Oswaldo Horowitz explores the edges of freedom

Somewhere between Dubai and Iran, a man built his own floating platform, lived entirely off Bitcoin, and vanished in a storm. His name was Samuele Landi – and his story is the focus of filmmaker Oswaldo Horowitz’s upcoming documentary The Legend of Landi.

Pitched at the Bitcoin FilmFest in Warsaw, the film traces the life of a radical figure who believed freedom could be engineered – using barges, satellites, and code. Still in production, Horowitz is now seeking funding to complete it.

He told The Crypto Radio the project isn’t just about one man, but about what happens when someone truly tries to opt out of the modern world.

Building a new life beyond borders

Horowitz, a former software engineer turned filmmaker, is drawn to people who operate at the edge of society. "If you look at the trend of society, usually it's pushed forwards by a few individuals," he said, citing Satoshi Nakamoto – Bitcoin's mysterious creator – as a prime example of how one person can dramatically change the world.

Landi was one of those individuals. A fugitive and crypto entrepreneur, he sold encrypted phones under the brand Cryptotel, reportedly earning clients across multiple governments – including the UAE and Liberia. Each phone sold for around $3,000, while the source code went for $750,000.

“His customers included government agencies,” Horowitz said. “He was working for different governments at the same time. And somehow, they all seemed to know and tolerate it.”

Eventually, Landi left land behind altogether, living aboard a floating platform built from interconnected shipping barges in international waters. “He said, I will die at sea for sure. I’m not going back,” said Horowitz. It was a final act of self-determination – to live on his own terms, outside the reach of any state.

Bitcoin as lifeline, not just currency

On the ocean, Landi used Bitcoin to fund his operations and Starlink internet to stay connected. For him, crypto wasn’t just convenient – it was essential. "Bitcoin is a parallel system to our world," Horowitz said. "You don't need to rely on any central authorities to control your money."

That system allowed Landi to exist in a legal and financial grey zone. “Bitcoin is far greater than simply money that you send to people,” Horowitz added. “It allows these new possibilities.”

For Horowitz, filmmaking plays a similar role: reframing how people think. "Filmmaking is the key to the minds of the masses," he told The Crypto Radio. "If you can spread a message to people, a film can have incredible power."

His own transition from mathematics and software to cinema reflects that belief. “When you feel cramped and watched, you're not creative, you're not yourself,” he said. “So wide open spaces is very important for the human spirit.”

Filmmaker Oswaldo Horowitz and The Crypto Radio's Bo Jablonski share a coffee at Bitcoin FilmFest, where The Legend of Landi was first pitched

Radical missions on land and sea

Before moving offshore, Landi worked on projects in Africa. In Liberia, he helped organize what was described as the country’s first blockchain-based election. He also took part in covert humanitarian efforts, reportedly helping to rescue hundreds of Liberian girls who had been trafficked to Oman.

While these actions were never publicly promoted, Horowitz believes they reflect a consistent theme: building parallel structures where state institutions have failed. “These systems are broken,” he said.

The film also explores seasteading – the idea of creating independent societies at sea. Horowitz referenced projects like Ocean Builders in Panama, which are developing sea pods for ocean-based living. Some of these pods are being explored by climate-vulnerable nations like the Maldives.

“If you create these free societies out at sea, it will then change the way land societies work,” Horowitz said.

A storm, a body, and unfinished questions

The upcoming documentary is a glimpse into a story of escape, code, and the pursuit of freedom far from land. Photo: The Legend of Landi

Landi’s story ended in mystery. His platform was destroyed in a storm. A body believed to be his was later found – but never conclusively identified. That uncertainty sits at the heart of The Legend of Landi, which is still in production.

“There’s a kind of mythic quality to the story,” Horowitz said. “It’s not just about whether he died. It’s about whether that kind of freedom is even possible.”

Horowitz’s next documentary may be equally provocative – a portrait of the Liberian warlord known as "General Butt Naked," a figure he describes as both notorious and unexpectedly beloved in his home country.

Landi died at sea, but the life he built – and the questions it posed – still challenge the boundaries of what’s possible when someone refuses to live by anyone else’s rules.