An interview with Leo, a digital nomad who transformed his freelance design career into leading a DAO, showing how Web3 can open unexpected doors for creatives on the road. That’s how he became a crypto nomad.
Setting the Stage
We caught up with Leo, a 29-year-old designer from Spain, on a café terrace in Medellín. A year ago, he was just another remote creative juggling clients on Upwork and chasing decent Wi-Fi. Today, he’s coordinating contributors across three continents as a core member of a DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization).
His story reflects a bigger movement: nomads who leap from traditional freelancing into Web3 communities, where work, ownership, and lifestyle blur into something new.
Q&A: The Journey
Q: Leo, let’s rewind. What was your life like before DAOs?
Leo:
I was a freelance designer, mostly doing branding and UX projects. I loved the flexibility, but honestly, it was unstable. Clients ghosted, payments were delayed, and I was always hunting the next gig. Even though I lived in “cheap” nomad hubs like Chiang Mai and Tbilisi, the stress was real.
Q: How did you discover DAOs?
Leo:
In 2022, I joined a Telegram group where people were sharing design bounties for a Web3 project. At first, it was just another freelance job – except I got paid in USDC within minutes, no waiting weeks for a wire transfer. Then I realised I wasn’t just delivering a design. I was part of a community where my voice mattered. That was different.
Q: What made you go all in?
Leo:
The ownership. In DAOs, even small contributors can earn governance tokens, which means you help steer the project. It felt like I wasn’t just renting my skills but building something bigger. By mid-2023, I stopped chasing client leads and focused on DAO work full-time.
The Leap
Q: Was it scary to let go of traditional freelance gigs?
Leo:
Oh, totally. Friends thought I was crazy. “Why give up stable contracts for some Discord group?” But ironically, DAOs gave me more stability. Instead of depending on one client, I had dozens of peers in the DAO. If one funding proposal failed, another was already brewing.
Q: What about the practical side – payments, taxes, visas?
Leo:
That’s where crypto really shines. Payments are instant. When I moved to Argentina, I didn’t care that inflation was 200% – I kept my earnings in stablecoins and only converted pesos weekly via Binance P2P. As for visas, I joined communities where other nomads shared hacks – like which countries were crypto-friendly or had flexible tax rules. Without those groups, I’d be lost.
Challenges Along the Way
Q: Sounds like a dream, but what’s the catch?
Leo:
DAOs are messy. Imagine 100 people on Zoom trying to decide which logo to use. Sometimes it’s chaotic, slow, or even political. And volatility – not just in tokens, but in projects. A DAO can thrive one month and fizzle the next. You need thick skin and backup plans.
Q: How do you stay sane in that chaos?
Leo:
Two things: structure and community. I treat DAO work like a job – fixed hours, clear deliverables. And I stay active in nomad groups; loneliness is real on the road. Sharing co-living spaces with other builders makes the chaos fun.
Inspiration for Other Nomads
Q: What would you say to other nomads curious about DAOs?
Leo:
Start small. Join a DAO that excites you, even if it’s just one task or bounty. Don’t worry about being “technical.” I’ve seen copywriters, event organisers, and even yoga teachers thrive in DAOs. If you bring value, you’ll find your place as a crypto nomad.
Q: And what’s next for you?
Leo:
I’m helping launch a “Nomad DAO” – a collective funding coliving projects and crypto-friendly hubs worldwide. Imagine a future where you don’t just rent an Airbnb – you co-own the place with other nomads through tokens. That’s the kind of future I want to build.
Closing Thoughts
Leo’s story highlights how Web3 is not just about technology but about new ways of living and working. For digital nomads, DAOs represent a chance to stop being gig workers at the mercy of clients – and start being co-owners of the communities they love.
As Leo puts it: “The crypto nomad’s road is unpredictable, but with DAOs, I’m not just surviving as a freelancer anymore – I’m building freedom with others.”`
