Cripto & Chelas
Invite-only side event during Plan ₿ Forum El Salvador
📍 Oveja Negra | 🗓 January 29th | ⏰ 6:00 PM
Crypto & Chelas is an invite-only gathering designed to bring together ecosystem leaders, business owners, builders, investors, and local voices for an open, high-signal conversation about what real adoption of crypto, DeFi, and modern payment systems actually takes in emerging markets.
This third edition takes place during Plan ₿ Forum El Salvador and continues the spirit that defines Crypto & Chelas:
honest dialogue, real-world perspectives, and conversations that go beyond hype.
What to expect
The evening will begin with a keynote by Dejan Roljić, Founder & CEO of NAKA, followed by a panel discussion titled:
“From Fiat to DeFi: The Path to Real Adoption”
Together, we’ll explore:
What self-custody and financial control mean in practice
Why traditional financial systems still exclude millions
The real barriers to adoption beyond technology
How payments, cards, and DeFi can work in everyday life
El Salvador’s role in shaping the future of finance in the region
After the panel, we’ll continue with networking, drinks, and an after-hours gathering, creating space for meaningful connections among people actively building the financial future of El Salvador and beyond.
Speakers & Panelists
🎤 Keynote
Dejan Roljić – Founder & CEO, NAKA
Entrepreneur and investor who launched a global startup accelerator at 26, supporting 150+ startups worldwide. Founder of a leading crypto payments platform and creator of the NAKA Card, enabling self-custody and financial inclusion. In summer 2024, Dejan exited NAKA in a deal valued at €100M+.
🎙 Moderator
Alicia DeLia – Founder & CEO, Buen Vivir Capital Institute
Economist, fundraiser, and impact investing advisor working across the Americas and Africa. Alicia has helped mobilize and allocate $120M+ in blended finance for impact-driven entrepreneurs and funds, with a strong focus on Central America.
🧠 Panelists
Luka Paragi – Chief Product Officer
Product leader focused on building scalable, user-centered financial products.
Héctor Torres – Attorney & Notary (El Salvador)
Specialist in fintech, blockchain, tokenization, neobanking, and digital asset regulation.
Gabriel Gutiérrez – CEO & Founder, CUBO
He is the co-founder and CEO of Cubo, a Salvadoran startup dedicated to empowering small businesses and entrepreneurs to accept card payments and digitize their operations throughout Central America. Since its founding in 2021, Cubo has raised over $5 million in investments from venture capital funds and business groups in the region. It notably stands out as the first fintech company in Central America to receive funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB Lab).
Before founding Cubo, Gabriel held several leadership positions at Uber in Latin America, including General Manager for Panama and the Caribbean. His professional background also includes consulting experience at Bain & Company in Paris. After living abroad for 14 years in France, the United States, Mexico, and Panama, Gabriel returned to El Salvador with the mission of promoting regional economic development through technology. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in finance from Sciences Po Paris in France.
🎟 Invite-only | Limited spots
👉 RSVP here: https://luma.com/ta88e32b