170 - Leaving Europe Is The Rational Choice: Tim Stern

February 20
1h 18m

Episode Description

Venezuela, Margarita Island, Exit Tax, Digital ID, CBDCs, DAOs, Special Economic Zones, Europe, Germany, Intentional Communities, CryptoCity.

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“The whole country is falling apart and nobody gives a shit about it.”

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Timothy Allen speaks with Tim Stern, founder of CryptoCity on Margarita Island, Venezuela.

Tim explains why more Europeans are treating exit as a practical strategy, not a fantasy: rising tax friction, social instability, and the creeping merge of Digital ID with state money.

We talk about why “CryptoCity” is a toxic name for Bitcoiners, what a DAO is actually useful for (crowdfunding businesses and managing shared infrastructure), and why he is building a high-trust community with a hard filter.

We also get into the on-the-ground reality: moving earth, building terraces, planning a real port, and the longer-term bet that Latin America buys you time while Europe tightens control.

Enjoy the conversation.

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Links Mentioned in the Show:

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SHOW SPONSOR: Veritas Villages: https://www.veritasvillages.com/freecities

Veritas Villages are building off-grid, energy self-sufficient communities for freedom lovers in Latin America. Bitcoin is accepted at all villages, including for the purchase of property.

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Previous interviews with Patrick Hiebert, Founder of Veritas Villages:

EP 156: https://fountain.fm/episode/66NqAclTBh7FByIX7lCq

EP 107: https://fountain.fm/episode/Fh6uGwZvVtPsYsR53pTI

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DONATE Bitcoin to the Free Cities Podcast: bc1q5jun0nzxzqepch84rqk0jnv0rd8uvns28df7mg

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DONATE fiat currency to the Free Cities Podcast: https://buy.stripe.com/5kQ9AT90zeeY5JX7Jv4ow00

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Listen on Fountain.fm to subscribe for BONUS episodes & EARLY ACCESS:

https://fountain.fm/show/xudG4tsYH5TimGLfAmqn

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Podcasting apps that support Value-4-Value Bitcoin payments: https://podcastindex.org/apps?appTypes=app

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TIMESTAMPS (Audio Version Only)

0:00:29 – Episode introduction

0:12:14 – Start of Conversation

0:14:01 – Media Backlash And “Billionaire Conspiracy” Narratives

0:16:46 – “Will Maduro Nationalize It?” Political Risk And How Margarita Differs From The Mainland

0:19:21 – “CryptoCity” Name Debate: Bitcoin Vs “Crypto”

0:22:37 – What The DAO Actually Does: Crowdfunding Local Businesses

0:28:09 – Project Update: 1.1M Tons Of Earth Moved, Terraces, Scale

0:31:01 – The Port Plan: Permits, Timeline, And Funding

0:33:16 – Freshwater Discovery And Why It Changes Everything

0:43:13 – Why People Are Leaving Europe: Exit Taxes, Incentives, And “Chaining” Entrepreneurs

0:49:55 – Germany Vs Prague: Safety, Culture, And “Normal People From The 90s”

1:06:29 – Digital ID And CBDCs: The Next Control Layer

1:12:02 – Bitcoin As Parallel Rails Vs Physical-World Chokepoints

1:16:05 – CryptoCity In 20 Seconds: Who It’s For And How Selection Works

1:19:10 – Roadmap: Walls, Roads, First Houses, And Next Steps

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NOSTR:

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