Meetup Recap: Passports, Freedom, and Bitcoin’s Role in Citizenship

Hey Bitcoin Bay fam! Our latest Thursday meetup took us on a thrilling dive into global citizenship, passports, and Bitcoin’s growing influence, thanks to Joey from Limitless Migration. From El Salvador’s Bitcoin citizenship dreams to diplomatic immunity hacks, Joey’s talk was packed with eye-opening insights. Here’s the rundown of this game-changing session!

Key Ideas from the Meetup

• Citizenship as Insurance: Joey introduced citizenship-by-investment as a “freedom policy”—a strategic backup plan costing $150K to a million, payable in Bitcoin or fiat.
• Bitcoin’s Citizenship Link: El Salvador’s pricey Bitcoin citizenship program flopped, but crypto-friendly Vanuatu shines—fast passports for BTC holders seeking sovereignty.
• Diplomatic Immunity Edge: Think Justin Sun evading U.S. crypto crackdowns with a Grenada diplomatic passport—Joey’s crafting similar escapes for clients.
• Sovereignty Through Options: Multiple passports—from Caribbean islands to Turkey—offer travel flexibility, tax perks, and peace of mind in a shifting world.

Unpacking the Meetup: Joey’s Global Expertise

Joey, a migration expert with seven years in the field, kicked things off with a tale from El Salvador. “I traveled there on a delegation, met ministers and the president’s brother,” he shared. Word was buzzing about a “3 Bitcoin for citizenship” deal in 2022. Joey and a partner launched El Salvador CIP to capitalize on it, but he bailed when it didn’t pan out. “Six months ago, they rolled out a million-dollar program with Bitcoin or Tether—terrible deal!” he laughed. Now, he’s steering clients toward passports from St. Lucia, Grenada, Malta, Vanuatu, Turkey, and more.

His pitch? Citizenship-by-investment: invest in a country, gain citizenship, and secure a passport. “You’re not buying a passport outright,” he clarified. “You invest—say, $150K in Dominica or $400K for a Turkish house—and citizenship follows.” Costs vary—Vanuatu’s $185K gets you papers in six weeks, while Turkey’s $400K includes property you keep for five years. “It’s an insurance policy,” Joey said. “Not a bunker with canned goods, but a way out.”

Bitcoin ties in big-time. El Salvador’s million-dollar citizenship might be a bust, but Vanuatu’s a crypto haven. “They’ll take anybody with money—North Koreans, Russians, you name it,” Joey chuckled. “It’s the fastest—six weeks—and super crypto-friendly, though they lost EU visa-free access for lax checks.” He also fielded a question about Prospera’s e-residency: “It’s for company setups, not living—another crypto perk.”

The showstopper? Diplomatic passports. “Justin Sun’s untouchable with Grenada’s diplomatic immunity,” Joey revealed. “Starts at $250K—perfect if you’re launching a coin and dodging lawsuits.” He’s working with a client now, shopping their CV to countries for a match. “It’s a glitch in the matrix—immunity for 4-5 years, renewable if they like you. Governments sell these to raise cash, just like U.S. donors snag posts.” A wild example? A U.S. diplomat killed a kid in the UK, dodged jail with immunity, and the government paid off the family. “You represent the country, so don’t mess up,” he warned, “but it’s a safety net.”

Joey’s big brainstorm? “Citizenship-based insurance.” It’s an escape hatch, not a payout. He shared a COVID story: an Aussie stuck in Australia, desperate to return to his Bulgarian factory, snagged a Vanuatu passport for $138K. “Five months trapped—$138K bought his freedom via flights to Vanuatu, Hong Kong, and Dubai.” For high-net-worth folks or families, it’s about options—Grenada’s E2 visa access to the U.S., Turkey’s non-Western alignment, or Malta’s EU perks. “It’s like having multiple parents,” he quipped. “If one says no, ask another—or your Turkish passport!”

Why diversify? “The U.S. won’t crash tomorrow,” Joey mused, “but what about your kids’ future?” Grenada offers visa-free China access—gold for business—while Antigua and Barbuda’s a tax haven with 150+ visa-free countries. Turkey’s $400K deal nets a house and Central Asian access. “It’s James Bond stuff—pick your ID at the airport,” he grinned. Bitcoin Bay’s mission—censorship-resistant living via BTC—dovetails perfectly with this global sovereignty play.

Join the Bitcoin Bay Movement!

Joey’s talk showed Bitcoin’s more than money—it’s a gateway to freedom, from local trades to global citizenship. Our Thursday meetups unpack ideas like this every week, from “What is Bitcoin?” (July 20th) to activism with Liudmila Klauskova and Jorge Ventura (July 19th). Catch us at Bitcoin Nashville, July 25th—use code BitcoinBay2024 for 10% off our booth! Join us every Thursday—grab some BTC, explore sovereignty, and let’s build a freer Tampa Bay together!