# Tools I Use to Maintain Sovereignty
**The exact privacy, security, and independence tools I rely on. Affiliate links included – you support my work at no extra cost to you.**
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## My Sovereignty Tech Stack
After years of research and experimentation, I’ve built a technology stack that prioritizes:
– **Privacy** (minimize surveillance)
– **Security** (protect assets and data)
– **Independence** (own my platforms and content)
– **Censorship-resistance** (can’t be deplatformed)
Below are the exact tools I use daily. Some links are affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission if you purchase (at no extra cost to you). I only recommend tools I actually use and would recommend to friends.
**Full disclosure**: I make money if you buy through these links. But I’d recommend these tools regardless – they’re how I built this site and protect my work.
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## 🔐 Hardware Security
### Trezor Safe 3
**Why I use it**:
– Cold storage for Bitcoin (my primary savings – never online)
– Open-source firmware (auditable security)
– Not made in China (supply chain security)
– Supports 8,000+ cryptocurrencies
– PIN + passphrase protection
**What I store**: 1 BTC (my savings), ETH, and altcoins for DeFi
**Price**: ~$79
**My take**: If you hold crypto, hardware wallets are non-negotiable. I chose Trezor over Ledger because Ledger had data breaches exposing customer info. Trezor’s open-source approach and supply chain transparency won me over.
[Get Trezor Safe 3 →](https://trezor.io)
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## 🛡️ Privacy & Security
### Proton (VPN + Email)
**Why I use it**:
– Based in Switzerland (strong privacy laws)
– End-to-end encrypted email
– No-logs VPN (verified by audits)
– Accepts crypto payments (additional privacy)
**What I use**:
– **Proton Mail**: Primary email for sensitive communications
– **Proton VPN**: Browsing privacy, bypassing geo-restrictions
**Price**: $48-96/year (VPN), $48/year (Mail)
**My take**: If you’re serious about privacy, ditch Gmail. Proton encrypts everything, doesn’t scan your emails for ads, and actually respects privacy. VPN is solid but pricier than competitors – worth it for integrated privacy suite.
[Get Proton →](https://proton.me/mail/pricing)
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## 🌐 Content & Platform Tools
### Self-Hosted WordPress
**Why I use it**:
– Full ownership (not renting from platform)
– Complete control over content and data
– Can’t be deplatformed (as long as I pay hosting)
– Flexible with plugins (Ko-fi integration, memberships, etc.)
**Hosting I use**: Vultr VPS ($5-10/month)
**My take**: Ghost, Substack, Medium are easier but you’re renting. WordPress + self-hosting means I OWN this site. If I get banned from payment processor, I can switch. If hosting goes down, I migrate. Sovereignty requires ownership.
[Get Vultr (new users get $300 credit) →](https://www.vultr.com/?ref=9834587-9J)
[Get WordPress →](https://wordpress.org/download/) (Free software – pay for hosting only)
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### Ko-fi (Payment Processing)
**Why I use it**:
– 0% platform fee (vs Patreon’s 8-12%)
– PayPal + Stripe support
– Membership tiers
– One-time tips + recurring subscriptions
**What I use it for**: All memberships on Unearthed by Al
**Price**: Free (payment processor fees only: ~3%)
**My take**: Patreon deplatforms creators. SubscribeStar is good alternative but Ko-fi’s 0% fee is unbeatable. I keep 97% of revenue (3% goes to PayPal, not Ko-fi).
[Get Ko-fi →](https://ko-fi.com/)
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## 📚 Books I Recommend
Support independent bookstores – all links go to Bookshop.org (not Amazon). Amazon bans controversial books, exploits workers, and powers government surveillance. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores instead.
**On Sovereignty & Freedom**:
– **”The Sovereign Individual”** by James Dale Davidson & William Rees-Mogg
[Bookshop →](https://bookshop.org/shop/unearthedbyal)
– **”Behold a Pale Horse”** by William Cooper
[Bookshop →](https://bookshop.org/shop/unearthedbyal)
**On Research Methodology**:
– **”Thinking, Fast and Slow”** by Daniel Kahneman (cognitive biases)
[Bookshop →](https://bookshop.org/shop/unearthedbyal)
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## 📈 DeFi & Crypto Tools
### Lido (ETH Staking)
**Why I use it**:
– Liquid staking (get stETH, tradeable)
– 2.5% APY (as of Nov 2025)
– Decentralized (not custodial like Coinbase)
**What I use it for**: Staking small portion of ETH for yield (NOT my Bitcoin – that stays cold)
**Price**: Free (ETH gas fees only)
**My take**: If you’re holding ETH anyway, Lido lets you earn yield while maintaining liquidity. I’m conservative with DeFi (only blue-chip protocols, low APY targets). High yields = high risk.
[Use Lido →](https://lido.fi/)
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## Support This Work
If these recommendations help you build your own sovereignty stack, consider supporting my investigative work:
– **Join Unearthed Memberships**: [ko-fi.com/unearthedbyal](https://ko-fi.com/unearthedbyal)
– **One-time tip**: [ko-fi.com/unearthedbyal](https://ko-fi.com/unearthedbyal)
– **Share this page**: Help others find these tools
Every purchase through affiliate links supports more deep-dive investigations. Thank you for being part of the Exit & Build movement.
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**Questions about any of these tools?** Reach out via Ko-fi or my livestreams.
**Want to see my full setup walkthrough?** I break down my entire tech stack in my streams and articles.