Isn't it funny that nobody answered the question? That says a lot about the BTC ecosystem.
I have been thinking about this but there is no simple solution to this problem.
Issues that make it almost impossible to answer this question:
1. laws can be changed anytime, so no country is "safe"
2. All countries will be affected by a drought in tax revenue sooner or later, even those "friendly" to BTC
3. Most countries have extradition agreements, or can be forced to do what the US says, in several ways (military force being the last, and least sophisticated one)
So the results is that realistically, no country is safe for BTC right now.
China? I think there is a misunderstanding about their intentions. Knowing the Chinese culture I don't see any reason to believe they're BTC friendly. They are a culture that always plays things like chess, so they can "change their mind" at anytime, even if they were friendly, as some think.
North Korea? Cuba? Iran? Good luck getting hosting and reliable Internet in some of these, let alone the problems of running a business "from" there. Moreover, if you set up in the "axis of evil" countries, you'll stand out more and the US will go after you first.
African countries? Dictatorship, civil wars...total instability if you want to do business. Rule of law is not worth the paper it is printed on, depending on the country.
South America? They'll go against US interests only as long as the US does not use its ultimate card, which is the military one. Venezuela is a mess. Brazil has important business ties with the US so they can be blackmailed that way. Argentina can only challenge the US so far and is in itself in political turmoil. Uruguay, Chile have never been safe harbour from the US and when the time comes, I don't think they'd hesitate to not risk their rship with the US by complying with its requests. Yeah I know, that's sad news for BTC.uy and any BTC business Jeff Berwick would like to base there, but c'est la vie. If they think their companies, or investor's money is safe there, time will teach them an expensive lesson.
Iceland? Sounds good, but I heard that they just voted back in power people that got them into the mess into the first place, because the wonderful revolutionaries of the "constitution of the people" did not deliver on what they promised. Yeah, I know, wonderful world we live in.
Please note that I am generalizing, and I know it, so please don't bother telling me how great the net access is in Iran, or that Africa is not a country. I know that, I am just trying to make a greater point.
In the end of the day it seems that the only (least bad) option is Russia, but good luck promoting a serious business in the BTC environment based there, and good luck with Putin or the local gangsters asking for "protection money".
Conclusion: best place to based a BTC business in right now is in one of two places: out of this planet, or in the future
