1/ Proud to share my essay in the Journal of Democracy on Bitcoin’s growing adoption as a powerful and undeniable tool in the global struggle for human rights In October print + digital editions Will be widely read by political scientists Send to normie friends Onwards!
2/ The essay is broken down into 9 parts, as follows Link here to read the full thing at @JoDemocracy: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/9...
3/ “A Banking Crisis for Democratic Activism" Here I outline how it has become nearly impossible to use banks to send money to dissidents in authoritarian regimes, and how Bitcoin is fixing this problem
4/ "Going Where the Dollar Cannot Go" This is a case study of @RoyaMahboob's pioneering work to use Bitcoin as currency inside Afghanistan, and today, to fund underground schooling for girls with Bitcoin The dollar is unable to do these things
5/ "Monetary Freedom" This is a case study of French colonial history in Central and West Africa, a review of how France props up dictators who use the French colonial currency, and @Farida_N's efforts to use Bitcoin as a tool to help liberate her fellow citizens
6/ "A Quiet Revolution" This is a case study of Bitcoin's rise in Cuba over the past 5 years, the regime's massive devaluation of the peso, which has lost nearly all of its value since 2020, and a look at how Cubans are using Bitcoin to escape financial repression
7/ "A Lifeline for Democracy Movements" This section reviews how activists in dozens of countries ranging from Nigeria to Hong Kong to Nigeria have used Bitcoin to support human rights and democracy work where the traditional fiat system has failed
8/ "Bitcoin, Not Crypto or Blockchain" Here I address the need for *being specific* with words when we describe Bitcoin or other digital currency projects. It reviews how "crypto" and "blockchain" are worse-than-useless terms that can seriously mislead activists
9/ "Addressing Bitcoin’s Critics" A review of the most common criticisms of Bitcoin, ranging from volatility to criminal use to environmental impact, breaking down how these arguments are either wrong or exaggerated and how they are not stopping activists from using Bitcoin
10/ "Getting Started with Bitcoin" This is a practical guide for a non-profit or human rights group to get started with Bitcoin. What to keep in mind, what tools to use, how to stay safe, how to learn more, and how to overcome organizational inertia
11/ Finally, the conclusion "Freedom Money" Even though a growing number of dissidents and non-profits are using BTC, it remains chronically under-discussed in the human rights community That will change because BTC is, so often today, the best tool for supporting human rights
@gladstein Respect, Alex, for the work you’re doing for Bitcoin and for the communities around it. It’s very needed and deeply appreciated. I have a question. Since you’re involved in many activities promoting Bitcoin - especially bringing it to unbanked societies and to people living
@dopemind10 I go into this in my essay quite a bit There are a lot of platforms today where you can use bitcoin to pay for goods or services Or, you just swap it out for local currency when you need to
@gladstein Not a word on Ethiopia? Maybe your next essay.
@KalKassa Bitcoin is happening everywhere, its adoption is beyond the scope of an essay or even a book
@gladstein @tando_me Sorry, Bitcoin is not a democracy. It is hard rules. Great set of rules.
@RottenApples4u @tando_me No one said that in the post. Read carefully.
@gladstein Where’s the article?
@gladstein A very long article listing all the bad guys on the planet, but not a word about the crimes of Israel and their accomplices. Perhaps because those who are against Israel don't have their accounts closed and their transactions censored, they kill them directly wherever they are.
@NoSecondBest1 I mention Gaza. I only looked at 3 countries for case studies. Here’s 14,000 words on Palestine from my book: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/cu...
@gladstein Powerful essay! Some examples, if I am not mistaken, were also in your book "check your financial privilege" (e.g. Cuba and Afghanistan). In comparison to the book, how have these projects in those countries develop? Do you have any insights on this? Thanks for your great work!
@fiama282 They have grown significantly. Since the book for example… ecash adoption!
@gladstein @PeterMcCormack For a lot of your use cases, it seems as if monero would be better for privacy
@ctcheeto @PeterMcCormack Ecash even better
@gladstein You have made a significant mistake. A fixed-limit money is impossible, Bitcoin is not money. Proofs in my forthcoming paper.
@gladstein Great work, thanks! In the intro you write: “Sometimes, as is the case in China, a decision to stop a critic’s money does not even have to be made. An AI tool automates the process [..]” I’m looking for sources describing these events. Not successful, so far. Do you have any?
@gladstein @AGladstein Powerful thesis. If financial freedom precedes political freedom, how do you see the conflict between Bitcoin's decentralization and authoritarian states' need for total surveillance playing out over the next 5 years? Which side has the stronger long-term incentive?
@gladstein @fede_intern If Bitcoin is becoming a tool in the global fight for human rights how should we think about its role and impact beyond just money
@gladstein “Bitcoin isn’t just an investment — it’s a lifeline. In places where authoritarian regimes weaponize money against citizens, Bitcoin provides an exit. History will remember it not just as digital gold, but as freedom money.”
@gladstein I always enjoy reading your work Alex. Thank you sir!
@gladstein so if Bitcoin really scales as a human rights tool, which places do you think will feel the heat first?