Become a Balinese cryptocurrency digital nomad like me: here’s how.

If you show up to most jobs wearing a bikini, thong, and singlet, HR will probably tap you on the shoulder. But here at the tribal coworking space in Canggu, Bali, such casual attire is the norm.

It was a bright sunny day and I had just jumped off the back of a GoJek moped. Think of Uber. But I ride a motorcycle. It’s right at the Tribal entrance. I think I wear too many socks and shoes.

The pool and bar are buzzing, and people seem genuinely happy to be doing their “work”, sipping coconuts and casually wandering around.

Not far away, a rather intense game is going on at a pool table involving four boisterous English lads. It feels like the work-life balance is tilted firmly in favor of ‘life’.

Crypto digital nomad lifestyle in Bali

Adam Saville-Brown, global general manager at cryptocurrency tax software Koinly, is a regular at Tribal. The British-born Australian resident says Canggu, a resort town on Bali’s southern coast, is one of the most popular places in the world for digital nomads, and Tribal is a place where cryptocurrency workers go to build networks. It is said to be a place.

“I’ve met a lot of people in the cryptocurrency community here at Tribal. Project leaders and developers with credible projects,” Saville-Brown tells Magazine.

“Tribal is a really good foundation for Canggu and a place to meet like-minded people and it feels like a place for idea generation,” he says.

But Ben Simpson, CEO of cryptocurrency education and analysis platform Collective Shift, an Australian who previously worked at Canggu, warns that not all cryptocurrency digital nomads are at that level of rigor.

“I was introduced to a guy by a friend who didn’t really know what he was doing, and I took a quick look at this guy, and he was basically doing a pump and dump,” Simpson told the Magazine.

“You’ll find strange, goofy people who have a hard time figuring out who or what they are,” Saville-Brown adds.

Tribal is one of several co-working spaces in Canggu. Digital nomads often switch between different options, including Zin Cafe, Bwork Bali, Dojo Bali coworking, and Outpost coworking Canggu.

Cointelegraph reporter living in Bali

I have been living as a digital nomad between Bali and Australia since early 2024. I thought this would be a great place to work at Cointelegraph and mingle with people who share my passion for innovative industries like cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence (AI).

I often meet other people working in the cryptocurrency space and have become friends with many of them. I now find myself talking about cryptocurrencies both during work hours and in my free time. This is an absolute nightmare for our traditional finance peers.

The island is also a great place to find fitness inspiration. Almost everyone here seems to have a six pack.

After work, I usually do some cardio, such as going to the local F45 gym, playing tennis with friends, or jogging on the beach before dinner.

Working remotely from Bali

Bali is one of 17,508 islands in Indonesia. With a total population of approximately 279.5 million, it is the fourth most populous country in the world, according to Worldometer data.

According to recent data, Bali’s population is approximately 4.37 million.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, Canggu emerged as the preferred location for remote workers, overtaking previously favored Kuta and Seminyak.

You can tell by the scale of construction and the hordes of motorcycles on the road. Locals and long-term nomads are whispering that Uluwatu, 36km from Canggu and about an hour’s drive away, could eventually become the next nomad hotspot.

“There are so many people in Bali. “Some of the cryptocurrency experts here love the spirit and value of cryptocurrencies, others travel around the world using cryptocurrencies as a store of value, and others are involved in startups and projects in the field.” A contributor to cryptocurrency analysis firm CryptoRated tells the magazine. .

Cost of Living for a Digital Nomad in Bali

According to Numbeo data, the cost of living in Bali is approximately 61.5% lower than in the United States.

You can live comfortably in Bali for around $10 to $20 per day. It’s certainly possible to spend up to $5 less, but your stomach might not be quite as happy.

Local warungs are a popular cheap food option among digital nomads, where you can enjoy a decent meal for around $3.

Once you land at Bali International Airport in Denpasar, it’s about an hour’s drive to Canggu on a good day.

Consider 2 hours during busy times. Note that there are no highways here, so expect congestion and slow speeds.

Entering the cryptocurrency digital nomad lifestyle requires self-discipline, and a lot of it because the temptation of partying is right in front of you. Simpson learned this from his experience here.

“It’s hard to stay motivated when everyone else is going to the beach club at 3 o’clock,” Simpson laughs.

Canggu is home to Finns Beach Club, the world’s largest beach club. With three beachfront infinity pools and nine bars (including two swim-up bars), this place is pretty impressive.

Be prepared to pay closer to standard American rates for drinks and food rather than local prices.

Saville-Brown agrees that “Bali is a choose-your-own-adventure” and explains that the party lifestyle is just as easy to fall into as a healthy lifestyle.

“You can fall into the yoga classes and running lifestyle just as easily as the party lifestyle.”

“There is a temptation for everyone to come to this party, come to this place,” he added.

“The downside is that the transactions are very numerous and temporary,” says Simpson.

Tribal Coworking Space Changgu

There is no set entrance fee to work in the tribe, but you will need to spend at least 200,000 Indonesian rupiah (equivalent to about $15) per day to stay and use the facilities.

I ordered a dragon fruit smoothie bowl and a flat white, but it still exceeds my minimum spend. I overheard a man, cigarette in hand, say in a strong Spanish accent, “I’m optimistic about Solana this year,” and I struck up a conversation with him.

He works in the cryptocurrency industry and wants to remain anonymous. I noticed his fancy Rolex watch. However, street vendors in Bali sell replica Rolexes for less than the price of a cup of coffee, so there isn’t necessarily flexibility here.

“The most successful cryptocurrency experts are always under surveillance,” he claims, smelling like a cigarette. Anonymity is a big issue for many cryptocurrency digital nomads here.

Diana, founder of Bitcoin Indonesia, who cannot guarantee complete anonymity by using her own name, says it is not uncommon for people to identify themselves through their X account handle in the Bali Bitcoin community .

Attendees at her Bitcoin Indonesia events often request that Bitcoin stickers be placed on their faces in photos to protect their privacy.

CryptoRated’s research contributors told the Magazine that anonymity gives them the confidence to share their opinions more freely.

“Being anonymous also gives me the ability to express myself more freely on a variety of topics, which I really enjoy.”

Hailing from Mallorca, Spain, he is no stranger to island life. He chose Bali for his trip, saying, “I have yet to come across a place as free as Bali.”

He splits his time between Tribal and another co-working space, Bwork, which motivates him to be around other people who want to “focus deeply on their work.”

“It’s a great way to not only make friends, but make connections and relationships that can help build your business,” says a CryptoRated contributor.

If you’re not the networking type, wear cryptocurrency branded gear. Diana says.

“I usually wear Bitcoin t-shirts, and people always ask me if I like Bitcoin. Then we reach out,” she explains.

Networking for Cryptocurrency Digital Nomads in Bali

Simpson points out that co-working spaces aren’t for everyone. But as he tried to make many requests to Collective Shift, he discovered:

“If you like coding or want to be around other people when doing e-commerce or something like that, a co-working space is great,” he says. In contrast, jobs that require constant phone calls are more difficult. A busy coworking space.

“You’re in sales or doing something like that where we have to talk to people. “It can be quite difficult in a coworking space, so I recommend getting a better Airbnb and having a desk or stuff at home where you can make calls.”

When he wants to leave his Airbnb without answering his phone, he finds it easier to ‘dial in’ to work in a café than in a co-working space.

Canggu-based cryptocurrency consultant Dominic Frei is another person who loves the Balinese lifestyle but is not a fan of co-working spaces.

“When I walked in, there were about 7 tables with people sitting in front of laptops, each with earphones on their heads. There was noise in the street etc and again I don’t understand. Maybe I’m too old,” Frei told the Magazine.

Instead, Frei works from a rented three-bedroom villa with a pool and a balcony with stunning views of the rice fields.

Frey brought his wife and two young children to the island from Switzerland and runs his cryptocurrency consulting business remotely.

Most of his customers come from Bali through word of mouth, as well as parents whose children attend international schools in Bali. This usually starts with a light chin shake and progresses into conversation.

He helps investors get involved in cryptocurrency. We charge $2,000 for the meeting and set up a cryptocurrency exchange, perform a KYC process, and even provide a self-custodial wallet if time permits. “It depends on how tech-savvy the individual is,” says Dominic.

Ciaran Lyon

Ciaran Lyons is an Australian cryptocurrency journalist. He is also a stand-up comedian and radio and TV presenter for Triple J, SBS and The Project.