The problem is not that it's too hard and expensive to transfer money here. It is hard and expensive if you do it legitimately (like we do), but a huge fraction of the economy is underground. Like a third.

The problem, if I had to sum it up in a soundbite, is that you can't trust anybody. And so nobody trusts you. Unless you're family. You can imagine the effect that has on the competence of officials and executives.

The crazy laws are a big problem, but not as big as the endemic non-government corruption. Bank financing? We had to get a personal recommendation from our accountant to open a corporate bank account.

Bitcoin isn't going to help with that. If anything, it will make it worse.

The funny thing is, living here is pretty good, if you can afford the bare minimum needed to survive.