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It’s not usually that you simply meet somebody with as a lot integrity as Jameson Lopp. Being in his presence for any size of time, whether or not on-line or in meatspace (the place you’ll know him underneath a pseudonym), it begins to rub off on you and make you need to be a greater Bitcoiner; a greater human, for that matter.
Few individuals have completed extra to advance the realm of Bitcoin and crypto safety than Jameson. Regardless of peddling a message nobody needs to listen to (till they’ve misplaced entry to their non-public keys), he stays undeterred, making it his life’s work to coach individuals of the potential risks surrounding their crypto safety setups and the Bitcoin community usually.
His specific model of product isn’t attractive. It doesn’t lure with the promise of Lambos or NGU. Bitcoin safety is such an uncompelling matter, in reality, that Jameson’s discovered himself bumped from the primary stage at giant occasions. The rise in wrench assaults is such a “Debbie Downer” that he’s been relegated to the developer’s stage.
“The big non-technical conferences typically don’t even need the technical individuals on stage speaking in regards to the issues inherent to the system,” he says. “Having rational, sensible discussions in regards to the issues within the area conflicts with numerous the narratives that individuals need to push on the market to pump it up and improve adoption.”
As co-founder and Chief Safety Officer of Bitcoin safety supplier Casa, creator of Bitcoin real-time node monitoring platform statoshi, a slew of further aspect initiatives aimed toward elevating consciousness, and over half 1,000,000 followers on X, Jameson confesses he’s “inundated,” and considerably “overwhelmed” attempting to remain on prime of all of it.
I caught up with the residing legend and trade OG to debate his extraordinary life, invaluable work, the rise in bodily Bitcoin assaults, and all the things in between.
Jameson Lopp and mastering the artwork of disappearance
Inform me what you realize about Jameson Lopp, and I’ll inform you what number of years you’ve been in Bitcoin. On second thought, hold that info to your self. As Jameson’s posted and reposted on X:
“The primary rule of the 21 million membership is that you don’t speak about becoming a member of the 21 million membership.”
Topic to a grueling SWATting assault in 2017, he’s lived firsthand via the trauma inflicted on Bitcoiners when his home was raided after the police obtained fraudulent calls from an attacker claiming to be him.
The caller informed the police that he had shot somebody 15 instances with an assault rifle, was holding others hostage, and had rigged the entrance door with explosives, earlier than demanding a ransom of $50,000 in Bitcoin and threatening to shoot any approaching law enforcement officials.
It was the stuff of films and the kind of ordeal that may have triggered most individuals to boost a white flag and retire from the trade altogether.
However Jameson Lopp isn’t most individuals.
Not solely did he maintain his head excessive and proceed to stay defiant, however he set about making himself unattainable to search out—whereas educating others to erase their very own information trails. From utilizing ad-blockers and VPNs on-line to establishing a second house as a decoy deal with, Jameson’s footprints are in invisible ink.
Not even his household is aware of the place he lives.
“The better and safer factor for me to have completed can be to fully disappear,” he acknowledges, “however I felt like that may be giving in to the stress from dangerous actors. I needed to proceed to leverage the repute that I had constructed and have the ability to attain individuals and speak about Bitcoin.”
I recall inventing a pseudonym one night time at a celebration and making up a complete new life. It was amusing at first till I couldn’t maintain a believable Spanish accent, and saved contradicting myself till the jig was up. I can’t even think about the psychological and bodily logistics concerned in residing this manner long-term. It’s fairly excessive:
“The toughest half is that it’s a life-style change. Once I began off, I used to be making a bunch of various pseudonyms that I used to be utilizing with totally different individuals in meatspace, and it shortly turned too tough to maintain monitor of, so I settled on only one pseudonym and one identification.
Then, after all, I’ve my actual identification that I solely use to work together with individuals remotely, as myself, my unique authorities identification… It will get extra difficult when you’re pulling extra individuals into your scenario, like household, and kids.”
I guess. However Jameson has a signature look. Immediately recognizable, his unmistakable beard is streaked with silver like the paranormal bristles of a seasoned wizard. Has his cowl ever been blown?
“It’s extraordinarily uncommon,” he replies, “however that’s one in all my difficult issues and a type of balancing act that I’m attempting to navigate. I don’t go on mainstream media exhibits for that cause. I don’t need my face to be broadcast to hundreds of thousands and hundreds of thousands of individuals. I do smaller podcasts and stuff, that are solely going to be seen by the people who find themselves already deep into this area.”
200 recognized wrench assaults on Bitcoiners to date
Once I noticed one in all Jameson’s newest posts on X, warning in regards to the rising variety of wrench assaults and pointing to a well-maintained log of recognized bodily Bitcoin assaults, I knew I needed to attain out. However given his capability to fade in plain sight, I didn’t count on him to reply. I used to be pleasantly shocked. He could also be unattainable to bodily discover, however he’s accessible on the click on of a mouse to anybody who needs to speak Bitcoin.
In response to Jameson’s data, there are over 200 documented bodily assaults on Bitcoiners, greater than 30 of these within the first half of 2025. Why is the quantity going up so alarmingly?
“It’s going up as a result of the whole worth and measurement of the ecosystem are going up, and the general consciousness of the ecosystem is rising. So, you realize, that is only a pure phenomenon… There’s all the time going to be some tiny proportion of sociopaths who’re keen to harm different individuals for their very own private acquire.”
What’s extra fascinating, he factors out, is the overall pattern of incidents carried out by organized crime teams specializing in the sort of assault.
“There was a slew of them up and down the east coast of America just a few years in the past, after which not too long ago there’s been a slew of them in France, and in each instances, regulation enforcement finally arrested the individuals behind it.”
I point out listening to him say beforehand that, oftentimes, wrench assaults are orchestrated by individuals who don’t reside in that nation however particularly journey there to hold out the assault. He nods:
“My attain and understanding of all of that is restricted by what’s being reported, however I’m seeing a sample in Southeast Asia of expats who’re being focused by what appears to be organized crime from their nation of origin.
I’ve seen plenty of assaults, for instance, the place Russian residents who’re both vacationing or residing in Southeast Asia are getting hit by Russian organized crime. They’re coming into the nation, wrench attacking them, after which attempting to get out as shortly as doable, and presumably attempting to leverage jurisdictional arbitrage.”
I ask whether or not wrench assaults principally occur to high-profile individuals, and he shrugs.
“It’s laborious to say as a result of I by no means know who these persons are. I do know “high-profile” people who find themselves on X. But when they’re high-profile on Instagram, I don’t know, and I don’t use TikTok. So, excessive profile could be very relative and fragmented.”
He says he does know of a number of victims who have been Instagram influencers who have been “principally flaunting their wealth,” and bragging about their costly automobiles, wristwatches, and luxurious life. He shakes his head:
“If you’re on any type of public community and you might be flaunting your wealth, that’s one of many extra dangerous issues that you possibly can be doing.”
Greatest recommendation to guard your self? By no means KYC
With most jurisdictions hellbent on combating cash laundering and counter-terrorism finance, it’s nearly unattainable to be lively on this area with out handing over mounds of personal information. Sadly for many people, nonetheless, this usually finally ends up being doxxed on-line, like within the Ledger breach of 2020, or Coinbase only a few weeks in the past.
What can we do to guard ourselves within the period of KYC with out going to the acute measures of shopping for a proxy home or being untraceable by even essentially the most extremely expert of personal investigators?
“The most secure factor to do is to by no means KYC and solely use non-KYC companies. These are all the time going to be much less handy. They’re not as user-friendly, and there should not as lots of them on the market. When you’re utilizing KYC companies, I’d say ideally you’re not giving them your own home deal with.”
He acknowledges this may be difficult since most suppliers require your home of domicile, however you may cut back the danger by contemplating which doc you add.
“Personally, once I’m doing KYC, I favor to make use of my passport as my doc as a result of there’s no deal with on there. Then I’ll all the time initially strive giving them a non-public mailbox deal with that I’ve. Generally that works. But when they’ve stricter and better ranges of KYC, then I usually discover that getting rejected.”
When this occurs, Jameson reluctantly palms over the deal with of his now authorized residency, which he rents however doesn’t spend time in.
“In fact, that’s going to be out of attain for most individuals to only have one other deal with that they’re not really utilizing,” he concedes.
And what about offering a utility invoice? There’s no workaround for that:
“That’s actually robust for me as a result of I’ve no utility payments in my title by design.”
A proud Libertarian and totally fledged Bitcoiner
As a self-proclaimed Libertarian, I ask Jameson whether or not he’s ever voted, or if that’s even doable now. He smooths down his beard and ponders my phrases, saying he stopped voting when he realized “no Libertarian was ever going to grow to be president” or win any high-level workplace.
“The bi-party system is just too entrenched for that. However no, I undoubtedly haven’t any intention of ever registering to vote once more due to the general public data that that creates. You understand, the ROI of voting, just like the precise impression of my votes versus the period of time I must spend evaluating all of the politicians, their platforms, and whether or not or not I even belief them, it’s simply simpler for me to disregard politics as a lot as doable.”
And with a lot hoop-jumping and painstaking planning behind each transfer he makes, whether or not on-line or within the bodily realm, is all this actually value it? Did he ever contemplate quitting fully? He pauses for some time and displays:
“There’s this cybersecurity saying. One thing just like the most secure approach to make use of a pc is to by no means flip it on, by no means contact it, by no means use it… The pc, and particularly with the arrival of the web, is a massively highly effective instrument, however it’s a two-way gadget, proper? On one hand, you have got entry to basically all the sum of human information. Alternatively, you’re exposing your self to billions of potential attackers. You’re basically opening up a door to the remainder of the world for them to begin knocking on.”
I say that jogs my memory of an analogous chorus: A ship is secure within the harbor, however that’s not what ships are for. He smiles and agrees. Let’s face it, there’s no world wherein Jameson leaves the pc untouched.
“A very powerful factor that you are able to do for Bitcoin is to speak about it. That was one of many extra vital facets of my life. I didn’t need to hand over on that.”
Bitcoin company treasuries and Saylor’s outsized benefit
Jameson’s conviction is indeniable, and the lengths he’s gone to advocate for Bitcoin deserve a Nobel prize. Did he all the time count on the trade to evolve this manner, with $100K value models, Bitcoin company treasuries, and an AI and crypto czar within the White Home?
“I’ve all the time been shocked by the extent of volatility,” he admits. “Once I initially bought into Bitcoin, I used to be viewing it as type of a 30-year generation-level financial savings account. I wasn’t seeing it as a speculative funding that was going to go up many orders of magnitude simply over the following decade.”
That’s to not say he’s happy with all the things, although. Bitcoin on the Oval Workplace is a far cry from the peer-to-peer digital money system initially offered to the world.
“I actually have numerous considerations with the present state of the ecosystem, primarily that numerous the adoption that appears to be occurring proper now could be occurring via TradFi autos that don’t even give individuals an choice to take self-custody. So, that worries me each from a cultural perspective and a systemic danger perspective of the place the system is headed.”
With Michael Saylor pledging to purchase Bitcoin till Technique scoops up 10% of the provision and Bitcoin treasury corporations popping up like weeds, I think about that is fairly a priority…
“If an excessive amount of Bitcoin will get concentrated in too few palms, we run the danger of basically recreating a extremely centralized system,” he replies.
He confesses to being “conflicted” over the rising phenomenon of Bitcoin treasury corporations as a result of, on the one hand, Bitcoin is for everybody, but, on the opposite, Technique is “to date forward and so they hold pulling out additional forward.” He want to see a extra stage enjoying discipline, which is why he determined to spend money on David Bailey’s Nakamoto.
“It’s not as a result of I believe that company Bitcoin treasury adoption is the very best factor since sliced bread. It’s as a result of I felt like we would have liked to have a broader and extra various group of company treasuries to compete with Saylor, to attempt to decelerate how a lot he can proceed accumulating. He has lots of of hundreds of cash. What if he bought to the purpose of getting like 5 or 10% of the whole provide? That’s reaching systemic danger ranges.”
Jameson on quantum computing (or, we’re all ‘screwed’)
I ask what the best menace to the Bitcoin community is: centralization or quantum computing? Jameson’s been tweeting in regards to the latter rather a lot not too long ago:
“There’s a number of long-term existential points that I fear about. Quantum is a matter that I fear about along side issues like ossification and scaling.”
He continues:
“With quantum computing, there’s like half a dozen issues which can be happening in parallel, and with a view to “resolve the quantum computing downside,” we’ll have to come back to consensus on these half a dozen issues concurrently, which is just about unprecedented. Given the slowing and the growing issue and consensus modifications to the Bitcoin protocol, because of this I began speaking about it a yr in the past.”
He compares the quantum computing downside to local weather change, in that it’s an ever-present menace, but appears distant when there are extra urgent points to face.
“I believe it’s an analogous sort of downside inside Bitcoin, however it’s exacerbated by the truth that, first, it takes years to get consensus on a change. Then it takes a number of years after the consensus change is activated for the remainder of the ecosystem to implement it, and, on this case, there’s an
further delay of a number of years as a result of individuals must migrate their funds. We’ve by no means been in that scenario earlier than.”
And the way distant is quantum computing?
There are a selection of predictions on this, he explains, from those that say it’s already right here to others who imagine it is going to by no means arrive due to “some quantum physics stage attribute that can stop us from ever reaching that stage of computation.” What we all know for sure, he says, is that a number of authorities and requirements companies are advising individuals to arrange for it inside no less than 5 years.
“Assuming that’s conservative and that we’ve got no less than 5 years, then, you realize, possibly we even have 10 or 15 years… I actually hope that we’ve got 10 years. If we solely have 5 years, I believe we’re screwed as a result of it is going to take a number of years to get the consensus change, after which a number of years for it to matriculate and everybody emigrate. I’m hoping we’ve got no less than 10 years, that may be a superb buffer.”
Sleeping soundly in a world of uncertainty
Of all of the shifting narratives and cultural clashes over the previous few years, the one which bothers Jameson essentially the most is the pervasive dogma that Bitcoin is “inevitable” and “good” as it’s. It is a harmful view, in his opinion—and one usually purveyed by proponents of ossification. He says:
“That results in what I contemplate to be the best menace to Bitcoin over the long run, which is apathy. If persons are apathetic about persevering with to speak about bettering Bitcoin, that’s when it turns into weak and extra weak to new threats that may emerge.”
Between perilous narratives, God-like AI, centralization of the community, and quantum computing looming forward, the long run feels fairly bleak. There’s a lot to fret about, I exclaim.
As a safety pioneer and defender of the soundest cash the world has ever seen, does Jameson handle to get any sleep in any respect? He frowns for a second earlier than replying:
“I strive to not let all of this stuff which can be outdoors of my management hold me up at night time. Like I mentioned earlier than, persevering with to speak about Bitcoin and talk about its issues is among the finest ways in which individuals can contribute to the area…
It’s about maintaining individuals and engaged and eager about what we are able to do to handle issues earlier than they occur.”