Joana Cotar embarked on her political career in 2013 when she joined the newly established Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. It was also in that same year that she was introduced to Bitcoin by her brother. In 2017, Cotar became a member of the Bundestag, the German federal parliament, as part of the AfD’s federal executive. However, after 10 years, she left the party for various reasons.
As an independent member of parliament (MP), Cotar saw an opportunity to promote Bitcoin on the political stage. Drawing from her studies of the Austrian School of Economics, she delved deep into Bitcoin and its principles. In late 2023, she introduced a draft bill to the Bundestag, urging the federal government to make Bitcoin more accessible in Germany. The bill proposed allowing German citizens to pay taxes with BTC and exploring the use of Bitcoin mining to stabilize the energy grid and monetize renewable energy. Cotar’s most ambitious goal was to make Bitcoin legal tender in Germany.
To achieve this, Cotar recognized the need to educate members of the Bundestag about the positive aspects of Bitcoin. She observed that many politicians lacked basic knowledge about cryptocurrency and often only heard about the negative aspects. To address this, she initiated the “Bitcoin im Bundestag” campaign, which aims to raise awareness and understanding of Bitcoin among parliamentarians. The campaign is set to launch on February 22, 2024.
Cotar acknowledged that the adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender on a national scale in Europe would be a significant undertaking. She believed that it could bring about profound changes in society. Drawing inspiration from El Salvador, the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, Cotar emphasized the potential benefits of Bitcoin as a freedom currency and its ability to empower individuals by giving them control over their own money.
When asked about her political future, Cotar expressed that she may not be able to be reelected in the next elections in Germany in 2025. However, she remained committed to advocating for Bitcoin and promoting its benefits. Cotar envisioned a future where Bitcoin could coexist with the euro as parallel currencies, providing an opportunity to assess the feasibility of transitioning to a Bitcoin-based system.
In conclusion, Cotar’s journey as a politician has led her to embrace Bitcoin as a tool for freedom and change. Through her draft bill and awareness campaign, she aims to pave the way for greater acceptance and adoption of Bitcoin in Germany, ultimately envisioning a society where individuals have more control over their finances and politicians are held accountable for their economic decisions.