According to Alex Gladstein of the Human Rights Foundation (HRF), Bitcoin has “essentially saved” citizens living under dictatorships . HRF has highlighted Bitcoin as a tool for defending human rights, especially in countries with authoritarian regimes .
Bitcoin offers two important innovations for those under financial or political oppression: it is an accessible and equitable savings technology and it is a censorship-resistant medium of exchange . Unlike traditional financial systems, Bitcoin allows users to bypass financial control and surveillance, especially in countries where governments target activists by freezing bank accounts and monitoring remittances .
HRF has an active role in supporting Bitcoin development through the Bitcoin Development Fund, which has allocated millions of dollars to projects that promote internet freedom and decentralization . Since 2020, the fund has granted over $7.8 million in BTC to 284 projects in 62 countries . These projects include the development of privacy tools, custody solutions, and educational programs .
Gladstein emphasized that Bitcoin is money that dictators cannot stop . This is particularly important in countries where governments often devalue their currency, reducing the purchasing power of citizens . Bitcoin offers an escape from these restrictions, allowing people to access a global monetary language that is widely accepted .
The HRF has also launched the Bitcoin Humanitarian Alliance, a coalition of activists, humanitarian organizations, and pro-democracy movements leveraging Bitcoin to support civil liberties and deliver aid in financially repressive environments . The alliance aims to expand the use of Bitcoin as a tool for protecting privacy, securing operational continuity, and transferring value in regions where activists are excluded from the traditional financial system .
While some, like George Soros, have criticized Bitcoin as a “nursery of dictators” , the HRF argues that Bitcoin is a powerful tool for protecting human rights and promoting freedom worldwide . Its decentralized nature and resistance to censorship make it a valuable asset for activists and citizens living under oppressive regimes .