I remember the first time I had to look for a Bitcoin ATM, out of necessity - it was 2018.

LocalBitcoins was still a thing, but I needed an ATM, and a quick Google search told me that, believe it or not, the nearest one was in Girona, Spain.

Flying Ryanair is still cheap, but it was even cheaper back then, so all I had to do was book a return flight for €19.99 and flew to Girona to get my coins.

It cost an arm and a leg, not because of the commission or because of the flight + accommodation combo.

But simply because the amount of Bitcoin I got back then would be worth around $10,000. Which sucks.

But I didn't know, and I couldn't have known, and even though I was trying absolutely everything I could to NOT spend BTC, I simply needed the money.

Anyway, to cut a very long story very short, I'm writing this from Tbilisi, which is the capital city of Georgia, and it is packed with Bitcoin ATMs.

I honestly can't walk a mile without bumping into one.

Times, they are a-changin', aren't they?

Georgia, like other destinations you wouldn't have thought of before Covid, made the most of the pandemic by becoming expat-friendly.

During the pandemic, a lot of people suddenly realized they didn't have to be in one place if they didn't like it.

Things changed. Legacy brand countries, especially those in the EU, still haven't come to terms with the fact that people go where they're treated best.

Where I'm from, finding a Bitcoin ATM is still impossible.

Where I live, Belgrade, finding one is easier.

Where I am at the moment, Tbilisi, it's apparently the easiest thing the world.