Never leave your bitcoins on an exchange!
You depend on a company to access your money. Bankruptcy, hacks or frozen withdrawals: your funds can become inaccessible.
IN-HOME BITCOIN VAULT INSTALLER
Explore Bitcoin safely.
A private 2.5-hour session to save you 2.5 years of mistakes.
Master best practices right away. Save time, avoid the pitfalls and get ahead: personalised coaching in the comfort of your own home.
- At your home
- Private 2.5-hour session
- 1 year of learning support
- In French or English
- Since 2023
Pontarlier BTC, Klab° Pontarlier, Le Paradigme Bitcoin, CryptoXR, L'Est Républicain, Swiss Blockchain Institute, Alyra, Blockstream Local
01 — IN SHORT
What is La Citadelle?
La Citadelle is a company founded in July 2023 in Pontarlier, France, by Nicolas Schmitt, a blockchain consultant, and dedicated exclusively to Bitcoin and digital autonomy.
Nicolas Schmitt installs Bitcoin vaults in people's homes: choosing the hardware, installing, configuring and learning to use a wallet, in a private 2.5-hour session followed by one year of learning support.
He works with individuals, professionals and organisations in Franche-Comté, and also throughout France. Sessions are held in French, or in English on request. Your keys remain exclusively in your hands. We never have access.
02 — THE PROBLEM
Why do so many first steps in Bitcoin go wrong?
Digital tools have become central to our lives, yet we use them without really controlling our security or our data. Bitcoin is an accessible revolution that brings sovereignty, provided you are properly guided.
First steps without proper guidance
Without guidance, most beginners give up on Bitcoin before grasping its full potential.
"99% scams" in the crypto world
Wrong tools, wrong players, wrong habits: going it alone is simply too risky.
Weak passwords, exploited data
We use the internet without controlling our own security, and our personal data is widely exploited by big tech.
03 — THE PACKAGES
Build your Citadel, one rampart at a time.
Six turnkey Bitcoin coaching packages, from €350 to €1,000, designed to combine simplicity, security and autonomy whatever your starting level. Every package includes 1 year of learning support.
Net prices, VAT not applicable (French General Tax Code, art. 293 B). No online payment: a 25% deposit by bank transfer, in euros or in bitcoin, secures your session.
1BOUCLIER
Secure setup of a Bitcoin software wallet. Ideal for your first year of exploring Bitcoin.
- A reliable, well-established software wallet
- Protected recovery phrase
- 1 year of learning support
€350Net price · No hardware to buy
Learn more
2REMPART
Set up a Bitcoin vault with advanced security, on a hardware wallet.
- Hardware wallet initialised in a clean environment
- Desktop and mobile configuration
- Includes all BOUCLIER benefits
We work with a Ledger Nano S Plus / Nano X / Nano Gen5, a Blockstream Jade / Jade Plus / Jade Core or a BitBox02 / BitBox02 Nova, once your needs have been precisely identified.
€500Net price · Hardware not included
Learn more
3DONJON
Full installation of a Bitcoin node in your home, for complete independence.
- Bitcoin node on a mini PC
- Secure configuration (Tor, backups)
- Includes BOUCLIER and REMPART
€1,000Net price · Hardware not included
Learn more
4ÉTENDARD
A clear, accessible Bitcoin talk for individuals and professionals.
- 4 parts, from fundamentals to practice
- In person or online
- General public, professionals or workshop
€500Net price · Talk
Learn more
5COFFRE
Significantly improve your cybersecurity with a private session at home.
- Password manager and 2FA
- VPN, ethical browser and search engine
- Highly secure mailbox
€350Net price · Cybersecurity
Learn more
★REMPART · PARADIGME
Exclusive event offer: same as REMPART, with hardware and ticket included.
- Ledger Nano X or Blockstream Jade included
- 2-day ticket for Le Paradigme Bitcoin 2026 (CHF 229)
- Only 2 offers available
We work with a Ledger Nano S Plus / Nano X / Nano Gen5, a Blockstream Jade / Jade Plus / Jade Core or a BitBox02 / BitBox02 Nova, once your needs have been precisely identified.
€550Net price · Hardware included
Learn more04 — HELP ME CHOOSE
Which package is right for me?
Three questions, one recommendation. No basket, no payment: the suggested package simply pre-fills your booking request.
OUR RECOMMENDATION
1 BOUCLIER
€350 net
A proper Bitcoin wallet, correctly set up, to explore your first year with peace of mind.
05 — WHY LA CITADELLE?
Human guidance, to become independent.
Our approach
- A personalised approach based on your needs and technical level.
- Skills transfer: you learn to master your own tools.
- Security, autonomy and privacy at the heart of every step.
- Human, educational support at every stage.
What you get
- Freedom and full control over your Bitcoin tools.
- Stronger security against the risks of centralised players.
- In-person support that makes all the difference.
- Time saved: you avoid costly mistakes.
2019
First work on Bitcoin
2.5 h
Typical private session, at home
1 year
Of learning support included
3
Editions of Le Paradigme Bitcoin co-organised
06 — COMPARISON
Exchange, on your own, or La Citadelle?
| Criterion | Leaving your bitcoins on an exchange | Going it alone | La Citadelle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who holds your keys? | The exchange | You | You, and you alone |
| Risk of bankruptcy or hacking | High: funds may be frozen | Low | Removed by self-custody |
| Risk of irreversible mistakes | Medium | High | Best practices from day one |
| Human support | A chatbot or, at best, a very complicated customer service | None | In person, at your home |
| Time to get up and running | Immediate, but dependent | Months of research | One 2.5-hour session |
| Long-term follow-up | No | No | 1 year of Q&A |
07 — THE METHOD
How does the coaching work?
Six steps, from first contact to one year of follow-up. No online payment: your package is confirmed by a 25% deposit by bank transfer, in euros or in bitcoin.
Get in touch
Form, email, phone, Telegram, Signal or WhatsApp: tell us about your situation.
Discovery call
Together we choose the package and hardware that fit your needs.
Package confirmation
Your package is confirmed once a 25% deposit has been paid.
Session at home
2.5 private hours at your home, with simple explanations.
Secure setup
You generate and protect your own keys. We never have access.
One year of follow-up
Support and answers to your questions for 12 months.
08 — THE FOUNDER
Nicolas Schmitt, your personal in-home blockchain consultant.
Studying Bitcoin since 2019, Nicolas completed two training courses at the Swiss Blockchain Institute in Geneva (2021 and 2022), then earned the Alyra "Consultant Blockchain" certificate in 2022. He founded La Citadelle in July 2023.
Sovereignty isn't declared, it's built.
09 — REVIEWS
What experts and clients say.
Genuine reviews, linked to their source: LinkedIn for experts, Google for clients. Scroll to read them all.
“LaCitadelle offers pragmatic Bitcoin guidance and solutions that reflect state-of-the-art security practices, while remaining very accessible to beginners.”
Renaud LifchitzCybersecurity expert and Bitcoiner since 2010Translated from French.LinkedIn profile“LaCitadelle brings common sense back to learning Bitcoin. Nicolas helps people understand, secure and use Bitcoin simply, without jargon or unrealistic promises. A sound, educational approach, grounded in reality.”
Thomas Char₿onnelCEO of Gwensas Mining & co-founder of BBGS MiningTranslated from French.LinkedIn profile“LaCitadelle provides hands-on Bitcoin guidance and solutions built on today's best security practices, while staying perfectly accessible to people who are just starting out.”
Nicolas CantuPioneer of the web, sovereign digital infrastructure, AI and BitcoinTranslated from French.LinkedIn profile“Nicolas is passionate about a subject he has fully mastered. He clearly enjoys teaching, supporting and guiding people to make things clear, and he saves you a huge amount of time! Reliable, punctual, available and friendly. Don't hesitate to get in touch with him.”
“Excellent support! Thanks to him, I finally understood the basics of Bitcoin, how the network works and how to set up a node. Clear, precise explanations adapted to my level. A true enthusiast who knows how to share his knowledge.”
“Top-notch support, personalised and extremely informative. It goes far beyond the information you find everywhere. An invaluable time-saver.”
“Nicolas is a Bitcoin pro. Very good knowledge of cryptocurrencies and sound advice on managing them. I recommend him.”
“Very satisfied with the services Nicolas provides. His responsiveness and availability are remarkable. I feel completely confident for the years ahead thanks to the quality of his support and the reassuring follow-up he offers. Thanks again.”
10 — PRESS AND COMMUNITY
In the press.
20 May 2026 · L'Est Républicain
Avec La Citadelle, il veut démocratiser un usage plus sûr du bitcoin
Profile of Nicolas Schmitt and his in-home Bitcoin coaching business.
Read the article (in French)4 March 2026 · L'Est Républicain
Bitcoin : « Il n'y aura pas de retour en arrière »
Report on a talk by Aurore Galves Orjol at the Klab, hosted at the invitation of Pontarlier BTC.
Read the article (in French)14 January 2026 · L'Est Républicain
CryptoXR : les Pontissaliens représentés à l'événement des cryptomonnaies
La Citadelle runs a stand at CryptoXR in Auxerre to show what a Bitcoin node actually is.
Read the article (in French)20 April 2024 · L'Est Républicain
Nicolas Schmitt, spécialiste bitcoin : « je me sens en mission »
First profile of the founder and his commitment to Bitcoin education.
Read the article (in French)
Pontarlier BTC, partner meetup of the Blockstream Local programme
Le Paradigme Bitcoin — 3 co-organised editions
11 — FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Your questions, our answers.
What is La Citadelle?
La Citadelle is a company founded in July 2023 in Pontarlier (Doubs, France) by Nicolas Schmitt, a blockchain consultant. It is dedicated exclusively to Bitcoin and digital autonomy: in-home setup of Bitcoin wallets and hardware vaults, nodes, cybersecurity and talks, for individuals, professionals and organisations. Sessions are held in French, or in English on request.
How much does an in-home Bitcoin setup cost?
Prices range from €350 to €1,000: BOUCLIER and COFFRE €350, REMPART and ÉTENDARD €500, REMPART · Paradigme €550, DONJON €1,000. These are net prices (VAT not applicable under article 293 B of the French General Tax Code) and include the in-home session and one year of learning support. Hardware is not included.
How do I secure my bitcoins?
To secure your bitcoins, move them off exchanges and hold your own keys: this is self-custody. In practice, a hardware wallet keeps the keys offline, the recovery phrase is backed up on a durable medium and never photographed, and the devices you use are clean. The REMPART package sets all of this up in your home.
What is a Bitcoin vault?
A Bitcoin vault is a properly configured hardware wallet: a small dedicated device that keeps your private keys offline and requires your physical approval for every transaction. Combined with a well-protected recovery phrase and a PIN code, it is the recommended way to hold bitcoins over the long term.
Do you have access to my bitcoins?
No, never. You generate your own recovery phrase and private keys during the session, without La Citadelle seeing or keeping them. Your keys remain exclusively in your hands: nobody else can move your bitcoins, and no remote access is ever installed on your devices.
How does payment work?
There is no online payment. After the discovery call, your package is confirmed by paying a 25% deposit, which secures your session booking. The balance is paid as set out in the written confirmation. All payments are made by bank transfer, in euros or in bitcoin.
Where does La Citadelle operate?
La Citadelle works in Franche-Comté, and also throughout France. Based in Pontarlier, it travels to clients' homes in the Haut-Doubs, the Doubs and Besançon as well as in other French regions. The ÉTENDARD talk can also be delivered remotely, by video conference.
