- Bitcoin as a Financial Lifeline Against Authoritarian Control.
- Historical Impact on Dissidents and Vulnerable Communities.
- HRF’s Ongoing Advocacy for Bitcoin in Human Rights.
Alex Gladstein, chief strategy officer of the Human Rights Foundation (HRF), says Bitcoin is a financial lifeline for citizens living under oppressive regimes.
Speaking at the Bitcoin Policy Summit in Washington, Gladstein told U.S. political leaders that Bitcoin empowers individuals with financial freedom where traditional systems fail.
“Bitcoin is bad for dictators,” Gladstein declared during his address.
“With Bitcoin, the ability of these leaders to do these things is completely decimated.”
Gladstein
He went on to emphasize that unlike fiat currencies, which can be manipulated, devalued, or weaponized by governments, Bitcoin allows individuals to maintain autonomy over their finances, particularly when used privately and without linking identities.
“If you’re self-custoding your Bitcoin, governments can’t delete or freeze your stuff, and they certainly can’t hyperinflate you,” he said.
He also referenced authoritarian regimes that print excessive amounts of currency, causing extreme inflation and economic instability.
Gladstein said Bitcoin’s role in supporting dissidents and vulnerable communities became clear to the HRF as early as 2013, during Ukraine’s pro-democracy protests against then-President Viktor Yanukovych, during which time many activists had their bank accounts frozen and were unable to access traditional financial systems.
“This was very early in Bitcoin’s life cycle; Bitcoin was worth like a hundred bucks at the time. We were very skeptical that this would work,” he said.
“But it got the value to them where traditional money couldn’t go.”
Gladstein said that since then, the HRF has continued to support the use of Bitcoin as a tool for promoting human rights and financial freedom in authoritarian countries.
“So many people from these countries and so many other countries have essentially been saved or rescued because of this technology,” he concluded.
The Human Rights Foundation, founded in 2005, focuses on promoting civil liberties and human rights worldwide, particularly in regions governed by repressive regimes.