What does it actually take to mine Bitcoin in El Salvador? In this episode, Mike sits down with Josue Lopez, CEO of Volcano Energy, to break down what’s really happening beyond the hype. Josue explains how his team is building energy infrastructure from the ground up, solar, wind, and geothermal, to support a truly sovereign energy mining operation. This isn’t about plugging into someone else’s grid. It’s about designing a system that El Salvador controls end-to-end. They get into the details of mining economics, from why electricity in El Salvador is so expensive to how immersion cooling made it possible to run ASICs in a tropical climate. Josue also shares why Volcano Energy has already raised nearly $300 million and how the team is balancing short-term returns with long-term strategic goals. Whether the energy gets sold to the grid or powers Bitcoin mining directly, the goal is the same—build assets that last and reduce dependency on unstable jurisdictions. The conversation moves beyond Bitcoin into national development. Josue explains how energy, safety, and financial inclusion are all connected. They dig into El Salvador’s massive housing shortage and why his fund is stepping in to build low-income homes designed for families earning minimum wage. It’s a look at what Bitcoin infrastructure really means when it’s tied to place, people, and policy. If you’ve ever wondered how energy mining works in the real world, or whether a country like El Salvador can build from scratch without relying on legacy systems, this episode is for you. Hit subscribe, drop a comment if your electric bill has ever made you consider going off-grid, and share this with someone who still thinks mining can’t work in Central America. -Bitcoin Beach Team Connect and Learn more about Josue Lopez https://x.com/josuelopezgal https://x.com/Volcano_Energy https://volcano.energy/ Support and follow Bitcoin Beach: X: @BitcoinBeach IG: @bitcoinbeach_sv TikTok: @livefrombitcoinbeach Web: bitcoinbeach.com Browse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 00:00 — Can El Salvador actually support Bitcoin data centers? 01:48 — Why did Josue Lopez leave El Salvador and what brought him back? 06:29 — How did Bitcoin solve banking challenges for international students? 08:41 — What changed after China banned Bitcoin mining? 15:21 — How much has Volcano Energy raised and where is it going? 20:08 — Why are electricity prices so high in El Salvador? 24:32 — How immersion cooling made energy mining possible in hot climates 34:42 — Should you mine Bitcoin or just sell power to the grid? 39:50 — How geothermal energy fits into El Salvador’s energy infrastructure 53:26 — Why financial inclusion depends on more than just Bitcoin Live From Bitcoin Beach
