Two years ago, Maya invited me to join Daedalus Labs as UX lead: a role I proudly took on. Since then, we’ve worked closely on building a bold Bitcoin vision for Suriname. It wasn’t easy. Building a startup never is, let alone one challenging systemic corruption.
But Maya dared to try. And I deeply respect her for that.
Maya embodies the spirit of a true Bitcoiner: brave, principled, resourceful. Not perfect, but real. And that realness is rare.
Along the way, we became friends. We’ve had highs and lows, in business and life. It’s no secret that she’s going through a difficult time now. I believe it’s rooted in a heavy cocktail of postpartum challenges, chronic stress, trauma, and sleep deprivation. It’s painful to witness. And yes, it can lead to erratic behavior and damaged trust.
But let’s not pretend we know everything. The situation in Suriname is complex, and so is the position Maya put herself in. She made herself a target, not for ego, but for the hope of change. That takes guts.
Still, mistakes were made. Wrong people trusted. Hard truths said at the wrong time. I hope she takes time off now, to heal, to breathe, to gain clarity. Whether she returns to the public stage or not is her decision.
What we can do as a community is this:
Hold space. Show compassion. Stay critical without turning cold.
Because Maya is not a scammer. She never enriched herself. She’s one of the most selfless people I’ve met. And like any strong spirit, she’s still human, flawed, overwhelmed, and in need of support.
I stand with her, in truth, not blind loyalty. And I hope more people choose empathy over easy judgment.
Ask the average boomer what money is, and they look at you in full disbelief that one can ask such a dumb question.
Then ask them, okay, what can you tell me about the history of money, and they start looking confused.
'You just use it, there is nothing to say about it'
Then explain to them who issues the money and if that is moral, and they start defending it.
'Someone got to create it, you want to return to barter?'
These statists have been spoon fed that no one is supposed to challenge money or central banks itself.
And there they sit in their mansions, complaining about the state of the world on their high horses.
'They're breaking down all the institutions we built after the wars, millions of people died to that you know, they're squandering their future'.
In 10 years most of them will be gone.
And we have to clean up their mess so upcoming generations don't have to live on food stamps and government handouts.
What a heritage.