The idea that investing is only for the rich is being challenged by an unlikely group: Filipino farmers. With no access to hedge funds, stock markets, financial analysts, or formal financial training, they are enjoying a higher return on investment than traditional investors. Year after year, inflation continues to eat away at the value of hard-earned money, yet these farmers have found a way to protect their wealth—not through elaborate investments or pension plans, but through a digital asset available to anyone with a mobile phone.

Bitcoin.

Instead of watching their money lose value due to rising prices and reckless monetary policies, these farmers are turning to an asset that preserves purchasing power over time. So far, despite the ups and downs of the crypto market, their savings are only growing in value. If the most financially excluded individuals are finding success in Bitcoin, shouldn’t the rest of us take a closer look?

Caption: Farmers Atan and Paul have been saving 500 PhP or $9 per month in Bitcoin since April 2023

The Problem with the Current Financial System

For many rural workers, access to traditional financial services is severely limited. Opening a bank account requires extensive paperwork, maintaining a minimum balance, and paying fees—barriers that many simply cannot afford. Investing in stocks or bonds is even further out of reach since they require knowledge and access to financial institutions that are often unavailable in rural areas.

Yet this isn’t just a problem for the marginalized and low-income sectors. Former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, author of Introduction to BITCOIN: Navigating the Future of Money, argues that the current financial system is broken. In his podcast Basta Bitcoin, he compares the fiat system to pouring water into a pail with holes. No matter how much you pour in, it eventually runs out. Similarly, due to inflation, the actual value of your savings declines over time. In contrast, Bitcoin is designed to be deflationary, meaning it retains its purchasing power in the long run.