What Bitcoin Did Jailed by a Dictator, Fighting Back with Bitcoin | Leopoldo López
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Oct 22, 2025 Leopoldo López, a Venezuelan opposition leader and former political prisoner, shares his harrowing journey from mayor to exile. He discusses the psychological toll of four years in solitary confinement and how he orchestrated a prison uprising. Now, he uses Bitcoin to fund resistance movements in Venezuela, defying dictator Maduro. Leopoldo highlights innovative ways crypto supports activists, from humanitarian aid to election monitoring. His insights into building a freedom network through the World Liberty Congress reveal a powerful intersection of activism and technology.
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Grassroots Win In Caracas
- Leopoldo López won the Caracas mayoralty at age 27 by door-to-door campaigning and engaging citizens directly.
- His team transformed the municipality with participatory budgeting and simple tax reforms that improved services.
Turning Himself In And Immediate Arrest
- López turned himself in during a massive peaceful protest and was taken by armored vehicle to a military prison.
- He spent the next four years in solitary confinement at Ramo Verde prison.
Organizing A Prison Uprising
- López organized a prison uprising by secretly identifying allies during mass and coordinating floors via messages through visitors.
- They controlled the prison for about 12 hours before he was placed in stricter isolation and began a 28-day hunger strike.
