Bitcoin couple to lose house in sea

The Thai Navy will begin removing a ‘seastead’ home built by an American bitcoin investor and his partner off the coast of Thailand as the couple remain in hiding from charges of violating the country’s sovereignty. Chad Elwartowski and his Thai girlfriend Supranee Thepdet, known as ‘Bitcoin Girl Thailand’, did not seek permission to construct their floating platform and a Navy patrol ship was sent out to dismantle it.

BANGKOK: The Thai Navy will begin removing a “seastead” home built by an American bitcoin investor and his partner off the coast of Thailand, an official said, as the couple remain in hiding from charges accusing them of violating the country’s sovereignty.

Chad Elwartowski and his Thai girlfriend Supranee Thepdet, known as “Bitcoin Girl Thailand”, are facing charges of threatening the kingdom’s independence after authorities found their ocean-based home about 12 nautical miles (22km) from Phuket’s shore.

But Elwartowski said the home was 13 nautical miles (24km) out and therefore it was past Thailand’s territorial waters.

The Thai Navy, which filed a complaint last week to Phuket’s police, said the couple did not seek permission to construct their floating platform and a patrol ship was sent out yesterday to dismantle it.

“We will do it today if we can,” a senior Navy official said yesterday, adding that it might prove difficult given the depth of the waters where the home is located.

After the seastead is removed, it would be used as evidence against the couple, said a Royal Thai Navy statement, which denied sending “any forces to chase or threaten the couple”.

The American’s visa has been revoked and if charged and found guilty, the maximum punishment Elwartowski, a software engineer who worked for the US military, and Supranee could be sentenced to is the death penalty.

A senior Thai government official on Friday urged the couple to fight the charge in court.

“I urge them to get a lawyer to fight this case,” Supoj Rodruang Na Nongkhai, the deputy provincial governor of Phuket, said.

He said the two were believed to be in hiding in Thailand.

“Thailand will proceed with everything according to the law. We are not threatening them,” Supoj said.

— AFP Sea-cret home: A Royal Thai Navy photo showing the ‘seastead’ home, off Phuket’s shore. The top of the platform serves as a deck, which is covered with solar panels. The ‘home’ is mounted on a 2m-long steel ‘spar’ which is anchored to the ocean’s floor.