Written by: David Mondrus
“For better or worse, till death do us part, because the blockchain is forever – Joyce and David, 10/5/14”
I met Joyce in the Philippines in the spring of 2007. We were introduced by a mutual friend, and we both immediately decided that there was NO way we could ever get along. She came dressed in baggy pajama pants and a sweatshirt, with a hat pulled low over her eyes. My immediate reaction wasn’t positive. Joyce also wasn’t thrilled with what she saw. I frowned constantly. Who would want to be with such a grumpy man?
But our friends persisted and the next day convinced us to go snorkeling. On our return trip Joyce sat next to me and asked me if I wanted some pineapple. I declined. She ignored me and held a pineapple piece to my lips. How could I refuse such an invitation? And so she fed me and then herself, me and then herself as I incredulously wondered, “What woman in NYC would do this?” That was the beginning of my life with Joyce.
In 2008 I moved to the Philippines to be near her and to work at Bigfoot.com, my alma matter and one of the first email providers transformed into a Film and Fashion power house by Michael Gleissner. When in 2010 he asked me to buy OneModelPlace and to run it in the States, I knew I couldn’t do it without bringing her. And that of course meant PAPERWORK. Measured in INCHES.
We of course persevered, and in January of 2010 we landed in the US. The first thing we had to do was get married very quickly in order for Joyce to be able to stay. So off to the courthouse we went, and more inches of paperwork we completed. And unfortunately because Joyce’s parents are on the other side of the planet in the Philippines, they didn’t get to see their only daughter get married.
Think about how crazy this is. Two people who love each other must spend thousands of dollars, months or even years of time and inches of paper to TWO governments for the privilege of moving across imaginary lines. And that’s the best case scenario. If we described it to an outside observer in that way, I’m sure they’d think we’re crazy. Not only that, but the marriage is only legal in the country you file. So when we got married in the US, the government of the Philippines had no idea about it. It was only after we had travelled to the embassy, filled out MORE paperwork and waited that it was OFFICIALLY recognized over there. Let me tell you, it was painful.
Now imagine a world without borders, without paperwork, without governments. A world where you can commit to each other without needing permission, and in a way where it’s visible to everyone always. That is the promise of the blockchain. The Bitcoin protocol not only allows us to send money frictionlessly across the world without banks being involved, but it also allows us to commit to each other in a public, transparent way, and in a way that it will be enshrined forever. As long as there is bitcoin our commitment will be visible.
This is the promise of Bitnation, the first “Virtual” nation. Now you also can “register” your marriage as well. But unlike governmental systems Bitnation allows you the flexibility to define and design your marriage any way you want. Prenups, postnups, child care contracts, even multi-party marriages can all be designed the way YOU want using the legal code that suits you best. THAT is freedom.
