92: Jordi Llonch ON: Why Geographic Freedom Isn’t Enough—You Need Bitcoin

“You thought you were free—until your bank froze your money.”



This week on The Block Reward, Scott sits down with Jordi Llonch, a former airline pilot turned Bitcoin advocate and digital freedom strategist. Jordi’s not just talking tech—he’s living the life of a global citizen, traveling the world as a true digital nomad and helping others do the same. With a sharp eye for how broken financial systems restrict our autonomy, Jordi brings a unique and urgent perspective on why Bitcoin matters far beyond investment portfolios.

In this episode, you’ll explore the rising tension between geographical freedom and financial dependence, and how Bitcoin is quietly becoming the tool that unlocks both. Jordi shares stories from his travels, explains how Bitcoin empowers remote workers and nomads, and introduces ideas like geoarbitrage, circular economies, and financial self-sovereignty. You'll also get a behind-the-scenes look at Barcelona’s thriving Bitcoin community, what’s really happening in places like El Salvador and Costa Rica, and why most people won’t care about Bitcoin—until they’re forced to. If you’re curious about building a life outside the system, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for.

You’ll Learn:

• How digital nomads can unlock true freedom by combining geographic and financial independence
• Why most remote workers misunderstand what “freedom” actually requires
• How to use geoarbitrage to align your lifestyle with your values
• Why banks freeze funds for nomads—and how Bitcoin bypasses that risk
• How to identify the moment your freedom is just an illusion
• What Bitcoin adoption looks like on the ground in El Salvador vs. Costa Rica
• Why freedom technologies matter more than speculative price charts
• How local Bitcoin communities fuel real-world adoption and resilience
• Why the global South may lead the next wave of Bitcoin innovation
• What a “Swiss bank account on your phone” really means for sovereignty

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction

[03:10] What defines a digital nomad

[05:05] Why freedom is the central value for nomads

[06:45] The financial limitations of geographic freedom

[08:00] The role of Bitcoin in solving financial friction

[09:15] How Bitcoin becomes a tool for survival, not speculation

[11:26] The mindset shift from settling to mobility

[14:02] How capital controls broke the social contract

[15:32] How Bitcoin flips the power dynamic between people and states

[16:12] Why the global South may rise while the West declines

[18:07] A comparison of Bitcoin adoption in El Salvador vs Costa Rica

[20:49] The “frog in the jacuzzi” metaphor for passive decline

[22:47] Why Bitcoin provides a mobile, uncensorable bank account

[24:12] How a pizza shop was on boarded through real demand

[25:01] Inside Barcelona’s thriving Bitcoin-only community

[27:06] Examples of technical workshops offered in Barcelona

[29:45] Behind the scenes of Barcelona’s Bitcoin-only conference

[33:04] Why Jordi built a global Bitcoin event map

[35:37] The power of Bitcoin meetups when traveling

[37:20] Why nationalism and politics create division

[39:51] Creating a culture of global citizenship

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Resources Mentioned:

BTC Map | Website

BTC Events Map | Website

Nostr | Website

Learn more about Jordi by following him on X and LinkedIn

Find more from Scott:

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