Six months ago, I was still holding my Bitcoin in the same hardware wallet that i had transferred it to back in 2017. The truth is, I had still held belief in Bitcoin, but I was asleep at the wheel in regards to safeguarding it.
One device, one seed phrase, one point of failure, all together in a safe that moved around, even into my storage unit at one point. If I lost it, or if someone else found it, everything could be gone.
But then I woke back up to Bitcoin (the bull market helped). In the last eight years there has been so much advancement in the self-custody space. Upon my own research, it was clear I was not keeping my Bitcoin safe.
Sovereignty isn’t just holding Bitcoin. It’s taking full responsibility for how you secure it, plan for the future, and integrate it into your life.
Building My Sovereignty Stack#
Here’s what I’ve built so far:
Single-Sig with Coldcard (Upgraded Security): I’m still on single-sig, but I’ve distributed my recovery phrase across secure locations — a safe, a safety deposit box, and a trusted family member’s home. No more single point of failure.
Unchained Multisig IRA: Migrating retirement accounts into Bitcoin through Unchained pushed me to learn how collaborative custody works, and why tradeoffs matter. This gave me practical experience with multisig.
Node Running at Home: I’ve started running my own node on my computer. Long-term, I plan to move to a dedicated device (like Umbrel or Start9). For now, it’s about taking ownership of verification.
Inheritance Planning (Early Stages): I’ve begun mapping how family could securely access funds if something happened to me. It’s still evolving, but it’s part of my sovereignty blueprint.
Helping Friends & Family Adopt: Beyond my own setup, I’ve helped friends and family get started — setting up wallets, moving off exchanges, and teaching the basics of self-custody.
Each step required research, trial and error, and conversations with people further along than me. And each step made me realize: this is a practice, not a destination.
Beyond Tech: The Human Side of Sovereignty#
Sovereignty isn’t only technical — it’s also human.
It’s about trust: who you share recovery details with.
It’s about education: helping family and community understand the “why” behind Bitcoin.
It’s about discipline: facing your own procrastination, fear, or avoidance.
For me, this overlaps with my work in men’s circles and transformational coaching. Bitcoin adoption isn’t just plugging in hardware, it’s an initiation into responsibility, freedom, and legacy.
Why I Share This#
I’m not a developer. I’m not building Bitcoin code. My proof of work is living it, documenting it, and helping others bridge the gap between technology and human adoption.
If you’re holding Bitcoin, I encourage you:
Audit your setup. Where’s the single point of failure?
Map out inheritance. Who can access your Bitcoin if you can’t?
Take the next step. Whether it’s multisig, a node, or even just moving off an exchange — do something concrete this week.
Closing#
This is just the beginning of my sovereignty stack. My commitment is to keep refining it — and to share what I learn so others can build theirs.
Because Bitcoin isn’t just money. It’s freedom. And freedom demands responsibility.
💡 Follow my journey here on Nostr, or on Substack** *, *LinkedIn** *, or *X ****as I continue documenting my Bitcoin sovereignty practice and the human side of adoption.
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