When we talk about Bitcoin, we inevitably talk about custody, sovereignty, and security. It’s not just about holding sats, but about understanding how to protect them and in what economic and political context this game is being played. This block of the event focused on key topics: self-custody as the next step, the clash with CBDCs, the collapse of trust in fiat currencies, and the holistic security of the bitcoiner.
🔑 Got Bitcoin? Your Next Step Is Self-Custody
- Buying Bitcoin is just the entry point; the real leap comes with self-custody.
- Centralized exchanges are useful for acquiring, but they are custodians: they hold your keys, not you.
- The rule is clear: “Not your keys, not your coins.”
- Best practices were highlighted: hardware wallets, multisig, and constant education to avoid common mistakes (phishing, poorly stored seed, etc.).
📌 Central message: having Bitcoin without controlling the private keys is like owning gold stored in someone else’s vault.
🏛️ Sovereignty in the Digital World: Bitcoin vs CBDCs
- CBDCs (Central Bank Digital Currencies) were presented as the antithesis of individual sovereignty.
- While Bitcoin grants freedom and self-custody, a CBDC represents surveillance, absolute traceability, and state control over spending.
- The debate is not only technical but philosophical: money as a tool of freedom vs. money as a tool of control.
🌍 Reflection: CBDCs may bring payment efficiency, but at a high social cost. Bitcoin offers the decentralized counterbalance.
💸 Bitcoin and the Collapse of Trust in Fiat Currencies
- The global scenario is clear: sustained inflation, growing sovereign debt, and loss of credibility in central banks.
- Bitcoin emerges as a safe haven asset in a world where fiat currencies rapidly lose value.
- The message was direct: trust in fiat money erodes; trust in Bitcoin is based on mathematics, not political promises.
🗄️ Centralized Custody vs. Self-Custody: Who Protects Your Bitcoin Better?
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Centralized custody:
- Pros: convenience, customer support, accessibility for beginners.
- Cons: risk of bankruptcies (FTX), hacks, regulatory freezes.
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Self-custody:
- Pros: total sovereignty, censorship resistance, full control.
- Cons: greater individual responsibility, risk of loss if the seed is not protected.
📌 The balance may lie in hybrid models (shared multisig, collaborative custody solutions) that combine security and usability.
🛡️ Bitcoiner Security: From Digital to Physical
- Bitcoiner security goes beyond the seed: it also includes physical and personal protection.
- Key points covered:
- Don’t flaunt holdings publicly.
- Discretion on social media.
- Home security (from safes to more advanced measures).
- Understanding that being sovereign also means being responsible for one’s own safety.
🔒 Conclusion: protecting Bit