What if a small, resource-rich nation in South America could lead a global financial revolution? Meet Maya Parbhoe, Suriname’s visionary presidential candidate and passionate Bitcoiner. In this exclusive interview, she shares her bold plan to make Bitcoin legal tender and unit of account, abolish taxes, and empower her citizens with true financial sovereignty—all while protecting Suriname’s unique natural treasures.
Watch the full interview below to discover how Parbhoe’s innovative strategies could redefine not just Suriname, but the global perception of economic freedom. Don’t miss her groundbreaking insights!
Interviewer:
So today we’re talking to…
Maya Parbhoe:
Maria Parbhoe, yes.
Interviewer:
She’s an entrepreneur, CEO of Daedalus Lab—did I say that correctly?
Maya Parbhoe:
Yes, Daedalus Lab.
Interviewer:
But foremost, you’re a presidential candidate of Suriname. When I looked it up, I realized I don’t know much about Suriname. It has only 600,000 people, and mostly, it’s jungle. Is that right?
Maya Parbhoe:
Yes, 93% of our country is forested, and only about 7% is populated. It’s one of the most forested countries in the world.
Interviewer:
And why is that?
Maya Parbhoe:
Well, basically because of our small population. We have a small footprint, and we’re very proud of our forests. We preserve as much of the rainforest as we can.
Interviewer:
You’re planning to make Bitcoin a unit of account. Does that also include making it legal tender?
Maya Parbhoe:
Yes, making it legal tender will be the first action, followed by transitioning to a unit of account as quickly as possible.
Interviewer:
What do you see as the main economic benefits and challenges of making Bitcoin a unit of account?
Maya Parbhoe:
One of the main economic benefits would be stopping inflation and corruption. Separating money from the state will immediately reduce corruption, which is currently systemic, large-scale, and massively impacts our economy and development. Corruption hampers investment and the successful development of projects, with funds being stolen constantly. This negatively affects the economy.
Interviewer:
And making Bitcoin a unit of account will solve that?
Maya Parbhoe:
Yes. By making Bitcoin a unit of account, we separate money from the state, giving people sovereignty over their own currency. The government would no longer inflate or control it, nor prevent you from spending your money or managing your capital. Additionally, we would free ourselves from dependency on the US dollar and the Fed’s influence, which has caused significant economic instability due to excessive money printing.
Our people will finally see their currency—and their pensions—increase in value over time, compared to fiat currencies.
Interviewer:
Suriname would be the first country to make Bitcoin a unit of account, correct?
Maya Parbhoe:
Yes, that’s correct.
Interviewer:
With your citizens currently in survival mode, how do you plan to educate them about Bitcoin? Are they ready for that?
Maya Parbhoe:
We’re already starting with free educational courses and plan to launch broad media campaigns to educate the population. With a small population and footprint, it’s relatively easy to reach a large portion of people through the media and local efforts.
Interviewer:
You want to abolish all taxes—is that correct? How will you finance your government?
Maya Parbhoe:
Yes, we aim to abolish all taxes. Suriname has an abundance of natural resources, far more than our population requires. We plan to diversify beyond natural resources, focusing on technology and innovation. By creating innovation-free zones and strategically investing in a Sovereign Wealth Fund denominated in Bitcoin, we can position Suriname as a front-runner globally.
Interviewer:
You want to establish a transformation commission led by Herman Hoppe. Could you tell us more about him?
Maya Parbhoe:
I’m a big fan of Hoppe and many other names in Austrian economics and libertarianism. We’re also reaching out to experts globally—authors and thought leaders with the track records and skills to help us execute these plans successfully.
Interviewer:
Your approach is bold, with a strong focus on free markets. Do you face backlash in your country, and how is that going?
Maya Parbhoe:
We don’t face much opposition regarding the open market approach—it’s a vision that supports economic development. Most of the opposition comes from corrupt leaders who want to maintain power and control. It’s not about policy; it’s about greed. Other political parties lack any real development plans or strategies to make Suriname competitive globally or to plan for the long term.
Interviewer:
If I wanted to immigrate to Suriname, how easy would that be? Are foreigners welcome?
Maya Parbhoe:
Currently, it’s quite easy for foreigners to obtain residence or work permits. We are a hospitable and welcoming nation. Starting next year, after the elections, we plan to implement digital nomad visas and passport programs to attract foreign investors and talent who can contribute to Suriname’s development.
Interviewer:
Thank you so much. I wish you all the success and hope to see you become president next year.
Maya Parbhoe:
Thank you! I appreciate it.
