The towering vista of Mount Kenya provides an unlikely backdrop to a tech-savvy Kenyan restaurant that has embraced crypto-currencies as a form of payment.Betty’s Place specializes in “nyama choma”, a lip-smacking goat meat barbeque that is a firm favorite amongst Kenyans.Located in the rural town of Nyeri, about 150km (90 miles) outside the capital, Nairobi, it is one of the few businesses in the country that allows customers to pay with not one but two crypto-currencies – Bitcoin and Dash.”Since the world is becoming more global, my place is also becoming a global restaurant,” says Beatrice Wambugu, the owner of the restaurant.”I attract different customers from different parts of the world, whichever coin they have. As long as it’s a viable coin we accept it.”Ms Wambugu started trading in Bitcoin two years ago and within a year she made enough money to buy the two-storey Nyeri hotel, which she converted to Betty’s Place.Located on Nyeri town’s busy main road, the restaurant is unmistakable with its bright mustard-colored walls and big glass windows providing a welcome invitation to hungry patrons, who are greeted by a pleasant aroma of meat on the grill and the sounds of local music.Betty’s Place is not only a place for tasty Kenyan cuisine, but it has become something of a local attraction for people wanting to know more about Bitcoin.When it comes to embracing new technology, Ms Wambugu describes herself as “a crypto-currency pioneer”.To encourage more take up, she holds classes in how to trade in Bitcoin every Sunday at her restaurant.You can enjoy roast meat as well as learn about digital currencies at Betty’s Place”I have set aside one day where I can teach my customers. Whoever asks about crypto-currencies: ‘How does it work? What is Bitcoin?’ I train them,” she says.Mobile phones make paying with crypto-currency at Betty’s Place and other retailers easy.Watch her story by clicking on the YouTube link below.
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