If you’re holding Bitcoin, you’ve already embraced a radical idea. If you invested in Bitcoin 15 years ago, you were looked at strangely – if you even talked about your investment publicly at all.
You’ve stepped outside the traditional financial system, opting for an instrument decentralized, independent of the powers that be, uncompromisable, and digital.
But here’s a question – What if you could extend that mindset beyond the financial world? What if your citizenship could be as flexible, strategic, and future-proof as your investment strategy?
This is the case for second (and even third) citizenship in a Bitcoiners’ investment portfolio.
A Second Citizenship is an Investment in Your Freedom and Future
For many in the Bitcoin space, Bitcoin is more than just a backup plan. It’s Plan A.
Bitcoin is about buying optionality in a future that we cannot predict.
The concept of alternative citizenship is similar. It’s about investing in your optionality – your ability to choose …
- Where you live
- Where you invest
- How you pass on freedom to future generations
Like your decentralized investment portfolio, a second citizenship provides a hedge against geopolitical and market risk, the flexibility to adapt at a moment’s notice, and go where you’re treated best, as Nomad Capitalist’s Andrew Henderson famously says.
No more obvious was this need for flexibility than during the global pandemic of 2020. All of the sudden, international flights were cancelled, millions were laid off from their jobs, and bank accounts were flooded with trillions in government stimulus.
Panic ensued.
But not everywhere. Different countries took different approaches to the pandemic.
Life in Sweden went unchanged. While the Canadian government in power mandated medical procedures on its population, censored any form of dissent online, and froze the bank accounts and financial assets of those who disagreed with them.
Night and day.
Imagine at that moment being Canadian (many of you don’t have to). Imagine not being trapped. Imagine acquiring citizenship in a foreign country or several countries, having the freedom to escape “yours” when the proverbial excrement hits the fan, and choosing where to live, where to work, and where to provide your children the education they need to thrive in the future.
Really, you don’t have to imagine it.
Foreign investors with multiple passports lived this reality in 2020. They bounced from country to country, from economy to economy, living in the jurisdictions that served them best in the moment – while those with one passport did not.
How does Bitcoin differ? At its core, Bitcoin is a hard money designed for freedom from inflation, governmental overreach, and the constraints of centralized systems.
A second citizenship offers a similar kind of freedom. It gives you optionality, a way to decentralize your life away from one single government, to diversify not just your financial assets but your identity.
How Multiple Citizenships Are a Hedge Against Market Volatility and Geopolitical Risk
Bitcoin is a hedge against inflation and the collapse of the traditional financial and political systems.
With access to several economies, bank accounts, and investment opportunities across the world (versus just those in your own backyard), a passport portfolio is also a hedge against unnecessary risk in your country’s economy, geopolitics, stock market, and response to global events like the pandemic.
In times of crisis, wealthy individuals don’t want to find themselves heavily reliant on one single government and have to scramble for visas or residency permits in safe haven countries. They want to have a second passport in hand to access benefits like:
- More extensive visa-free access and travel
- More tax optimization opportunities
- More personal security and privacy
- More business opportunities
- More education and healthcare access
- More ways to protect your wealth and assets
- More political stability
- More residency and living options
- More generational inheritances
Second citizenships are like value stocks (vs. growth stocks): You may not see their ROI immediately. But with time, they can far out-earn other investments by significant amounts.
But what happens when the country where you’ve invested your whole life suddenly goes to war and needs all the resources it can possibly get? What happens when they’re attacked by a foreign power?
This is where second citizenship comes in. It’s a hedge against market volatility and political instability.
The goal is diversification. Just as you wouldn’t put all your Bitcoin in one exchange, buy all your coins at once (you may even be dollar cost averaging), or put all your wealth in one bank account, you shouldn’t rely on just one passport.
Spread your money wisely and give your family a secure future – no need for perfect market timing.
Bitcoiner Personas and Their Ideal Citizenship Investment Strategies
Bitcoiners aren’t a monolith. If you’ve spent years in this space, you already know this. We come with different risk tolerances, ideologies, timelines, and goals.
Your path to citizenship shouldn’t be any different. What one individual may be interested in for their portfolio and lifestyle goals may not interest you at all.
Your citizenship portfolio should reflect your investment philosophy. In fact, they’re one and the same.
So why should a Bitcoiner consider a new citizenship? I’ll answer that question and propose how it fits into various investing strategies based on your approach to Bitcoin.
1. The Bitcoin HODLer & Philosopher
You believe in the long game. You’re a long-term investor who doesn’t flinch at market fluctuations because you know that over time, Bitcoin is the future and its value will reflect that fact.
Apart from your financial approach, you also believe in the Bitcoiner philosophy, a piece of the Bitcoin puzzle most don’t bother to study: You relish healthy living, individual liberties and sovereignty, and the return of traditional values to society. The Bitcoin Standard is on your nightstand. And, you just want to be left alone.
For you, acquiring a second citizenship is about future-proofing your life just as you’ve done with your Bitcoin holdings.
Ideal Citizenship Investment Strategy —
Good news. Many countries fit the bill – with low taxes, a low geopolitical profile, a predictable economy, and long-term investing opportunities.
Portugal’s Golden Visa and residence permit or El Salvador’s Freedom Passport program are solid choices.
Via Portugal’s Unbound Fund, investors can get an immediate residence permit and citizenship in five years with indirect exposure to Bitcoin. What makes this program special is 1) the low physical presence requirements for residency and 2) maintaining exposure to €500,000 worth of bitcoin.
So not only do you get residency and/or citizenship out of your investment, you also can get a huge return on your original Bitcoin investment.
Over in Latin America, with a government donation of US$1 million in BTC or USDT, El Salvador’s citizenship by investment program offers investors immediate citizenship.
For the HODLer looking for stability and not necessarily a return on their investment, plenty of other jurisdictions grant citizenship or residency in exchange for investments in real estate, mutual funds, exchange traded funds, and index funds.
Some countries also offer independent means visas for those with pensions, recurring income, and passive investing.
We’ll talk more about these options below.
2. The Bitcoin Day Trader
You live and die by a stock price and thrive on volatility, moving in and out of positions based on technical analysis and momentum investing. You approach your investments with confidence, no matter the market sentiment or market prices.
You’re not as interested in Bitcoin for its long-term viability in society. You just want to take advantage of its Number Go Up (NGU) technology and make as much income as possible during the run-up. This is your livelihood after all.
For you, a second citizenship isn’t really about security. It’s about the ability to react quickly to higher risk, to reduce your capital gains taxes, and to navigate international law – legally.
Therefore, you’re tuned into your investment options and what countries offer.
Ideal Citizenship Strategy —
Your best bet is a direct citizenship by investment program that offers fast access to a full citizen’s privileges, new markets, and reduced taxes. Consider countries like Malta or St. Kitts & Nevis, which offer some of the world’s most tax-friendly policies and quickest paths to naturalization through their citizenship by investment programs.
Your investment choices are high-risk, high-reward. Your citizenship strategy can reflect that investment approach as well.
With more money in high-growth markets, the more potential for a boom in your investments.
3. The Value Investor
Remember Singapore, Hong Kong, and Dubai in the 1950s? No? Neither do we. And that’s the point.
Imagine having invested in a jurisdiction like those examples 50 years before they became what they are now. Imagine getting citizenship in Singapore, which now has the world’s most valuable and hard-to-obtain passport, before it was even on the map.
You’d be considered the Warren Buffett of citizenship investing.
Dual citizenship is inherently a value investing tool. For decades, a passport portfolio has been severely undervalued. But now, millions have now accessed the benefits of a second citizenship.
So the question is – Which countries are today’s growth stocks? Which jurisdictions are the targets of value investing? To where are the growth investors (and their investments) migrating?
The answers to these questions will reveal the Hong Kong of tomorrow, the Dubai of tomorrow.
Is it Buenos Aires? Have you seen what’s happening in El Salvador? Is it Saudi Arabia? What about Kuala Lumpur? Where can you invest to get a 1,000,000x return?
If you spotted Bitcoin early, you should have no trouble finding the next investors’ paradise.
Market fluctuations? That’s just part of the game. For you, value investing is the cornerstone of your investment strategy. Buy low, sell high.
Ideal Citizenship Strategy —
The best strategy for you is to travel the world, explore new markets, find those with the highest probability of succeeding based on various factors, and begin investing in those that fit your financial goals.
Countries all around the world offer investment programs for foreign nationals like you. And, of course, when you send money to a country, invest in a business headquartered there, or procure actively managed funds, you receive tangible benefits like residency or citizenship.
Incentives – This is how countries in the 21st century attract wealth investments.
How to Choose the Right Citizenship Program Based on Your Risk Tolerance
What surprises most people I talk to is that acquiring citizenship in most countries is not a backchannel strategy. You can obtain another passport by any of the following paths and more:
- Investing in real estate
- Excelling in your field or craft
- Opening a company or creating jobs
- Donating money to a government fund
- Proving your ancestry in that jurisdiction
- Simply spending the required time to naturalize
- Being historically or culturally important to a country
- Holding money or investments in a financial institution
- Providing exceptional services to a country’s population
All this to say – There is a diverse range of ways to obtain another citizenship. Successful investors know their needs and build a citizenship portfolio that meets them.
Just like in investing, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to citizenship. Beginner investors must do their due diligence to find the right investments for them. Your choice should reflect your risk tolerance, goals, and personal circumstances.
First, evaluate your risk and reward. Then, determine your goal (financial goals, family goals, investing goals, lifestyle goals, etc.).
If you’re willing to take on more risk, consider fast-track citizenship options like Antigua & Barbuda or Vanuatu. These programs offer quick returns but come with political uncertainties.
For example, those who were investing in Vanuatu citizenship a few years ago didn’t know that the European Union would strip the country of visa-free access to the Schengen Zone in 2024. If the investors knew of that future policy change, might they have changed their opinion before sending their US$100,000 donation to the Pacific island? Who knows…
If you prefer a more stable, less risky approach, investors have numerous residency by investment options and naturalization paths. These programs may require more physical presence and a longer timeline, but for many, they want to spend time in a jurisdiction before investing significant time and/or money in a country.
Here are a few investment routes Bitcoiners could take:
Independent Means Visas
Independent means visas simply require applicants to show economic solvency and proof of recurring income (in the form of pensions, retirement income, or other passive investing sources). That’s it.
Most independent means visas also lead to citizenship but may require more physical presence than golden visas, which I’ll cover in a second. Typically, these visas are designed for retirees and pensioners but can sometimes be ideal for others.
Portugal’s D7 Visa
Thanks to its golden visa and tax policies although the Non-Habitual Tax Regime (NHR) has been closed, Portugal has become a popular destination for digital nomads and Bitcoiners over the last decade. The D7 Visa allows individuals with sufficient passive income to apply for residency in Portugal and eventually citizenship in five years.
Uruguay
If you’re looking for a more tranquil, off-the-grid option, here is your opportunity. For Bitcoiners seeking stability and safety, Uruguay offers the Rentista Visa. Tucked away in the Southern Cone of South America, Uruguay and their independent means visa allows individuals who can demonstrate a monthly passive income to establish residency in Uruguay.
Known for its high quality of life and political stability (it’s called the “Switzerland of South America”), Uruguay is an excellent option for those looking to invest in a South American residency. Plus, investors can choose whether to pay a 7% tax for life or 0% tax for 10 years once they become a tax resident.
Golden Visas
Panama’s Friendly Nations Visa
Panama has long been considered a LatAm hub for expats and investors. The Friendly Nations Visa allows citizens from certain countries (“friendly nations” like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia) to obtain residency through either the establishment of a local business or by demonstrating financial self-sufficiency (e.g. retirement income, pension).
Andorra’s Passive Residency Program
Between Spain and France, mountainous Andorra offers one of the most attractive independent means visa options in Europe through its Passive Residency Program. The program requires a minimum investment of €400,000 in local real estate or local financial institutions.
However, physical presence is strictly required in order to renew the visa and/or convert it to citizenship.
Portugal’s Golden Visa
Portugal’s golden visa is the most popular in the world for good reason. With minimal presence requirements and just a five-year path to citizenship, it’s the best of both worlds. Plus, through the Unbound Fund, you can invest indirectly in Bitcoin and recoup your investment after you’ve obtained permanent residence or citizenship.
Citizenship by Investment
Malta’s Citizenship by Investment
Together with El Salvador’s Freedom Passport, Malta’s Exceptional Investor Naturalization (MEIN) Policy is the most expensive of all residency or citizenship investments listed here. But, many claim it’s for good reason. With an investment of almost €1 million in real estate and donation to the government, investors can obtain citizenship in the European Union – albeit in a matter of years as the application backlog is growing.
St. Kitts & Nevis’s Citizenship by Investment
Back in 1984, Caribbean island nation St. Kitts & Nevis offered the very first Citizenship by Investment program. With visa-free access to over 145 countries, its passport is still strong. Moreover, if you’re looking to reduce your taxes (potentially to zero), invest in citizenship here and become a tax resident: St. Kitts & Nevis doesn’t levy any personal income tax.
Just as you approach your Bitcoin holdings with a long-term mindset, think of a second citizenship as part of your broader investment strategy. Diversify and reduce risk.
A citizenship portfolio is like digital real estate. Secure your freedom, invest in your legacy, protect your family, and open up new investment choices across the globe. But you have to identify your long-term goals first to determine the ideal location or group of places that best fit your lifestyle.
Buy Bitcoin. Invest in a second citizenship.
The future belongs to those who see it coming. And as a Bitcoiner, you’re already ahead of the curve. Now, it’s time to extend that approach to your citizenship.
