Why Did Pirates Wear Eyepatches – and Why Should Bitcoiners and Libertarians Do the Same?

For most of my life, I thought the reason pirates wore eyepatches was obvious: they’d lost an eye in battle and covered it to avoid infection or curious stares. Nearly everyone I asked assumed the same.

But as it turns out, the truth is far more fascinating — and surprisingly relevant for today’s Bitcoiners, libertarians, and lifelong learners.

Pirates weren’t just wild adventurers sailing the seas. They were the original seasteaders, crafting floating societies that functioned entirely without the state. They mastered self-governance, behavioral economics, marketing, and reputation management — long before these fields had names. If you haven’t read The Invisible Hook by Peter T. Leeson, do yourself a favor and dive in. It’s an eye-opener.

Among the many things pirates did right, their use of eyepatches was brilliant. And no — it wasn’t about injury. It was about strategy.

Pirates often had to fight both on deck and below it, where total darkness reigned. So they kept one eye constantly adjusted to the dark by wearing an eyepatch. When they rushed below deck or were forced into a tight, dark space, they would flip the patch to the other eye — instantly gaining full night vision. While their opponents were fumbling blindly, they could see clearly. In those life-or-death moments, a few seconds of vision meant everything.

The eyepatch was their edge. Their preparation. A simple tool that made all the difference when the moment arrived.

We can learn from this.

As students of Austrian economics, Bitcoin, and individual sovereignty, we spend countless hours reading, experimenting with wallets, practicing self-custody, improving privacy, and understanding how decentralized systems work.

But often, we don’t know when we’ll need this knowledge.

Some of us live in places where openly using Bitcoin is dangerous. Others are fortunate to live in relatively stable environments — for now. But storms can come quickly. Bank accounts can be frozen. Currencies can collapse. Borders can close. Freedoms can vanish overnight.

And when that day comes — when it’s your turn to fight in the dark — all your preparation becomes your greatest asset.

You’ll know how to store your wealth in 12 simple words. You’ll know how to cross a border with your net worth in your head. You’ll know how to send lightning payments in seconds. You’ll know how to be untraceable, unstoppable, and unbreakable.

That’s not just knowledge. That’s power. That’s freedom.

So yes — wear an eyepatch. Metaphorically, of course. Be the one who’s ready when others panic. Study Bitcoin not just for today’s gains, but for tomorrow’s battles. For the day when the lights go out, and only those with trained eyes can navigate the dark.

We don’t prepare because we’re paranoid. We prepare because we understand history. We prepare because we believe in the future. And when that moment comes, we’ll be ready — to protect our wealth, our loved ones, and our liberty.

Until then? Keep stacking. Keep learning. Keep that eye sharp.

Be like the pirates. Wear the eyepatch. Study Bitcoin. And you can start with our e-book – TOP 10 Bitcoin F*ck Ups – download here for free.