Venezuelan here. You're exaggerating the use of bitcoin in Venezuela. You might have paid some people with it but on the streets you use and want USD. Zelle, PayPal or USD in cash. No one wants another volatile currency, we've had enough of those.

Is it true that parts of Venezuala are using flecks of gold as currency? Or is that just highly localized in usage and/or mostly in remote areas?

I have not heard of that to be honest. What does happen is you might settle change with random stuff. Say you buy groceries for $8.50. You might pay half with a transfer in bolivares (local currency) and the rest with a $5 bill. Then they'll give you back a chocolate and a bar of soap as change as they might not have enough. It's bizarre

I am, uh, paying two contractors in Venezuela in cryptocurrency (not BTC) by their request. Not sure how I'm exaggerating it. Unless you think I'm only paying one contractor, I guess.

Have you considered that the difficulty of transacting might be by design?

I have. I also don't respect them.