VOA慢速英语--萨尔瓦多计划建设世界第一个“比特币城市”

El Salvador says it plans to build the world's first "Bitcoin City."

The city, to be created in the eastern area of La Union, will be powered by a nearby volcano, President Nayib Bukele recently announced.

The announcement came during an event held as part of the country's weeklong Latin American Bitcoin and Blockchain Conference.

In September, El Salvador became the first country in the world to make bitcoin a legal currency. The country has used the U.S. dollar for more than 20 years.

Bukele said the planned city would be financed with bonds linked to virtual currencies, also known as cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin is the world's biggest cryptocurrency.

El Salvador plans to issue $1 billion worth of "bitcoin bonds" in 2022, said Samson Mow¹, who appeared at the event with Bukele. Mow is an executive with Blockstream, a blockchain technology provider.

After the financing is ready, the building of the "Bitcoin City" could begin within 60 days, Bukele said. Mow added that the city could make El Salvador "the financial center of the world."

The city is to be built near the Conchagua volcano. Officials said the volcano will produce geothermal energy to power both the city and the bitcoin mining process. Geothermal power centers capture high heat from below Earth's surface. The heat creates steam that can turn machines to produce electricity.

Bitcoin mining is the process by which new bitcoin is created using computers that solve complex mathematical problems. The mining process requires huge amounts of energy.

Bukele said the project would create "a fully² ecological³ city that works and is energized⁴ by a volcano."

The government said it will provide land, infrastructure⁵ and low taxes to gain investors⁶. The only tax to be collected will be a value-added tax (VAT). Bukele said there would be no property, income or local taxes. He added that the city is expected to add no carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

The government is already operating a Bitcoin mining test project. It is near another geothermal area beside the Tecapa volcano in the eastern part of the country.

The government plans to use half of the new tax it collects to finance the bonds sold to build the city. The other half would be used to pay for local services. Bukele estimated that public infrastructure projects would cost about 300,000 bitcoins.

The goal of the city will be to bring in new foreign investments. Bukele invited companies from around the world to join the project and promised that such efforts would pay off. "Invest here and make all the money you want," he said.

The city is expected to include housing, stores, restaurants and a port, the president said. He also talked about plans to offer digital education and public transportation that does not harm the environment.

The government is currently supporting bitcoin with a $150 million fund. To get Salvadorans to use it, the government offered $30 of credit to those using the currency's digital wallet.

Bitcoin was first created to operate outside of government controlled financial systems.

The Salvadoran government has said bitcoin could reduce the cost for Salvadorans living in foreign countries to send money home to their families.

Words in This Story

virtual – adj. existing or occurring on computers or on the internet

blockchain – n. an online database containing information that can be used and shared within a large network open to the public.

infrastructure – n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country or region

digital – adj. using computer technology; created through electronic devices, not physically⁷ real

fund – n. an amount of money collected, saved or provided for a particular purpose

wallet – n. a container used to hold money

1 mow   

v.割（草、麦等），扫射，皱眉；n.草堆，谷物堆

参考例句：

• He hired a man to mow the lawn.他雇人割草。
• We shall have to mow down the tall grass in the big field.我们得把大田里的高草割掉。

2 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

3 ecological   

adj.生态的，生态学的

参考例句：

• The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
• Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.

4 energized   

v.给予…精力，能量( energize的过去式和过去分词 )；使通电

参考例句：

• We are energized by love if we put our energy into loving. 如果我们付出能量去表现爱意，爱就会使我们充满活力。 来自辞典例句
• I am completely energized and feeling terrific. 我充满了活力，感觉非常好。 来自辞典例句

5 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

6 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

7 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。