Wounds of war are long-lasting and far-reaching. For soldiers who have been through combat, trauma can take a huge toll on their mental health and impair their relationships with loved ones. Too often, veterans come back withdrawn and changed, almost as if they were no longer the same person. You would be hard-pressed to notice that upon meeting José. After taking part in El Salvador’s grueling civil war between 1979 and 1992 as part of the country’s special operations forces, he, like many veterans, now works in private security, a sector where these brothers in arms’ expertise would come in handy for decades.

José’s current job in private security led him to cross paths with Samson Mow, the CEO of JAN3, and Edwin Rivas, the company’s Head of Latin America. While assigned to Samson’s security detail during the CEO’s first visit to El Salvador, José spent time with him and shared insights about the country’s past, contemporary life in El Salvador, and even his Sunday league football matches.

When President Nayib Bukele made Bitcoin legal tender, he unleashed a wave of opportunity, drawing tech startups and companies eager to invest in a nation that has undergone a remarkable turnaround since he took office. The numbers tell the story: El Salvador has shifted from being one of Latin America’s most dangerous countries to one of the safest, all while achieving some of the strongest economic growth in the region.

Even for new visitors, El Salvador’s improvements have become obvious. However, it is the locals who stand to benefit the most from it, as Salvadorans get used to a newfound sense of security and hope within their borders.

While José was fortunate to find work after leaving the army, life has not been as kind to every civil war veteran. Still, despite the circumstances, these men find the time needed to organize football matches that help them stay connected after all these years. 

The Asociación de Paracaidistas Salvadoreños (Association of Salvadoran Paratroopers) gathers civil war veterans from the country’s elite forces from back in the day. These men, whose experiences helped them build invaluable and lasting friendships, were key to overcoming their own psychological struggles.

It was for this reason, after hearing José’s stories, that JAN3 was more than happy to sponsor his team so he and his friends could keep playing the beautiful game they love so much.

For some Salvadorans, the Bitcoin boom has meant new job opportunities, and for others, it’s allowed them to save money freely and access services that were once out of reach. For this special ops squad, Bitcoin's network effects have translated into a new international sponsor.

When JAN3 first decided to help José and his friends, his team wore Spain’s famous red shirt, yet nowadays they proudly choose to play in El Salvador’s national team colors. It may seem like a coincidence, but José’s team is the only one in the league to wear La Selecta’s uniform, in itself a sign of their own renewed sense of national pride.

Civil war veterans encompass only a couple of generations, but the changes taking place in El Salvador since the country adopted Bitcoin are noticeable to younger people, too. The civil war and gang violence shaped many aspects of daily life in El Salvador, and similarly, the prosperity sparked by Bitcoin’s adoption is doing the same for a country striving to become Central America’s go-to destination for investors.

While the mainstream media decried El Salvador’s Bitcoin experiment, for many people in the country, and even those who were forced to flee it, it allowed them to see their homeland in a new light. Sports and the stories that unfold around them have always been a catalyst for change, and judging from El Salvador’s recent history, Bitcoin can do the same.

José’s team won the match where they first debuted their new JAN3-sponsored jerseys with a whopping 5-1 score. Much like them, El Salvador has been winning nonstop since it adopted Bitcoin. What started as a simple gesture of support for a local football team has become a lasting partnership built on shared values—resilience, community, and belief in a better future. Since 2021, JAN3 has proudly sponsored José’s team, marking not only our first investment in El Salvador but also one of our most meaningful. Year after year, we've stood by these veterans, not just as sponsors but as friends who recognize the sacrifices they’ve made and the role they continue to play in rebuilding a stronger, more united nation.

El Salvador's transformation since adopting Bitcoin is not just economic, it's deeply human. From war-torn pasts to football fields filled with laughter and purpose, veterans like José are living proof that hope can be restored, dignity reclaimed, and national pride reignited.

As El Salvador continues their Bitcoin adoption strategy, JAN3 remains committed to supporting the people who make this progress possible. From policymakers to everyday citizens, and especially those like José, stories like this remind us what the movement is really about: freedom, healing, and the chance to build something better.