Camilo Jorajuría: «Bitcoin teaches you to survive in the middle of a world catastrophe»

“Bitcoin is going to change the world.”

With a statement that at first glance might seem simple, Camilo Jorajuría unleashed a personal revolution that would change his perception of the world. He embarked on a journey towards freedom that he had not known until then, discovering it thanks to bitcoin (BTC) since that day in 2016 when he had his first encounter with the digital currency created by Satoshi Nakamoto.

The well-known Argentine lawyer and consultant specialized in bitcoin is still surprised by what the COVID-19 crisis had in store for him. Perhaps, one of the most important learnings of your life. Really discover the level of control and influence that States have over people.

During the pandemic, many governments implemented emergency measures that included quarantines, confinements, movement restrictions, closure of businesses and public spaces, and mandates for the use of masks, among others, a complete terror, as the writer Andrea Leal expressed in an article from NoticiasVE. These measures demonstrated how states can exercise significant control on the daily activities of citizens, even in societies that consider themselves free or with a strong tradition of individual freedoms.

Then I saw what the States were doing and I really didn’t expect them to be so coordinated. Nor did I expect that in a place as free, as factually free as Argentina, those types of regulations would be received, which would eventually lead to the conclusion that they were exaggerated. So yes, the restrictions on non-ambulatory freedom were exaggerated with the Covid argument and, after that, I said, well, then something really has to be done.

Camilo Jorajuría, bitcoiner and Argentine lawyer.

From the revelation of Covid to the birth of a bitcoin citadel

This is how his ambitious project to develop a bitcoin citadel in Argentina, named Aleph Citadel, was born, where the economy and daily life revolve around the digital currency, especially as a tool to survive in a world in the midst of catastrophe.

As we have previously described in NoticiasVE, the bitcoin citadels They are territories in which communities determined to adopt bitcoin grow and form. to establish a circular economy, solely based on the digital currency created by Satoshi Nakamoto.

Hundreds of these citadels are already spread around the world in the search for sovereignty through an economy that does not depend on governments. Jorajuría, however, brings a distinctive vision to this concept. He compares these citadels to the ancient Greek polis, where the harshest punishment was not violence but exile. This method, he explains, is a non-violent way of maintaining social order, similar to how a business might decide not to admit someone. “That is the maximum punishment that corresponds, and it is non-violent because, simply, as in any business, the right of admission is reserved, the contract is terminated and the person leaves,” notes Jorajuría, emphasizing that this system allows maintaining the peace and autonomy within the community without resorting to force.

Returning to the explanation of his project, the Argentine bitcoiner said how he realized that he needed to work on perfecting his vision of the need to transfer to the physical realm the same concept of sovereignty that bitcoin grants in the digital world. «In that thesis I said, well, cyberspace is very good, but physical space is missing, because your bitcoins can also be attacked through a key of submission or assault on the physical infrastructure. What if that happens? “What are you going to do?” the Argentine asked himself.

Since then, the concept of citadels as refuges of freedom and autonomy is central to Jorajuría’s thinking. “It is [las ciudadelas] They are special jurisdictions, micropolises, private free cities, Charter Cities, international jurisdictions, they are intentional communities, Network States, whatever, there are tons of archetypes,” he explained.

In itself, it highlights citadels as the most radical, maximalist and ideal way to develop a life focused on Bitcoin.

The philosophy of bitcoin citadels

Advancing on the topic, Jorajuría described how he began to develop his philosophy on bitcoin citadels. «First I started with Argentina and well, I began to develop the entire philosophy behind it. The concept, the foundations, everything,” he detailed, pointing to the creation of a citadel that first attracts tourists and then expands and allows people to live in a territory with the greatest possible sovereignty.

Following the advice of Patri Friedman​ (advocate of the creation of micronations and other structures to increase people’s freedom) he sought to develop a minimum viable product (MVP) to test his idea.

“So, there I moved to the countryside, but here, near the province of Buenos Aires, ruling out the option of Patagonia as I had raised before,” detailing how began offering temporary tourism experiences completely based on bitcointaking advantage of outsourced services. So the success of this approach was tangible.

«It went very well for me. I had four different families and it directly earned the minimum product. I also learned about users and specifically the advantages of accumulating capital, of accumulating resources to use. Here I was using all the outsourced services and really, if I buy the land, it is much simpler.

Camilo Jorajuría, bitcoiner and Argentine lawyer.

With the validation of his concept, Camilo decided to scale his project. After a successful experiment, he began looking for land to buy, focusing on a property suitable for tourist development.

Mark distance to gain sovereignty

Tourism at Aleph Citadel would be an opportunity for people from older generations, with a more opulent interest, to come and experience this new lifestyle and economy. Jorajuría sees himself as a bridge between the fiat and the bitcoin world, helping those who come with the intention of become sovereign individuals, offering services to better understand how to live and manage your life with bitcoin. And beyond that, there is autonomy, which according to Jorajuría, is achieved not only by achieving geographical distance, but also by seeking a maximum reduction of state influence.

«Living outside big cities gives you autonomy, greater sovereignty and greater freedom. That is something that I also learned a lot in life, in the countryside you are freer, you are totally freer because, basically, the further you get from the urban centers, the presence of the state apparatus decreases as a whole and specifically, what “more represents the total apparatus, which is the police or the military in the exercise of force.”

Camilo Jorajuría, bitcoiner and Argentine lawyer.

For him, bitcoin citadels are perfect because they help achieve practical autonomy that translates into greater freedom without the need to alter regulations. «They are worth a lot because they mean freedom. It is simply a way of exercising freedom that the State is not even interested in taking away from you,” he stated.

The perfect recipe for a world in catastrophe

Jorajuría also mentioned the need for bitcoiners to prepare for scenarios of economic or logistical collapse, such as those seen during the Covid-19 pandemic, he added, pointing to the importance of establishing interconnection between citadels to strengthen survival methods against potential crises.

In itself, Aleph Citadel will be a place prepared for war, self-sufficient and ready for any unforeseen event because “bitcoin teaches you to live in the midst of a world catastrophe”he added.

«Citadels offer the advantage of being able to break any type of wall in physical space, so we can build walls in a literal and metaphorical sense. “We can build walls, but you can always break them,” he said, suggesting that flexibility in constructing and deconstructing physical and conceptual boundaries is crucial to maintaining freedom.

When Camilo Jorajuría spoke of “breaking walls” during his interview with NoticiasVE, he used the metaphor to describe the ability to challenge and overcome barriers, both physical and conceptual, that can limit autonomy and freedom. In the literal sense, it referred to the possibility of modifying the physical environment as necessary. This could imply build, tear down, or alter structures to fit the needs of a project or community. The idea is that in a space where sovereignty and autonomy are sought, people should not be constrained by pre-existing constructions or by restrictions on the use of the space.

The Argentine bitcoiner also addressed the impact of inflation and devaluation generated by money and the possibility that the economic system will actually collapse or that civilization, as we know it, will disappear.

“As long as they have [los Estados]”, the printer on, printing bills that have some value, everything is going to start to get complicated because kicking down walls is going to start to cost more,” he explained, indicating that as fiat money loses value, the cost of exercising physical control increases, while bitcoin offers a more efficient and economical alternative.

«Today you can pay to knock down and break walls with bills that still have some value, but over time, each mined block makes this process more expensive. “On the other hand, with bitcoin, it becomes cheaper to persuade those who might want to destroy those walls, since bitcoin’s game theory is ideal for financing these strategies,” he added, highlighting the economic superiority of bitcoin in such scenarios. That is why he is sure that The pioneering digital currency is part of the perfect recipe to survive in a world in catastrophe.

Camilo Jorajuría’s vision for bitcoin not only encompasses the transformation of the global economy but also proposes a reimagining of society through citadels, spaces where personal autonomy and economic freedom can flourish far from state control. His project, Aleph Citadel, is a testament to how Satoshi Nakamoto’s invention can serve as a tool to build communities that challenge the status quo, demonstrating that in a world immersed in crisis, innovation and freedom can coexist to create new ways of life and social organization.

Jorajuría reminds us that, in the end, Bitcoin not only has the potential to change the world, but to redefine our notions of sovereignty and community in an era where autonomy is more valuable than ever.