Bitcoin Conference Las Vegas

What does it truly mean to invest in yourself?

For each of us, that answer will differ—and it should. Because investing in yourself begins with defining your own version of success. My journey taught me that success is not about where you start or the mistakes you’ve made. It’s about the intentional steps you take today to shape who you’ll become tomorrow.

My name is Michael Santos, and I’m the founder of PrisonProfessors.org, a nonprofit that offers free resources to help people in prison—and those impacted by the justice system—begin building meaningful, successful lives. That mission was born out of my own journey: I served 26 years in federal prison, beginning in 1987 when I was just 23 years old.

In the earliest days of that journey, confined in solitary, I made a decision. I would use every day—every minute—to prepare for the man I wanted to become on the other side of the prison gates.

Prison Was My Classroom

I didn’t wait for anyone to give me permission. I invested in learning: building my vocabulary, sharpening my writing, studying math, and crafting persuasive communication. I wrote articles, developed an educational program, and built a support network—all while inside. I earned academic credentials and wrote Earning Freedom: Conquering a 45-Year Prison Sentence, a book that tells my story. (You can get it on Amazon Audible, or request a free copy if you don’t have the resources.)

The point is: even in the darkest place, you can invest in yourself.

Why I Invested $20,000 to Attend Bitcoin Conference

Fast forward to today. I’m in Las Vegas attending Bitcoin 2025—one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency conferences. It’s an environment filled with energy, innovation, and influence. My registration alone cost tens of thousands of dollars. 

Why make such an investment?

Because I believe in investing with purpose.

I believe the future lies in decentralization, in systems that empower individuals rather than trap them. That’s why I align myself with the Bitcoin community—because Bitcoin represents freedom, just as our mission at Prison Professors represents freedom: the freedom to earn your way to redemption, purpose, and prosperity.

Here at the conference, I’m learning from influential voices like Arthur Hayes, Michael Saylor, Senator Cynthia Lummis, and even hearing from Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. These are people driving conversations about economic freedom, digital innovation, and policy change. And they’re shaping the future.

A New Movement

Changing the criminal justice system doesn’t happen in isolation. It requires building coalitions with people from every sector—even those who may never have thought about incarceration.

Because the truth is: over-incarceration affects all of us. Every dollar spent locking someone up is a dollar not spent on healthcare, education, infrastructure, or technology. We must shift the narrative from punishment to productivity. From control to contribution. From imprisonment to investment—in people.

That’s why I’m here.

I don’t just want to reform the system. I want to reinvent it. And I can only do that by staying on the cutting edge of how the world is changing—through Bitcoin, blockchain, AI, and decentralized innovation.

Built Inside a Cell

Everything I have today—my marriage, my mission, my meaning—was made possible because I made intentional choices inside prison. I met my wife while I was still incarcerated. She served the last ten years with me, and now we’re partners in everything. She’s here in Las Vegas with me today, holding the camera as I film this message.

So, the question isn’t about my story. It’s about yours.

What intentional decisions are you making today? What seeds can you plant—right now—that will bear fruit in the months, years, and decades to come?

Join the Movement

At Prison Professors, everything we offer is free: daily vlogs, digital lessons, books, and guidance for people who want to build lives of dignity and success, no matter their past.

Visit PrisonProfessors.org. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Follow us on social. Be part of the change.

Because real investment starts with the work you put into becoming the person you're meant to be. And I believe in you.

‍