• Press Releases
    • Submit a press release
    • Read All
  • Contact us
Advertise
Bitcoinist.com
Buy Neo Pepe
No Result
View All Result
🚀 BUY NEO PEPE PROTOCOL 🚀
  • Bitcoin
    • News
    • Price
    • Businesses
    • Acceptance
    • Technology
    • Investment
    • Regulation
    • Reviews
    • All Bitcoin News
  • Altcoins
    • News
    • Price
    • Ethereum
    • Ripple
    • Litecoin
    • EOS
    • NAGA
    • All Altcoin News
  • Tech
    • Blockchain
    • Security
    • FinTech
    • Price
      • Bitcoin Price
      • Ethereum Price
      • Binance Coin Price
      • Litecoin Price
  • Industry
    • Industry News
    • Press Releases
  • How to
    • Buy gift cards/mobile Top Ups with Cryptos
    • What Is Bitcoin?
    • Best Bitcoin Wallet
    • Bitcoin vs Ethereum
    • Why Use Blockchain Technology?
    • Bitcoin Cash ABC vs. Bitcoin Cash SV
    • How to Buy Cryptocurrency
    • How to do Crypto Gambling
      • Crypto Casinos
        • Ethereum Casinos
        • Solana Casinos
        • LiteCoin Casinos
        • DogeCoin Casinos
        • Live Crypto Casinos
        • New Casinos
        • Instant Withdrawal Casinos
        • Cash App Casinos
        • No KYC Casinos
        • VPN Casinos
        • Offshore Casinos
          • Crypto Casinos IT
          • Crypto Casinos ES
            • All Guides
          • Crypto Casinos JP
          • Crypto Casinos SG
          • Crypto Casinos MY
          • Crypto Casinos KR
          • No GAMSTOP Casinos in UK
          • No Cruks Casinos NL
      • Crypto Betting
        • No ID sportsbooks
    • Play Crypto Games
      • Crypto Poker
      • Crypto Slots
      • Crypto Blackjack
      • Crypto Crash Gambling
        • Aviator Sites
      • Plinko
    • Bitcoin Mining
    • Best Bitcoin Brokers
    • Best Bitcoin Forex Brokers
    • How To Earn Bitcoin
    • What is Facebook Libra?
    • Ripple and XRP: The Complete Guide
  • Events
  • Play Games
Breaking News: World Liberty Financial Accuses Exchange Of Token Manipulation, Justin Sun Blacklisted
🚀 BUY NEO PEPE PROTOCOL 🚀
  • Bitcoin
    • News
    • Price
    • Businesses
    • Acceptance
    • Technology
    • Investment
    • Regulation
    • Reviews
    • All Bitcoin News
  • Altcoins
    • News
    • Price
    • Ethereum
    • Ripple
    • Litecoin
    • EOS
    • NAGA
    • All Altcoin News
  • Tech
    • Blockchain
    • Security
    • FinTech
    • Price
      • Bitcoin Price
      • Ethereum Price
      • Binance Coin Price
      • Litecoin Price
  • Industry
    • Industry News
    • Press Releases
  • How to
    • Buy gift cards/mobile Top Ups with Cryptos
    • What Is Bitcoin?
    • Best Bitcoin Wallet
    • Bitcoin vs Ethereum
    • Why Use Blockchain Technology?
    • Bitcoin Cash ABC vs. Bitcoin Cash SV
    • How to Buy Cryptocurrency
    • How to do Crypto Gambling
      • Crypto Casinos
        • Ethereum Casinos
        • Solana Casinos
        • LiteCoin Casinos
        • DogeCoin Casinos
        • Live Crypto Casinos
        • New Casinos
        • Instant Withdrawal Casinos
        • Cash App Casinos
        • No KYC Casinos
        • VPN Casinos
        • Offshore Casinos
          • Crypto Casinos IT
          • Crypto Casinos ES
            • All Guides
          • Crypto Casinos JP
          • Crypto Casinos SG
          • Crypto Casinos MY
          • Crypto Casinos KR
          • No GAMSTOP Casinos in UK
          • No Cruks Casinos NL
      • Crypto Betting
        • No ID sportsbooks
    • Play Crypto Games
      • Crypto Poker
      • Crypto Slots
      • Crypto Blackjack
      • Crypto Crash Gambling
        • Aviator Sites
      • Plinko
    • Bitcoin Mining
    • Best Bitcoin Brokers
    • Best Bitcoin Forex Brokers
    • How To Earn Bitcoin
    • What is Facebook Libra?
    • Ripple and XRP: The Complete Guide
  • Events
  • Play Games
Bitcoinist.com
No Result
View All Result
Breaking News: World Liberty Financial Accuses Exchange Of Token Manipulation, Justin Sun Blacklisted
Chivo Wallet, goats on a field

From The Ground: Devastating Problems With The Chivo Wallet

Eduardo Próspero
by Eduardo Próspero
3 years ago
·
Posted in Bitcoin, Bitcoin Acceptance, Bitcoin Technology
Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

During Bitcoin Week, reports of the Chivo Wallet stealing people’s Bitcoin reached a mainstream audience. Salvadorans have been dealing with the issue and reporting it to tech support for a while, without much luck. The international influencers that recently visited El Salvador have a much wider audience, and they are very confident that they know how to work the wallets. So, they are sure it’s a technical issue. The Chivo Wallet is not working as it should.

Related Reading | From The Ground: The “Bitcoin In El Salvador” Documentary, What Did We Learn?

Will the outrage have a positive result? Will President Bukele’s team invest in improvements to the Chivo Wallet and training for the tech support personnel? We certainly hope so, and Bitcoinist is doing its part by reporting on the issue. Not everything is going smoothly with El Salvador’s transition to the Bitcoin standard. And we’re here for the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

The Chivo Wallet Ate My BTC With Découvre Bitcoin

In the first two videos, we see the whole transaction. The Découvre Bitcoin team was probably filming it for a feel good story about a Lightning payment. They ended up with a “short story on how bad the chivo wallet is.” The transaction goes through and the Bitcoin leaves the Breez wallet they were using. It never reaches its destination.

2/ As you saw in the video above, the transaction did work. We have the pre-image on his Breez wallet, the money was send to the Chivo lightning wallet.

There is no other way around. Math is math. The issue is that somehow the merchant was never credited. pic.twitter.com/r0n8xCb2p4

— Découvre Bitcoin (@DecouvreBitcoin) November 17, 2021

The story is prevalent. The answer is hilarious. “This has happened to many bitcoiners I spoke to here at Adopt21 and the answer from the shop owner is always the same: “Just call breez wallet customer service for a refund.” How bad does the Bitcoin education in El Salvador has to be for they to give that answer? The word “abysmal” comes to mind.

“Jokes aside, is it due to a lack of local education that most el salvadorian have no clue what they are doing with Bitcoin. Chivo coin to chivo coin is easy since it’s just a centralized ledger transaction.” Here, we have the issue’s first characteristic. The Chivo Wallet works fine when interacting with other Chivo Wallets, but it gets into trouble when any external wallet comes into the equation. 

Then, we can hear half of the conversation with Chivo technical support. Which doesn’t help.

6/ Then something I never thought possible happened: the shop owner started spelling out the whole pre-image for 2 minutes. This is too much ahaha 🤣.

Spoiler: It's long ! pic.twitter.com/6Om4aItQZ3

— Découvre Bitcoin (@DecouvreBitcoin) November 17, 2021

Unsatisfactory Resolution

“At the end I had to pay in cash, I have a ticket with Chivo customer support for a refund of $14.35 or 22k sat, odds we get those back are pretty low, but if the chivo support team manages to figure it out it will be amazing.” So far, the Découvre Bitcoin Twitter account hasn’t reported a refund. The CEO of Breez wallet sums it up nicely, “Lightning works, Chivo doesn’t.” And Découvre Bitcoin puts another piece of the puzzle, “Some of our core value is transparency and trying to remain compatible between all Bitcoin wallets. And yet Chivo is an absolute black box.”

In the replies to this viral thread, dozens of people complain about their Chivo Wallet experience. Nevertheless, the most interesting comment comes when a pseudonymous user asks Blockstream’s Samson Mow “can you please nodge Nayib Bukele for a comment.”

Will see.

— Samson Mow (@Excellion) November 20, 2021

 

Mow answers “Will see.” Did he do it? Blockstream certainly had an open line with the president, as Bitcoinist reported.

BTCUSD price chart for 11/30/2021 - TradingView

BTC price chart for 11/30/2021 on FTX | Source: BTC/USD on TradingView.com

Horror Stories With Zender

If you think what the store owner said in the previous story was bad, wait until you hear what tech support said to Zender. But first, context. “You all heard the horror stories of Chivo wallet but I have the best. Paid $125 for a dinner and funds went out of my Phoenix account but never reached their chivo wallet. Had to pay with cash to settle the bill.” The situation is the same, but the dollar amount is significantly higher. 

But decided the next day to call the english support line of chivo. After explaining the situation they said, I kid you not, these exact words: "Please call Lightning to reimburse you." pic.twitter.com/bPVKPLPMCq

— zender 🧹 bitcoinomad (@zndtoshi) November 22, 2021

What’s a person to do in this situation? Try as they might to get their BTC back, of course. “Decided the next day to call the english support line of chivo. After explaining the situation they said, I kid you not, these exact words: “Please call Lightning to reimburse you.” Wow. The education problem is deeper than we thought. Remember that this is the Chivo Wallet tech support we’re talking about here. Imagine the rest of the population’s level of knowledge about Lightning.

“Didn’t get the money back even to this day. Guess it’s a donation now. Bitcoinbeach wallet on the other hand is much better.” That’s good to know, at least. However, Zender identifies another problem right away. “Now my biggest pet peeve of this experience is that most LN wallets (bitcoinbeach and chivo and others) show the balance of the shop or the waiter whenever I wanted to tip or pay the bill. This is unacceptable from a privacy point of view.”

I will end on a good note and the best moment for me of this trip. Was at Point Break Coffee Shop in El Tunco and received the bill and reached for my wallet and the waiter said "No, we'd prefer payment with Bitcoin". That made my day. There is a new world out there. pic.twitter.com/DdPDq2Lz59

— zender 🧹 bitcoinomad (@zndtoshi) November 22, 2021

The thread closes with a feel-good story, thank God. “Was at Point Break Coffee Shop in El Tunco and received the bill and reached for my wallet and the waiter said “No, we’d prefer payment with Bitcoin”. That made my day. There is a new world out there.” So, not everything is lost.

Related Reading | From The Ground: Salvadoran Tells Us Exactly What’s Going On In Bitcoin Country

It’s a process. And that’s the problem with breaking new ground. The pioneering nation of El Salvador will get there, eventually. The Chivo Wallet will improve, hopefully, sooner than later. And Bitcoinist will be there to bring you this and all the stories that no other crypto publication is covering.

Featured Image: JoeBreuer on Pixabay | Charts by TradingView
Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.
ShareTweetShareShare

Sign Up for Our Newsletter!

For updates and exclusive offers enter your email.

I consent to my submitted data being collected and stored.
Eduardo Próspero

Eduardo Próspero

Follow

Eduardo Prospero is an author, a content writer, and a professional rapper. A Bitcoin maximalist in disguise. Working on a Bitcoin book. Beware of my Telegram impersonator!

Full Profile

Related Posts

Bitcoin

Corporate Bitcoin Allocation Climbs As Companies Invest 22% Of Profits: Study

19 hours ago
Bitcoin

Bitcoin Payments Now Accepted By Top UAE Developer For Real Estate

1 day ago
cours-or-nouveau-record-chute-btc

Record de l’or et chute du Bitcoin : que se passe-t-il ?

2 days ago
Metaplanet

Metaplanet Pushes Bitcoin Holdings Over $2 Billion With New Purchase

3 days ago
Bitcoin

Bitcoin Mining Can’t Keep Up: Companies Buying At Quadruple Pace – Report

3 days ago
Bitcoin

Bitcoin Treasury Race Heats Up As Dutch Firm Shoots For $23-M Launch

4 days ago
Please login to join discussion

Premium Sponsors

Press Releases

  • CoinEx Research August 2025 Report: August Ascension: Dual...

    55 minutes ago
  • MemeCore七日暴漲 211%引爆熱度 Snorter Bot...

    3 hours ago
  • miner

    Is Bitcoin Investment Still Profitable? Use BTC Cloud...

    3 hours ago
  • miner

    ADA’s path to long-term success: Integrating with...

    15 hours ago
  • Bitget and Bitget Wallet Support Trading of Over 100...

    18 hours ago

Bitcoin news portal providing breaking news, guides, price analysis about decentralized digital money & blockchain technology.

Buy Neo Pepe

Bitcoin

  • News
  • Price
  • Businesses
  • Acceptance
  • Technology
  • Investment
  • Regulation
  • Reviews

Altcoins

  • News
  • Price
  • Ethereum
  • Ripple
  • Litecoin
  • EOS

Categories

  • Blockchain
  • Security
  • FinTech
  • Technology
  • Trending
  • Breaking News
  • Press Releases
  • How to

About Us

  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
© 2025 Bitcoinist.com. All Rights Reserved.
  • Bitcoin
    • News
    • Price
    • Businesses
    • Acceptance
    • Technology
    • Investment
    • Regulation
    • Reviews
    • All Bitcoin News
  • Altcoins
    • News
    • Price
    • Ethereum
    • Ripple
    • Litecoin
    • EOS
    • NAGA
    • All Altcoin News
  • Tech
    • Blockchain
    • Security
    • FinTech
    • Price
      • Bitcoin Price
      • Ethereum Price
      • Binance Coin Price
      • Litecoin Price
  • Industry
    • Industry News
    • Press Releases
  • How to
    • Buy gift cards/mobile Top Ups with Cryptos
    • What Is Bitcoin?
    • Best Bitcoin Wallet
    • Bitcoin vs Ethereum
    • Why Use Blockchain Technology?
    • Bitcoin Cash ABC vs. Bitcoin Cash SV
    • How to Buy Cryptocurrency
    • How to do Crypto Gambling
      • Crypto Casinos
      • Crypto Betting
    • Play Crypto Games
      • Crypto Poker
      • Crypto Slots
      • Crypto Blackjack
      • Crypto Crash Gambling
      • Plinko
    • Bitcoin Mining
    • Best Bitcoin Brokers
    • Best Bitcoin Forex Brokers
    • How To Earn Bitcoin
    • What is Facebook Libra?
    • Ripple and XRP: The Complete Guide
  • Events
  • Play Games
Advertise

© 2025 Bitcoinist. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy Center or Cookie Policy.