Will Fiji Legalize BTC Next as its New Pro-Bitcoin PM Steps Into Office?

Sitiveni Rabuka became Fiji’s 12th Prime Minister after winning the country’s elections earlier this month. The 74-year-old, commonly known by his nickname “Rambo,” is a proponent of bitcoin.

Former member of Parliament of Tonga Lord Fusitu’a applauded the Rabuka for his success, supporting the idea of Fiji and Tonga embracing the primary cryptocurrency as legal tender in 2023.

‘Let’s Go 2 for 2’

The People’s Alliance Party (PAP) became the new ruling political group in the Republic of Fiji, and its leader, Sitiveni Rabuka, recently took office. The politician, who has already been in charge of the island nation, succeed the former PM Frank Bainimarama. Biman Prasad will serve as Deputy Prime Minister.

Lord Fusitu’a – a Tongan noble – revealed last year that he and Rabuka had a meeting regarding renewable bitcoin mining and how that could benefit Fiji. 

He released another tweet earlier today (December 29), congratulating “Rambo” and Prasad for their roles. Lord Fusitu’a also urged the new government of Fiji to dive deeper into the world of crypto and embrace bitcoin as an official means of payment together with Tonga next year.

A new pro-#Bitcoin friendly Prime Minister in the South Pacific.☀️🌊🏝️

Fiji 🇫🇯‘s newly elected Prime Minister @slrabuka.

Let’s go 2 for 2 – BTC Legal Tender Bills for the Pacific in 2023 👊🏽💯🇹🇴🇫🇯

— Lord Fusitu’a (@LordFusitua) December 29, 2022

Assuming Fiji and Tonga take such action, they will become the third and fourth countries across the globe where bitcoin is legal tender, with El Salvador and the Central African Republic being the first two. 

Similar to the Latin American nation, the Pacific islands could employ the energy of its active volcanoes in bitcoin mining. In addition, introducing the primary digital asset to locals could increase financial inclusion in Fiji.

Tonga’s Plans

The Polynesian country displayed its intentions to introduce BTC as legal tender at the beginning of 2022. Lord Fusitu’a supposedly teamed up with Jack Mallers (the CEO of Strike) to roll out the bitcoin project in Tonga.

The former MP claimed that the nation could become more “competitive and wealthy” if it embraces the digital asset. 

“An economy that uses bitcoin for payment at every stage of the supply chain. From the seed to the table. Pay for cassava roots and cattle in bitcoin from the farming supplier all the way to the waitress serving it to you at Kardo’s steak bar and every step in between in BTC,” he added.

Lord Fusitu’a suggested that the bill declaring bitcoin as legal tender in Tonga should have reached Parliament in September/October. However, the ruling body has not yet greenlighted such legislation.