Innovation by chaos – Nelson Inno on Bitcoin

"Your father is draining all my liquidity," came the urgent plea from a Bitcoin ATM operator to Nelson Inno at a cryptocurrency event in El Salvador. What started as a simple demonstration had turned into an unexpected shopping spree, as Inno’s father discovered the magic of digital currency and couldn’t stop feeding bills into the machine – starting with "a $1 bill and then a five. And then he started putting 20, 20, 20."

Inno, author of Unstable Innovation: The Fragile State Most Will Never Understand, told The Crypto Radio that his goal is to make complex financial technology approachable for everyday people. Rather than overwhelming readers with jargon, he frames revolutionary concepts through the lens of innovation and personal growth.

From chaos to opportunity

Inno’s book begins with an intentionally jarring image – “a drawing of an apple, a pineapple, and Adam Sandler's head.” For him, this discomfort has a purpose. "Chaos is a source of opportunities disguised as challenges," he explained, positioning disorder as a springboard for fresh thinking rather than something to fear.

As founder of the innovation agency weSpark, Inno has long emphasized results over theory. His team helps companies "build physical products, design services, and create digital platforms," a hands-on approach that clients value over “lengthy reports.” His methods draw on what he calls “innovation by synthesis” – “combining different ideas to create something new.”

He also embraces what he terms “peripatetic learning.” For Inno, being in motion, especially in nature, sharpens the mind: "being in a state of movement" helps him process information and discover new connections.

Nelson Inno’s book, Unstable Innovation, blends personal lessons with subtle Bitcoin cues to reach new audiences. Photo: Unstable Innovation

Bitcoin as the ultimate innovation

For Inno, Bitcoin is more than digital money – it is “the biggest open innovation example” he has encountered. Its collaborative and decentralized design, he argues, goes further than other landmark projects. "Its impact is higher than other open innovation projects like the International Space Station or Linux."

"Bitcoin changes behavior and mindset, making it a prime example of innovation," he said. He regards its creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, as “the ultimate innovator of our times” for creating a system that maintains trust without centralized control.

Inno describes innovation itself as "a state of mind." He argues that immersing oneself deeply in Bitcoin – whether 40 hours or thousands – can "fundamentally change one's behavior and personality," reshaping how people think about money, trust, and cooperation.

Orange pilling at home

Inno estimates he has helped between 70 and 200 people grasp the basics of Bitcoin, but admits his own family was the toughest audience. He recalled “several years of trying and trying to do it myself,” describing failed attempts to persuade his parents and sister.

His breakthrough came with a change of strategy. He invited them to an Adopting Bitcoin event in El Salvador: "I said, 'You have no excuse, you have to come, I have a presentation. Maybe there's going to be 2 or 3 people there. So if you come, then you're going to double the amount of people. So please support me with this.'"

The family arrived with stereotypes in mind, “expecting a lot of rebellious people, maybe homeless looking.” Instead, they discovered "a really nice, friendly, welcoming event" filled with professional booths and determined, intelligent people.

The ATM that flipped a switch

The pivotal moment came when his father encountered a Bitcoin ATM. "He could put some cash into this ATM, scan a QR code, and he already had a wallet, and then he will get Bitcoin Lightning." To everyone’s surprise, “he just started, like, putting in  bills.”

That’s when the operator intervened: "Nelson, is this your father? … This ATM is just for showing what's possible. Your father is draining all my liquidity."

From there, the transformation accelerated. His father went on “a shopping spree,” buying “Satoshi whiskey” and Bitcoin merchandise, while his mother began “paying in Bitcoin” for food. The entire family’s perspective shifted, not through debate but through lived experience.

Reflecting on the lesson, Inno concluded: "If you have been trying to orange pill your family, maybe just take a break, let someone else do it. You know, no one is a prophet in their own land."

Teaching bitcoin by stealth

Nelson Inno believes chaos sparks opportunity and Bitcoin is the ultimate innovation project. Photo: Unstable Innovation

This insight shaped his approach to writing Unstable Innovation. Instead of a book that looks overtly Bitcoin-focused, he designed it as a Trojan horse. "If you give someone a book that has a Bitcoin logo on it… they won't read it."

Instead, subtle Bitcoin logos are tucked into the cover design, while the weSpark innovation helmet draws more attention. The pitch is simple: "look, this is going to help you structure your life. It’s going to be a fun read. You're going to learn some things. And then… boom, Bitcoin. 'Ah, that's why you gave me the book.'"

His process was deliberate. He wrote the manuscript in three weeks, then spent three months refining it with feedback from 18 readers, 12 of whom provided detailed reviews. Along the way, he received advice from musician and educator Adam Neely on simplifying concepts, and even exchanged books with Bitcoin educator Jimmy Song at the Plan B Forum.

Good will over profit

Inno decided to release the book under a Creative Commons license, encouraging anyone to share or translate it freely. He even set a personal target: "to make a loss of around $2000 in fiat currency" on the project.

His philosophy is clear: "good will compounds faster than money." Already, an NGO in El Salvador has distributed 200 copies at an educational event, extending its reach beyond his immediate circle. He sees the book as a bridge, a “book that goes before any Bitcoin book” to prepare readers for more technical material.

"I don't know how many people I need to onboard to Bitcoin so that I feel like, okay, I compensated for showing someone Metamask," he reflected, half-joking but underscoring his sense of responsibility.

Through storytelling, strategy, and generosity, Nelson Inno has shown that the best way to introduce revolutionary ideas isn’t force or persuasion, but patience, creativity, and authentic human connection.