What does financial repression look like in real time — and how are people fighting back with Bitcoin?
In this episode, I read the Human Rights Foundation’s Financial Freedom Report #67, a roundup of the latest developments in monetary control, state surveillance, and Bitcoin tools empowering those under authoritarian regimes. From currency collapses in Turkey to smart contract-enforced CBDCs in Russia, we explore the chilling precision of financial control systems being deployed around the world. But it’s not all bleak — this report also highlights powerful tools like Stratum V2 mining pools, Cashew’s tap-to-pay e-cash, and HRF-supported grassroots adoption efforts in Pakistan and beyond.
I follow the read with a Guy’s Take on the medium-of-exchange debate — and why using Bitcoin as a store of value may be more radical than it seems.
Check out the original article: HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #67 (Link: https://hrf.org/latest/hrfs-weekly-financial-freedom-report-67/)
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HRF: The Human Rights Foundation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies. Subscribe to HRF's Financial Freedom Newsletter today. (Link: https://mailchi.mp/hrf.org/financial-freedom-newsletter)
OFF: The Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF) is an international human rights conference series hosted and produced by the Human Rights Foundation (HRF). Bringing together the world’s most engaging human rights advocates, journalists, artists, tech entrepreneurs, and world leaders, we aim to share their stories and brainstorm ways to expand freedom and unleash human potential across the globe. Don't miss this year’s Oslo Freedom Forum in May. (Link: https://oslofreedomforum.com/event/oslo-freedom-forum-2025/)
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