Last year, Olivier Janssens, a Bitcoin investor with significant wealth but limited public recognition, played a crucial role in establishing a new project on the Caribbean island of Nevis. His efforts included drafting legislation that facilitates the creation of a private libertarian zone known as Destiny, a community designed to operate primarily on cryptocurrency and resolve its own legal issues with minimal governmental oversight.
The company behind Destiny is in the process of acquiring 2,400 acres of land, which would provide ample space to develop its own governance and operational systems. The proposed community aims to function without cash transactions and establish private courts, significantly reducing the influence of traditional government structures.
The legislative breakthrough occurred in the summer of 2025 with the enactment of the Special Sustainability Zones Authorisation Act (SSZAA) by the government of St Kitts and Nevis. This law allows private enterprises to form agreements with the government to create their own regulatory frameworks. According to sources involved in the process, Destiny was a major contributor to the law”s drafting.
Dawn De Coteau, a legal representative for Destiny, expressed her pride in being part of the legal team that shaped this innovative model, noting that the process involved extensive negotiations to reach consensus among all stakeholders. Despite the significance of this development, neither Janssens nor representatives from Destiny provided comments regarding the legislation, and the local government has remained silent on the matter.
Concerns have arisen among locals regarding the potential implications of this law. Community members have long suspected that Destiny had a hand in its creation, and recent developments seem to confirm those suspicions. James Gaskell, a former hotel owner on the island, commented that the law appears tailored to benefit this libertarian initiative.
In December, the local bar association raised alarms about the legislation, citing serious reservations about its structure. Kurlyn Merchant, president of the association, highlighted that while the law delineates government responsibilities concerning military and foreign affairs, it lacks clarity on matters such as immigration and labor. This absence of detail could grant developers like Janssens substantial control over local governance.
The political landscape is further complicated by the involvement of Nevis”s premier, Mark Brantley, who indicated that the agreement with Destiny has been submitted to the federal government for approval. Critics have pointed out potential conflicts of interest, particularly noting that Brantley”s wife is the real estate agent facilitating the land acquisition for Janssens.
Some residents fear that Destiny could evolve into a self-governing entity, separate from the broader Nevis community. Although Janssens has asserted that Destiny will remain accessible to all and ultimately answerable to the government, apprehensions persist regarding resource allocation, such as water and electricity, and the potential displacement of long-term residents.
The ambitious development is being designed by the architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, known for iconic structures like 7 World Trade Center in New York City. Janssens has indicated that the homes within Destiny will range in price from $500,000 to $3 million.
