Frequently Asked Questions
The only stupid question is the one that isn’t asked. Check out our FAQs below to find answers to your questions about Bitcoin, Cybersecurity, Plan B Residency, and The Bitcoin Way
Not at all. In fact, most people are surprised at how simple and affordable it really is.
We provide you with hardware recommendations that won’t break the bank. Low-power, high-performance devices that can run quietly in the background 24/7. Then we walk you through setup step by step, with zero jargon and no pressure.
Once it’s running, your node just quietly does its job: protecting your privacy and verifying every transaction you send or receive. You don’t need to be technical, you just need to care about doing Bitcoin the right way.
No. Your Bitcoin is not stored on your node. It lives on the blockchain.
The node simply gives you a secure, private window into the network. If your node goes offline or the hardware fails, your Bitcoin is still safe. Nothing is lost.
We’ll show you how to back things up, and if something ever does go wrong, we can help you rebuild from scratch.
When you leave your Bitcoin on an exchange, you're not actually holding it, the exchange is. What you have is an IOU. They control the private keys, which means they control the funds.
With self-custody, you hold your own keys. You don’t have to ask for permission to send your Bitcoin, and no one can freeze your account or lock you out. It's the difference between truly owning your money versus hoping someone else doesn't lose it, lend it, or restrict it.
Yes. Hardware wallets keep your private keys offline, isolated from your phone or computer, which are far more vulnerable to malware or human error.
We help you choose the right device, walk you through setup step by step, and teach you how to use it with confidence. Whether you're storing a few hundred dollars or a life-changing amount, your Bitcoin deserves real protection.
It can feel intimidating at first, especially if you’re used to traditional banking or have never handled private keys before. But with the right guidance, it becomes second nature.
We take the time to explain everything clearly, with no jargon or pressure. You don’t need to be technical, you just need to care enough to learn. And we’re here to make sure you get it right from day one.
Multisig, or multi-signature, is a way to secure your Bitcoin using more than one key. For example, you might need two out of three keys to move funds. This adds an extra layer of protection, especially for larger holdings, shared custody, or inheritance planning.
But not everyone needs multisig right away. If you're new to self-custody or not yet comfortable with the tech, we always start with a secure singlesig wallet first. Once you're ready, and if it makes sense for your situation, we can help you upgrade to a more advanced setup with zero pressure.
If you’ve set up your backups correctly, nothing is lost. Your Bitcoin lives on the blockchain, your wallet is just a key to access it. With a secure and well-documented backup, you can always recover your funds.
But if the backup is missing or done incorrectly, recovery can become impossible. That’s why we work closely with you to create a backup plan that is not only secure, but also practical for your real life. You’ll know exactly what to do and where your critical information is, without relying on memory or guesswork.
Most wallets leak more data than people realize. They might connect to someone else's node, reveal your IP address, or show your entire balance every time you make a transaction. This makes it easier to track your behavior and link your identity to your Bitcoin.
We help you take control of your privacy with tools like your own node, privacy-focused wallets, and better wallet practices. You don’t need to be a privacy expert. We guide you through practical steps that give you real protection without overcomplicating things.
We have learned time and time again that trusting third party institutions to look after your wealth is not a safe or viable strategy.
During Bitcoin’s 15-year history we have witnessed multiple exchanges get hacked or simply abscond with user funds. Over $3.8bn was stolen from exchanges in 2022 and another $1.7bn in 2023.
Bitcoin was created to enable you to ‘Be Your Own Bank’. It is a powerful tool that allows you to reduce counterparty risk to absolute zero and become the sole arbiter of your wealth.
Being the sole custodian of your wealth means your funds can never be confiscated and your transactions can never be censored.
This is what Bitcoin was designed for. You need to embrace it if you want to become truly self-sovereign.
Yes.
Taking self-custody of your Bitcoin is just the first step to being in complete control of your money. If you don’t set up and run your own Bitcoin Node, then you remain dependant on others when you want to use it.
Broadcasting your transactions through third party nodes can potentially reveal a lot about you, your Bitcoin activity and potentially even your identity. When managing significant amounts of your wealth it makes sense to do this without compromising your privacy. You need to be broadcasting your transactions via your own node.
Why rely on unknown hardware run by other people when you can your own node and verify everything for yourself. One of Bitcoin’s golden rules is ‘Don’t Trust, Verify’.
We keep our pricing simple, transparent and fair.
All of our packages ensure you take the most essential steps in protecting your Bitcoin including:
- Setting up an encrypted vault,
- Securing your seed phrases offline
- Setting up and configuring an air-gapped hardware wallet
- Running your own Bitcoin node.
If you want to go further and require support in other areas of your Bitcoin journey, then we have a series of packages that will enhance your skills in areas like Disaster Recovery, UTXO Management and Inheritance Planning.
We don’t charge percentage-based fees because we don’t believe you should pay a higher price simply because you have more wealth to protect. Regardless of the size of your stack, the process is the same and so is the price.
We also don’t charge ongoing subscription fees. The fees you pay are based simply on how much training you require. Our prices are fixed and are ‘one-time’ only. There are no surprises, just straightforward, expert support.
If you’re sceptical about who to trust when it comes to protecting your Bitcoin, then this is a good sign that you’re applying the appropriate amount of caution when managing and securing your wealth.
We designed our services to make you feel as comfortable as possible. Here are some of the ways we put your mind at rest:
- Our entire team is public online and is well known in the Bitcoin community.
- We NEVER touch your Bitcoin. We will never ask for your seed phrase or hold any private keys associated with your Bitcoin stack. We don’t need or want to know how much Bitcoin you have.
- If you would prefer it, you can remain completely anonymous throughout your training. We don’t need to know your identity to offer you expert education.
- We NEVER KYC our customers. We are not a financial institution and never hold any influence over your Bitcoin stack, so we don’t need to compromise your privacy or security by collecting identifiable information about you or your finances.
- We ONLY ever train you to use open-source hardware and software. That means that everything we do can be independently verified by you or anybody else. Everything we do is 100% transparent.
We cannot abuse your trust because we never put ourselves in a position to be able to. All we offer is expert education.
Most smartphones are tracking devices with a screen. Even when you’re not using them, they’re pinging your location, harvesting your data, and selling your attention.
We help you switch to privacy-first phones that don’t include Google or Apple tracking. These phones still do what you need. Calls, texts, maps, apps. But they don’t spy on you in the background.
You get your freedom back without sacrificing functionality.
Most people think of cybersecurity as protection against hackers — and while that’s part of it, the real threats go much deeper.
Your devices are constantly leaking data about where you are, what you do, who you talk to, and what you search for. That data gets collected by apps, advertisers, governments, and third-party trackers, often without your knowledge or consent.
We're here to protect you from all of that. From social engineering and phishing attempts, to operating system telemetry and browser fingerprinting. We harden your devices, protect your communications, reduce your digital footprint, and give you back the ability to live online without being watched or profiled.
Yes. You don’t need to be famous, wealthy, or “on a list” to deserve privacy. In fact, ordinary people are often the most vulnerable, because they assume they’re not a target.
The truth is, data is being collected on all of us, all the time. That data gets sold, analyzed, and sometimes breached or abused. Privacy isn’t about having something to hide. It’s about having control over what’s yours. Your thoughts, your location, your conversations, your money.
You don’t have to go off-grid or disappear. You just need to take a few smart steps to stop broadcasting your life to people who shouldn’t be watching. That’s where we come in.
Not always, but in some cases yes. It depends on what you are using now, how compromised those systems might be, and how long you have had them.
If your current laptop or phone is tightly tied to surveillance-heavy platforms like Google or Apple, we may recommend starting fresh with de-Googled hardware or privacy-first operating systems. That gives you a clean slate and removes a lot of built-in data leaks right away.
We also consider the age of your device. If it is more than five years old, we usually suggest upgrading to something newer. Older hardware can create issues during the setup process, from compatibility problems to limited security support, and it can make your system more vulnerable overall.
That said, we will never pressure you to throw away something that still works. If there is a secure way to repurpose your current device, we will show you how.
Our goal is always to make the transition smooth, affordable, and easy to understand. You do not need to be an expert or go all in from day one. We will help you build a setup that fits your needs and your life.
Not necessarily. We don’t take an all-or-nothing approach unless you want to.
If you’re ready to de-Google fully, we can guide you through it step by step - replacing Gmail, Maps, Search, and Drive with privacy-respecting alternatives. But if you’re not there yet, that’s okay. We can still help you reduce exposure and improve privacy without flipping your world upside down.
This is a journey, not a test. You go at your own pace, and we’re here to support you at every step.
We are spending more and more of our time online and our lives are becoming increasingly digital. While this brings with it some incredible benefits and a lot of convenience, most people completely overlook the potential hazards that it exposes them to.
Criminals have realised that rather than attack you and steal from you physically, it is far easier to compromise your safety online.
If your devices aren’t secure then without ever coming anywhere near you, governments and criminals can track your location, access your files, snoop on private messages and track which websites and apps you’re using.
With an insecure network and the right Malware, they can even monitor you through your webcam or your home security cameras. Any internet connected device in your home can become a potential attack vector.
This information can be used to compromise your physical safety, your finances or even leave you open to blackmail and extortion.
You should take your device security as seriously as you take your home security.
Securing your devices is quickly becoming an essential part of everyday life and an unavoidable requirement for protecting your family in the modern world.
Here are just some of the ways we can seriously upgrade your defences:
- Setup the very best open-source Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) on your devices to keep your search history and internet activity private.
- Deploy Mesh VPNs so you can connect to your home network and devices securely from anywhere without revealing your private information.
- Route your traffic through expertly configured and customisable Domain Name Server (DNS) to block unwanted tracking, adverts and harmful content.
- AI Threat detection tools to ensure 99% of known cybersecurity attacks are identified and blocked before they can ever reach you.
- Set up ‘De-Googled’ privacy phones to take your privacy and security to the next level and stop unwarranted government surveillance via their corporate partners.
By the time we are done the level of protection you enjoy will far exceed the security of average users. Even when you connect to public WIFIs you’ll be doing so knowing you are safe from harm.
If you have ever tried using VPNs or other cyber security tools before, you may have found that it slows everything down and makes your favourite apps and services harder to access and use.
We have removed this issue by spending countless hours designing setups that give you full protection without any noticeable degradation in speed or performance.
Not much about how you use or interact with your devices will change at all. You can go on living your online life without any unnecessary inconvenience. The only difference will be that your privacy and security will be far more robust.
We like to keep our pricing clear, understandable and transparent.
We charge on a ‘per-device’ basis and there are never any on-going management fees or subscriptions.
Our pricing is fixed so you know exactly how much you are going to spend before we start and there are no hidden surprises. Our job isn’t complete until your devices are secured, and you know how to operate them properly.
The cybersecurity tools we teach you how to setup and use are always open source which means you can be sure that everything we recommend has been thoroughly tested and vetted by the open-source community.
Everything is transparent and verifiable.
We never come into physical contact with your devices, and we never connect to them remotely. We simply train you to use these tools yourself, understand them, and hold your hand throughout the setup process.
We are happy to train you even if you want to remain completely anonymous throughout the entire process. We don’t need to compromise your privacy to train you.
We cannot abuse your trust because we never put ourselves in a position to be able to.
A Plan B Residency gives you the legal right to live in another country, even if you’re not ready to move there yet.
Think of it like geopolitical insurance. If things change where you live politically, economically, or legally, you’ve already got a legal escape hatch ready to go.
We help you secure these residencies in freedom-friendly jurisdictions so you have more options, more control, and more peace of mind.
In most cases, yes. At least as anonymous as the legal process allows.
We minimize the amount of personal data required and never share anything that isn’t strictly necessary. Your privacy is built into every part of our process, even when navigating government systems.
It varies by country, but most programs require a valid passport, proof of address, basic financial statements, and sometimes a clean criminal record certificate.
We walk you through the list step by step and help you gather anything that’s missing. If something needs to be translated, notarized, or apostilled, we explain how to do that too. Our goal is to make the process clear and as simple as possible, even if you’ve never done anything like this before.
Yes. This is a fully legal residency program offered by the government of Panama under established immigration law.
We don’t deal in shortcuts, second passports for sale, or offshore tricks. Your residency is granted through an official process, with clear documentation, legal approvals, and recognition by the Panamanian government. We simply guide you through it, carefully, efficiently, and with full respect for your privacy.
You don’t need to spend any time in Panama to maintain your residency.
After your initial in-person visit to complete the process, you can leave and return whenever you like. As long as you maintain your residency card and check in at the required intervals, you remain in good standing, even if you never move there full time.
Yes. Panama has a territorial tax system, which means only income earned from within Panama is taxed. If your income comes from outside the country, whether that’s remote work, investments, or Bitcoin, it’s not subject to Panamanian tax.
If you choose to sever ties with your current country of citizenship or tax residency, in most cases, you are no longer obligated to report or pay tax to that country either. There are a few exceptions depending on nationality and how you exit, but in general, second residency in Panama can be a powerful step toward full tax freedom.
We don’t offer legal or tax advice ourselves, but we work with professionals who can help you understand exactly how this applies to your situation, and make sure you do it the right way.
No. A tourist visa only lets you visit Panama for a limited period. A residency permit gives you long-term legal status and far more freedom.
With residency, you can open accounts, apply for services, enter and exit freely, and begin a pathway to permanent residency or even citizenship down the road, all without needing to become a full-time resident unless you choose to.
This is exactly why many of our clients seek residency in Panama. If your government starts limiting international travel, tightening banking rules, or creating obstacles to relocation, having legal residency abroad gives you a ready-made exit path.
Panama is neutral, accessible, and globally connected, and your residency gives you the legal right to enter and stay, no matter what happens elsewhere.
No. Becoming a resident of Panama has no effect on your current citizenship or travel documents.
You’ll still be a citizen of your home country. Panama does not require you to renounce your existing nationality, and you’re free to come and go as you please.
Panama does not publish residency names or personal data in any public registry. Your information is submitted directly to immigration authorities as part of the legal process, and we work carefully to minimize exposure at every step.
We never outsource sensitive tasks or use third-party services that compromise your privacy. Your data is handled securely, and we treat it with the same care we would expect for ourselves.
Don’t worry. You don’t have to start packing until you’re ready.
We help you arrange Plan-B Residencies in jurisdictions that don’t require you to move there to achieve full residency status.
You will visit the destinations as part of your application process but beyond that your Plan-B Residency acts almost like an insurance policy. It’s there when you need it. Whenever you decide, you can jump on the next plane and arrive with the full legal right to reside full-time in your Plan-B jurisdiction.
At the Bitcoin Way we don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk. Our founders all live the Self-Sovereign lifestyle using Bitcoin and jurisdictional arbitrage. Each of them has multiple residencies and multiple citizenships.
The Bitcoin Way have done the research and curation process for you to make sure that when you embark on your journey, all of the details have already been taken care of.
Our team will be there personally to greet you when you arrive and will be with you in person through every step of the process. We will be your personal guides and introduce you to the best restaurants and activities to make your experience enjoyable and rewarding.
We’d love to show you what’s possible.
We help you take full control of your Bitcoin and your digital life.
That includes everything from setting up a secure hardware wallet to running your own Bitcoin node to hardening your devices against cyber threats to securing a second residency abroad.
It’s not just technical help. It’s a mindset shift. We guide you through becoming truly self-sovereign in your money, your privacy, and your freedom.
We live what we teach. Our entire team practices self-custody, uses privacy tools daily, and has walked the path of sovereign living.
We don’t outsource anything. We don’t cut corners. And we don’t stop until you’re confident using your tools.
Most importantly, we never take custody of your Bitcoin, never collect sensitive data, and never ask for trust. Because everything we do is transparent and verifiable.
Yes. We’re happy to help you with just one part of your journey if that’s where you want to start.
Whether it's setting up a multisig vault, configuring a De-Googled phone, or preparing for Plan B residency, we’ll meet you where you are and help you move forward at your own pace.
Most services like setting up a wallet or securing your phone can be completed in a single day.
Each call usually lasts about one to two hours depending on your technical experience and comfort level. You can schedule sessions as close together or as far apart as you'd like. We are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and work around your availability.
Larger journeys like establishing a residency or building a custom multisig vault naturally take more time. But we always set clear expectations and guide you through it at your pace, keeping the process smooth and efficient from start to finish.
Of course. We gladly accept Bitcoin for all services, and we’re happy to guide you through your first payment if you’re new to it.
Please note that we only accept Bitcoin. We do not use any fiat onramps or traditional payment processors. Your journey toward financial freedom should begin with using the money that makes it possible.
No. We don’t sell hardware wallets, nodes, phones, or any other products.
Our only job is to help you choose and set up the best tools for you. We’ll recommend options we trust, explain the pros and cons, and show you how to buy directly from the most reputable sources. That way, you stay in full control, and you never have to wonder if our advice is influenced by sales or partnerships.
We’re not here to sell you stuff. We’re here to make sure you know how to use it.
Getting started is easy. Just click any Get Started/Book a Consultation button on our site to book a welcome call at a time that works for you. There’s no form to fill out and no commitment required, just a straightforward way to connect.
The call is relaxed and focused on learning about your goals. Whether you're looking for help with Bitcoin self-custody, digital security, or residency in Panama, we’ll explain how we work and answer any questions you have.
You don’t need to prepare anything in advance. Just bring your questions. We’ll guide you from there.
You do not need to be technical or experienced, and we do not expect you to know how wallets, nodes, or multisig work. Many of our clients are beginners who want to use Bitcoin the right way without guessing, searching forums, or putting their trust in the wrong hands.
That said, it is helpful if you have done a bit of research on what Bitcoin is and why it matters. You do not need to be an expert, just a basic understanding of Bitcoin as a decentralized, non-government form of money will make our sessions more productive.
And do not worry. We explain all the jargon and concepts clearly, step by step. Whether you are just getting started or already holding Bitcoin and want to secure it properly, we will guide you with patience and clarity.
The team at The Bitcoin Way operates on many core values, but some important ones to highlight are:
- Integrity - We will always share our honest opinions with clients and do not hesitate to provide uncomfortable feedback on certain product offerings or approaches. The stakes are too high.
- Consistency - We show up for every client call with an appreciation for its importance to that individual. We are methodical in our approach to delivering value and take no shortcuts, ever.
- Accessibility - We commit to responding quickly and diligently to all client requests for assistance and do not take a day off.
Our principled approach to service is the reason we've earned a phenomenal reputation and we work hard to ensure we keep it.
The Bitcoin Way is currently comprised of 10+ full-time members operating across five countries. Our team members come from diverse backgrounds, primarily centered around cybersecurity and information technology.
Our ability to operate across multiple time zones enables the best access to team members for clients at any time of day.
No.
Most of our clients do not come from technical backgrounds and use technology simply for daily life and work - very few are hobbyists. Many of our clients are also of an older generation and are still perfectly capable of taking Bitcoin into self-custody, running a node, and taking other proactive measures to live a self-sovereign life.
For the purposes of a seamless engagement, we do suggest ensuring any computer being used during our process is five years old or newer.
The Bitcoin Way does not require KYC (Know Your Customer). This means that for all engagements (except Plan B Residency), you are not required to provide us your name or any other personally-identifiable information. You may even choose to turn your camera off for video calls. Any information you share with us, except for an email address to communicate, is entirely optional.
Have More Questions?
Still have more questions or a few things you need to clarify? That’s exactly what we are here for. Book a free 30-minute consultation with one of our experts to start your 1 on 1 training today.
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