Inspired by El Salvador’s Bitcoin experiment, Parbhoe plans to make Bitcoin legal tender within her first year should she be elected, replacing the Suriname dollar with sats and paying all salaries in BTC.
The proposal is rooted in transparency and systemic reform to combat the corruption that has plagued her nation for decades. Her agenda goes further: dismantling the central bank, privatizing public services, and issuing Bitcoin bonds to attract investment.
“Bitcoin is not just a financial tool,” Parbhoe said in an interview with Cointelegraph. “It’s the foundation for a transparent governance system that Suriname desperately needs.”
Parbhoe’s fight against corruption is personal, having lost her father at 13, who was murdered in a drive-by shooting after exposing a financial scandal involving Suriname’s largest bank, alleged drug money laundering, and links to international arms dealers. Her family’s assets were seized and attempts to reclaim their funds have been thwarted by what she describes as a corrupt judiciary.
“I’ve seen firsthand how corruption destroys lives,” Parbhoe said. “This isn’t just politics for me—it’s justice.”
Parbhoe said she envisions Bitcoin as a tool to eradicate corruption by making government budgets fully transparent and traceable. Her plan includes a “corruption bounty program” that rewards whistleblowers worldwide for exposing fraud.
She also aims to restructure Suriname’s financial system from scratch, avoiding the pitfalls of fiat currency. “We have an opportunity to build a system aligned with Satoshi Nakamoto’s vision—transparent, decentralized, and incorruptible,” she said.
Despite backlash, death threats, and systemic resistance, Parbhoe’s campaign is gaining traction. With recent electoral reforms ensuring equal vote weight, she believes the 2025 election offers a real opportunity for change.
“Corruption is strangling Suriname’s potential,” she said. “With Bitcoin, we can unlock billions in investment and finally put the power back in the hands of the people.”
Whether her vision can overcome entrenched corruption remains to be seen, but Parbhoe’s determination offers hope for a new chapter in Suriname’s future.
