin more accessible and easier to use made me realize that these products are truly necessary if we want global adoption to happen.
So, I’d say that bitcoin companies are essential, and if we work together, bringing education and the necessary tools, we can accelerate adoption.
- What are your primary responsibilities at JAN3, and how do they relate to the broader bitcoin ecosystem?
Well, at JAN3, I’m responsible for AQUA Wallet’s social media in Spanish and Portuguese, and my mission is to educate people about bitcoin and self-custody. That’s what I’ve been doing.
It’s great for people to get to know our product—a bitcoin super app that even your grandma can use—and spreading that to people is easier when we start with education, which will always be fundamental in the world of bitcoin.
- Describe the mission of AQUA Wallet and how it aims to enhance user experience in managing bitcoin?
Our mission is to make hyperbitcoinization happen, and for that, bitcoin must be accessible and easy to use. AQUA Wallet is essential for this because it combines bitcoin with solutions like the Lightning Network and Liquid, where you can make conventional (onchain) transactions as well as instant, cheap, and private transactions using LN or Liquid.
The best thing about AQUA is that it’s a non-custodial wallet, meaning the user has full control over their coins. And that’s the biggest difference, I’d say, compared to other wallets offering LN solutions.
AQUA Wallet is a super app designed so that your grandma can use bitcoin. We integrate features like a marketplace where you can buy bitcoin (depending on your region) and make direct swaps in the app, making access much easier.
Additionally, Samson explains why we’ve integrated the stablecoin USDT, a stablecoin backed by the dollar. According to him, we can onboard 400 million Tether users to bitcoin.
Personally, thinking about the situation in Latin America, the dollar plays a crucial role in escaping inflation or totalitarian government control. Between a country’s fiat currency in Latin America and bitcoin, it’s much harder to transition than from USDT to bitcoin. I’ve always maintained that all roads lead to bitcoin, and that’s the part we emphasize.
- How do you see the role of wallets evolving in the context of increasing bitcoin adoption?
Well, since its inception, the usability of bitcoin has improved a lot, and I believe wallets have played a key role in that. Thinking about a hot wallet you can use on your phone, for example, it’s like having a bank app because they’re so easy to use—actually, MUCH easier than a bank app because all you need to do is copy and paste an address to make a transaction.
I don’t know what the future holds, but there’s no doubt that these tools have made bitcoin much more user-friendly.
- As an educator, what topics do you find most important to teach about bitcoin, and why?
Well, one of the most important things I always talk about with my students is the importance of self-custody—being your own bank. “If it’s not your keys, it’s not your bitcoin.” I always emphasize this.
Bitcoin is the alternative to the traditional financial system, and that’s how we should use it—by holding our own money. It makes no sense to leave it on an exchange or in the hands of a third party. If you do that, you don’t understand bitcoin.
- How do you approach educating newcomers about bitcoin, especially those who may be skeptical?
Well, I always try to explain first how the fiat system works, the history of money, because if a person understands this, it will be easier to grasp the essence of bitcoin, and that’s where you start. It’s not always easy, but it’s the best path.
- Can you share a memorable experience where you helped someone understand bitcoin better?
Well, I would say that with my course, I’ve had a very good experience with my students. I think I’ve created bitcoin maximalists, haha. I’ve received a lot of positive feedback.
The thing is, I don’t try to convince anyone that bitcoin is the best option, I just show them the facts, and each person draws their own conclusions.
Community Engagement and Influence
- In your opinion, what are the most significant challenges facing Bitcoin today?
Well, I would say that misconceptions are harmful to bitcoin, as they delay adoption. Many people can fall for these narratives without having spent 5 minutes reading and understanding bitcoin. I think it’s natural for this to happen, but there’s no doubt it’s something that slows down adoption.
- What has been your most rewarding experience in the bitcoin space so far?
Creating maximalists through education, no doubt haha.
- How do you stay informed about developments in the bitcoin landscape?
Well, niche-specific media outlets and also X—following the most influential and important people who are constantly commenting on bitcoin.
- Are there any particular thought leaders or resources that have influenced your understanding of bitcoin?
Robert Kiyosaki was the first, Saifedean was key and now almost all the maximalists in bitcoin.
- How important is community engagement in promoting bitcoin, and what initiatives have you been involved with?
Well, for me, education is always the key. Last year, I organized the first bitcoin-only event in Paraguay, which gave rise to our community, Bitcoin Paraguay. I’m a co-founder, and we have monthly meetups, some workshops, and it’s been a very positive experience.
- What lessons have you learned throughout your journey in the bitcoin space that you would like to share with others?
Just keep studying until you have conviction about bitcoin, and then keep studying. Stay humble, just stack and hold bitcoin. That’s simple and the best strategy you can follow.
- What advice would you give to individuals looking to get involved in bitcoin?
Read the book The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean. I think it’s the best book for beginners. He explains the history of money, how central banks work, and why bitcoin, in a way that’s really easy to understand. It’s a great starting point to grasp bitcoin.
What’s Next?
- Looking ahead, what are your goals for your work in the bitcoin community over the next few years?
My goal and mission is, and will always be, to educate people. Spreading knowledge about bitcoin is a key part of that, and my objective is to do so in as many languages as I can. Today, it’s in Spanish and Portuguese, and I hope to do it in English as well someday.
- How do you envision the future of bitcoin in the next 5-10 years?
In terms of price, bitcoin at 1M in the next 10 years.
In terms of adoption, central banks using bitcoin as reserve for their CBDCs.
- How can the global bitcoin community support your mission?
I believe that as an educator, I can reach more people as they recommend my content, share it, and interact with it. All rewards come from proof of work, so the more quality content I deliver, the more I think the community will be able to support me even more.
