WHO AM I?
Nicolas Schmitt, founder of La Citadelle
Your personal in-home blockchain consultant. Founded in July 2023 in Pontarlier, La Citadelle is a company dedicated exclusively to Bitcoin and digital autonomy. Nicolas Schmitt helps individuals and professionals secure their bitcoins, right in their homes, in Franche-Comté and throughout France.
Preparing today for tomorrow's exchanges
Passionate about new technologies and convinced of Bitcoin's transformative potential, I began studying and understanding this new system for exchanging value in 2019.
My background is built in particular on specialised training at the Swiss Blockchain Institute in Geneva:
- 2021 — Blockchain for managers and decision-makers: understanding the strategic stakes, architectures, applications and outlook of blockchain.
- 2022 — Advanced blockchain training: in-depth study of cryptography, peer-to-peer networks, how Bitcoin works, mining, smart contracts and cybersecurity.
- 2022 — Certified blockchain consultant, Alyra: "Consultant Blockchain" certificate awarded on completion of the blockchain consultant programme.
This background gave me skills in analysing, understanding and implementing blockchain technologies, and in supporting projects that use these new digital infrastructures.
Along the way, one conviction took hold: tomorrow's exchanges require new skills, but above all a new way of thinking about ownership, security and individual freedom. With that in mind, I created La Citadelle, a company dedicated exclusively to Bitcoin and digital autonomy.
Your sovereignty starts at home
My mission is simple: to enable everyone to discover Bitcoin and truly take control of it. As an in-home Bitcoin vault installer, I help individuals and professionals put in place solutions to secure their bitcoins, right in their homes.
From discovering how Bitcoin works to installing and learning to use a hardware wallet, every session has one goal: making you independent, with no intermediary and without delegating custody of your funds.
I favour an educational, practical and personalised approach, adapted to each person's level. Sessions are held in French, or in English on request.
It is essential to position yourself today in the exchanges of tomorrow. But you still need to start in the best possible way: with the right knowledge, the right tools and the right security practices.
Sovereignty isn't declared, it's built.
La Citadelle — Your vault. Your Bitcoin. Your sovereignty.
BACKGROUND
Key milestones
2019
Discovering Bitcoin
Nicolas Schmitt begins studying and understanding this new system for exchanging value.
5 October 2021
Swiss Blockchain Institute, Geneva
"Blockchain for managers and decision-makers": strategic impact, architectures, applications and outlook (1 day).
January 2022
Swiss Blockchain Institute, Geneva
"Blockchain advanced training": cryptography and peer-to-peer networks, how Bitcoin and mining work, smart contracts, cybersecurity.
8 August 2022
Alyra, Paris
"Consultant Blockchain" certificate, awarded on completion of the blockchain consultant programme.
30 June 2023
Le Paradigme Bitcoin
First edition, in La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland).
July 2023
La Citadelle is founded
A company dedicated exclusively to Bitcoin and digital autonomy, in Pontarlier.
28-29 June 2024
Le Paradigme Bitcoin
Second edition, in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
4-5 July 2025
Le Paradigme Bitcoin
Third edition, in Neuchâtel.
January 2026
CryptoXR, Auxerre
La Citadelle stand and live Bitcoin node demonstration.
2026
Press
Several articles in L'Est Républicain, including a profile of Nicolas Schmitt and his company in May 2026.
Certificates
WHY LACITADELLE?
Take back control of your digital sovereignty
The internet was meant to be a space for freedom, sharing and communication between individuals, without barriers or censorship. But over the years, centralising players took over, capturing data and attention until users' digital sovereignty was eroded.
Bitcoin opened a new era: free, disintermediated exchange of value. But that promise is already under threat. Today, more than 70% of Bitcoin transactions go through centralised exchanges, diverting it from its original mission. La Citadelle was born in July 2023 in response to this.
Our mission
We guide you towards a responsible, ethical and sovereign use of digital tools and Bitcoin, through practical solutions accessible to all, with five hands-on packages designed with French experts.
Our vision
Digital technology that serves people, where everyone has the freedom to control and decide, away from malicious actors.
OUR SERVICES
What we do
Guidance towards Bitcoin autonomy
Use Bitcoin as it was designed: without intermediaries, securely. We help you adopt non-custodial solutions suited to your level of expertise.
Training and workshops
Understand what digital sovereignty is about, learn to protect your data and discover the free tools that put you back in control.
Resilient digital infrastructure
We set up local, durable systems that are independent of big tech, to safeguard your digital freedom every day.
Strategic advice
Are you a company or a local authority? We guide you in adopting technologies that respect your users and your values.
Free digital technology starts with an informed choice
La Citadelle is more than a service: it is an approach. Join those who want to build digital technology that serves people, free, sustainable and sovereign.
COMMUNITY
Pontarlier BTC and events
Nicolas Schmitt founded the Pontarlier BTC community, a partner meetup of the Blockstream Local programme, organises the Bitcoin meetups of the Klab° (a community space in Pontarlier) and co-organised Le Paradigme Bitcoin (2023, 2024, 2025).
