Suriname Presidential candidate wants to make Bitcoin legal tender

Surinamese presidential candidate Maya Parbhoe has revealed her bold vision for transforming Suriname’s economy. She pledged that if elected, she would make Bitcoin legal tender on her first day in office.
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“The people are tired. We really do need drastic change, similar to El Salvador,” she added, referencing the country’s landmark decision to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021. Inspired by this move, Parbhoe envisions BTC as the core of Suriname’s economy as it will provide a pathway to financial sovereignty, transparency, and resilience.

“Bitcoin should be our de facto currency, separating money from the state completely,” she stated. Moreover, her plan goes beyond just legalizing Bitcoin. She is also dedicated to establishing a system that protects Surinamese citizens from both local and international pressures.

Furthermore, Parbhoe aims to make Suriname financially independent from traditional financial institutions, particularly the International Monetary Fund (IMF). She even criticized the IMF as an instrument of “monetary colonialism” that hinders true economic progress in smaller nations. Recently, IMF also tried to create a hurdle for El Salvador asking them to limit the use of Bitcoin, reported CNF.

Thus, with the use of Bitcoin and its decentralized structure, she hopes to build an economic system free from external interference.
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Parbhoe explains “we were elected in May, after inauguration, it's the first thing you can do. It's a one day thing. It's an executive order by the Foreign Exchange Commission. It's a one pager that just needs to be issued. You don't need to go through parliament for it. You don't need to change any laws. So legal tender, we can do immediately.”

This change would require no parliamentary approval or legal modifications, clearing the way for immediate financial transformation in Suriname.

Parbhoe’s approach aligns with her vision of “to not need to be dependent on [the] IMF,” which, she notes, would eliminate constraints imposed by international financial institutions and redirect economic power back to the people.

A Plan for Sustainable Transition to a Bitcoin-Standard Economy

The adoption process will not stop at legal tender status. Parbhoe’s long-term goal is to make Bitcoin the country’s primary unit of account, phasing out the Surinamese dollar (SRD).

To oversee this transformation, Parbhoe has created a specialized commission led by Austrian economist Philip Baggis and managed by economic strategist Stefan Runds.

This commission is drafting a structured roadmap to replace the SRD with Bitcoin while addressing necessary legal reforms.

Parbhoe stated “within a very short time frame. Think two, three years, this country could be maybe one of the most developed in the world.”

With Suriname’s modest economy and population size, she believes this transition will encounter fewer roadblocks than larger economies might face.
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