Famous for its lush forests, vast beaches and charming towns, the South African garden route has become a testbed for Bitcoin adoption.
From Mossel Bay to Wyssando, Plettenberg Bay and Knysna, Bitcoin has been popular with shopkeepers and travelers for many reasons.
“We see early signs of a parallel allowed economy across the region,” James Caw, founder of local crypto assets provider Simplb, told Cointelegraph:
For tourists, the advantage is immediate. There is no need to exchange currency, no international card fees, and the ability to pay instantly and safely. For locals, Bitcoin (BTC) offers protection from inflation, currency volatility, and hedge against new economic opportunities.
This is a taste of what a bitcoin-friendly trip along the garden route is like.
The garden route is where Bitcoin meets paradise
The Garden Route is one of South Africa’s best tourist corridors. It stretches to about 300 kilometers from Mossel Bay to the west to the mouth of the Storm River to the east, attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists each year.
Crypto’s adoption is escalating thanks to South Africa’s regulatory environment. The South African regulatory environment recognizes Bitcoin as a financial product. Beyond the garden route, there is little concern about local taxes and exchange management, and you can spend your pre-earned Bitcoin at your disposal.
It’s a grassroots movement. Towns like Witsand and Plettenberg Bay are at the forefront, and national retailers like Pick n Pay offer safety nets for crypto spending along the way. All Pick N Pay stores, including supermarkets, clothing stores and express convenience stores, accept Bitcoin via the CryptoQR app. This ensures you can purchase every day with Bitcoin wherever you travel.
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Witsand is a Bitcoin village
Located at the mouth of the Breed River, Whitsund is a sleepy coastal town with a huge reputation in the Bitcoin world. Bitcoin wasn’t just accepted here. That’s what I want.
It’s thanks to the efforts of local champions like Edwin Jones, a software engineer and passionate supporter of Bitcoin adoption on the Garden Route. Witsand has become a working Bitcoin circular economy. Accommodations such as Fantasea, Happy Days Holiday Homes, dining at the main Ellie, groceries at local shops, gym memberships, boating services, gasoline, surf lessons, mini golf, and more can be paid to use Bitcoin.
As Jones points out:
Bitcoin Witsand existed long before it was named. It was just a conversation with a friend and when local businesses began to understand Bitcoin, they actually demanded that we start putting up technology.
The town’s small, close-knit community has enabled rapid recruitment. Over 45 facilities accepted Bitcoin in early 2025. The town’s enthusiasm is contagious as locals and visitors enjoy the ease and security of digital payments.
Witsand’s success as a Bitcoin hub is rooted in a community-driven approach. Jones outlines its growth by outlining it:
There have been many individual businesses over the years since 2009, but have started and stopped accepting Bitcoin on Garden Route, but adoption actually started kick-off in 2021.
“As the Lightning Network was beginning to mature around that time, Bitcoin Ekasi, the first spaza shop in Mossel Bay, began accepting Bitcoin in August 2021 and Whissand’s first restaurant in December of the same year.”
Education is central to the process. Local supporters focus on teaching business owners the basics of Bitcoin, highlighting the warning against fraud, the difference between Bitcoin and speculative altcoin.
“All circular economies that oppose gambling and trading warn of interest and investment, explicitly focusing on fundamentals rather than price, so con artists are at bay,” Jones said. “We also discovered that companies don’t need to adapt as they evolve.”
Bitcoin doesn’t change business – it simply charges it. Do the same old thing, much better.
Surfing and social uplifting in Mossel Bay
The historic gateway to the garden route, Mossel Bay is not just about beach and maritime history. Mossel Bay has Bitcoin Ekasi, a pioneering project that brought Bitcoin to the town of JCC camp.
Bitcoin Ekasi empowers unbanked residents by allowing them to earn and spend Bitcoin locally. Coaches for surfer kids’ nonprofits are paid in Bitcoin, while local spaza shops accept Bitcoin for daily necessities.
For Bitconner tourists, Mossel Bay offers a unique opportunity for “conscious crypto tourism.” You can take surfing lessons from Bitcoin paid instructors, access the Bitcoin Ekasi Education Center, or support your project with direct donations.
The town also boasts Pick n Pay, which accepts Bitcoin. As SimpleB’s CAW observes:
The Bitcoin Ekasi Project first began when it began accepting Bitcoin due to demand from foreign tourists visiting Mossel Bay. Once you start using it, it’s very easy to work with Bitcoin standard.
Plettenberg Bay is the fastest growing Bitcoin economy
Further east, Plettenberg Bay witnessed an explosion of Bitcoin adoption. In just a few months, the number of merchants accepting Bitcoin has increased from five to over 75, making it one of Africa’s most dynamic crypto economy.
Verified acceptors include Ferris cars (enable to make payments for crypto rental accommodations), glow lighting designs, and all local pick n-pay branches. Adventure tourism companies, boutique retailers and professional services are increasingly accepting Bitcoin, especially when asked. The rapid growth suggests a frenzied local scene that wants to capitalize on the spending of Bitcoin’s tourists.
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Plettenberg Bay offers a vibrant mix of beach life, nature and crypto-friendly commercial. The town’s energy is clear, and visitors are encouraged to engage with merchants, share information about lightning strikes, and to help the ecosystem grow.
“Now, Plettenberg Bay is the most interesting circular economy in Africa and perhaps in the world,” Jones said. “Currently, the most businesses accept Bitcoin in every town in Africa, achieving this within less than three months.”
Sedgefield is a quiet pioneer
Sedgefield, a quiet town between Knysna and Wilderness, played a key role in the nationwide rollout of Bitcoin payments with Pick n Pay. It is one of the innovative QR code converter testing sites from MoneyBadger, enabling Bitcoin spending with all Pick n Pay in South Africa.
Sedgefield itself does not have the same density of independent merchants as Whitsunand or Plettenberg Bay, but the presence of Pick n Pay allows crypto tourists to always pay for SAT groceries and essentials.
Practical information for your trip
Recommended wallets if you go on the garden route include blink, atshi and Phoenix wallets. Everything is widely used in the area.
The Bitcoin scene is still emerging in large towns such as Knysna, George, Wilderness, and Oudtshoorn. Although there is no established circular economy yet, the nationwide acceptance of Bitcoin on Pick n Pay provides a reliable foundation for spending.
BTC Map sometimes lists independent merchants like beans on coffee from Oudtshoorn. Still, the best strategy is to ask around, look for Bitcoin signs, and use a mapping tool to discover new acceptors.
In-person research remains important when it comes to accommodation, activities and meals. Many guesthouses and tour operators are open to Bitcoin payments, especially as awareness grows. Online platforms like BitRefill allow you to use Bitcoin to purchase gift vouchers for major retailers and provide a workaround where you don’t accept Crypto directly.
Happy trip.
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