Tony Yazbeck didn’t just witness Lebanon’s economic inferno—he was incinerated by it. Out of that fiery collapse rose The Bitcoin Way: a battle-tested blueprint for true sovereignty where self-custody keys unlock borders, cybersecurity armor deflects state overreach, and ironclad inheritance plans defy systemic failure.

One ordinary day in 2019, the “Paris of the Middle East” imploded: bank accounts frozen overnight, life savings vaporized, a currency in freefall turning bread into gold and middle-class stability into dust.

From entrepreneur to destitute, Yazbeck found himself in a nation where hyperinflation would soon send gas prices soaring and force families to barter plumbing work for groceries. In the ashes, he discovered bitcoin wasn’t a speculative asset—it was an ark.

This is the manifesto of a man who stared into the abyss of fiat betrayal—and came back holding a torch for the unbreakable.

The only way to truly own #Bitcoin is to take full self-custody

Holding IOUs will never set you free

Don’t take the bait pic.twitter.com/2WFjRxHgzf

— The Bitcoin Way (@Thebitcoinway_) June 24, 2025

Origins

• What personal experience or realization forced you to confront the shortcomings of traditional finance and custody, ultimately leading to the creation of The Bitcoin Way? Was there a specific event?

Yes. The 2019 banking collapse in Lebanon changed everything for me. One day, I had a secure future: savings, plans, stability. The next, all of it was gone. Bank accounts were frozen, money seized. No warning. No recourse. I went from comfortable to homeless overnight.

That was my wake-up call. It was the moment I truly understood that if you don’t control your money, you don’t own it. Bitcoin became more than just an idea. It became survival. It gave me hope, strength, and a way to rebuild. That’s why The Bitcoin Way exists. Not theory. Not hype. Just a tool for freedom, because I’ve lived the alternative and barely made it out.

• **You offer a unique suite beyond just custody (Residency, Inheritance, Cybersecurity). How did you identify these interconnected needs as essential pillars of true bitcoin sovereignty? What’s the common thread?
  **

When I lost everything in Lebanon, I realized custody was just the start. Owning bitcoin meant nothing if I couldn’t protect it, pass it on, or use it freely. That’s where the deeper needs came in.

Residency is about freedom of movement. Inheritance secures your legacy. Cybersecurity protects your sovereignty. These aren’t extras. They’re essentials. The common thread is control. Real bitcoin sovereignty means being untouchable across borders, across generations, and against threats. We built The Bitcoin Way around that truth because I lived what happens when you don’t.

• How do you define “success” for a client of The Bitcoin Way? Is it just securing keys, or something deeper?

Success isn’t just about securing keys. That’s the foundation, not the finish line. Real success is when a client feels free in every way: financially, digitally, and physically.

It means they understand what they hold, can move when needed, protect what’s theirs, and pass it on without fear. It’s peace of mind. Confidence. Control. When a client no longer depends on anyone to access or defend their wealth, that’s success at The Bitcoin Way.

Self-Custody Deep Dive

•  “Not your keys, not your coins” is a mantra, but why is self-custody non-negotiable for anyone serious about bitcoin, especially after events like FTX, Celsius, etc.? What risks persist even now?

​​”Not your keys, not your coins” is not just a slogan. It’s a warning. If someone else holds your bitcoin, it’s not yours. It’s theirs with your name on it, until it’s gone.

FTX, Celsius, and others proved how fast it can vanish. Promises mean nothing when platforms collapse or get hacked. Even now, many still trust middlemen. That’s the risk. Centralized custody brings hidden exposure, legal seizure, theft, and censorship.

Self-custody removes the weak link. It puts you in control. No one can freeze, steal, or lose what they don’t hold. If you’re serious about bitcoin, self-custody isn’t optional. It’s the whole point.

• **What are the TOP paralyzing fears people express when considering self-custody for the first time? How does The Bitcoin Way systematically dismantle these fears?
  **

The top fears are:

1. “What if I lose my seed phrase?”
2. “What if I mess up the setup?”
3. “What if someone hacks me?”
4. “What if something happens to me and my family can’t access it?”

These fears are valid. But they come from not knowing how to do it right.

At The Bitcoin Way, we guide people step by step. We remove guesswork. We help them build secure backups, strong inheritance plans, and personal threat models. We teach them how to protect their setup and stay calm under pressure.

Fear fades with knowledge and confidence. That’s what we give them.

• **Multisig vs. Singlesig? Hardware wallets, passphrases, metal backups? Can you give us a quick, practical “hierarchy of needs” for setting up a robust self-custody solution suitable for different stack sizes
  **

Sure. 

1. Beginner (small stack):

• Singlesig
• One hardware wallet
• Basic metal backup
• No passphrase needed yet
• Clear inheritance plan

2. Intermediate (growing stack):

• Singlesig with a passphrase
• Secure metal backup of seed and passphrase
• Add decoy wallet if privacy is a concern
• Airgapped setup preferred
• Clear inheritance plan

3. Advanced (serious stack):

• Multisig (2-of-3 or 3-of-5)
• Multiple hardware wallets, each stored separately
• Distributed backups
• Clear inheritance plan
• Threat model reviewed

Start simple, stay safe, and scale as your stack grows. The Bitcoin Way helps you build the right setup for where you are and where you’re going.

• **Cybersecurity is paramount. Beyond the tech, what are the most common human errors that jeopardize bitcoin security? What’s your #1 piece of behavioral advice?
  **

The biggest threat isn’t the tech. It’s human error.

Common mistakes:

1. Reusing passwords
2. Storing seed phrases digitally
3. Clicking phishing links
4. Oversharing online
5. Getting too comfortable

The number one rule: Slow down. Most mistakes happen when people rush, panic, or act on impulse. Take your time. Double-check everything. Think before you click or share.

Discipline beats tools and we train people to become their own strongest link.

• **Walk us through the absolute bare minimum disaster recovery plan every bitcoiner MUST have in place. (e.g., seed phrase storage, inheritance access).
  **

At the bare minimum, every bitcoiner needs:

1. Secure seed phrase storage:

• Stamped or engraved on metal
• Stored in a safe, fireproof location
• Never saved digitally

2. Clear access plan:

• Know exactly where your wallet and backup are
• Test your recovery process at least once

3. Inheritance setup:

• Trusted person knows how to access it, not where it is
• Instructions are simple, written, and stored securely
• Optional: use a dead man’s switch or time-locked letter

Without these, your bitcoin can vanish in an accident, theft, or death.

Legacy & Holistic Sovereignty

• **Why is geographical diversification (“Plan B Residency”) becoming an increasingly critical component of a comprehensive Bitcoin strategy, beyond just financial hedging? How does bitcoin facilitate this?
  **

Plan B Residency is about freedom, not just finances. Governments can freeze assets, lock borders, or change laws overnight. If your life is tied to one country, you’re exposed.

Geographical diversification gives you options. A second residency means you can leave, rebuild, or protect your wealth when things go wrong. It’s personal security.

Bitcoin makes this possible. It’s borderless, portable, and doesn’t rely on banks. You can carry your entire net worth in your head or move it across the world in minutes.

The Bitcoin Way helps people align their financial freedom with physical freedom. One without the other is a weak strategy.

• **Bitcoin inheritance planning is notoriously tricky. What are the biggest pitfalls in traditional inheritance methods when applied to bitcoin? How does The Bitcoin Way approach this to ensure smooth, secure, and private transitions?
  **

Traditional inheritance doesn’t fit bitcoin. Wills can be exposed. Lawyers can leak info. Courts can delay or deny access. And if the heirs don’t understand bitcoin, it’s easy to lose everything.

The biggest pitfalls:

1. No clear instructions
2. Trusted people don’t know what to do
3. Private info stored in unsafe places
4. Relying on 3rd parties who don’t understand Bitcoin

The Bitcoin Way fixes this with a tailored plan. We help clients:

1. Create clear, private instructions
2. Use secure, distributed backups
3. Train trusted heirs or set up multi-step access
4. Avoid any digital trail that exposes their setup

The goal is simple: when the time comes, it works. Quietly, safely, and without chaos.

• **How do self-custody, cybersecurity, residency planning, and inheritance solutions synergize at The Bitcoin Way to create a comprehensive “sovereignty shield” for clients? Can you share a