Bitcoin
Reclaiming Democracy with Bitcoin at the Oslo Freedom Forum
Oslo Freedom Forum with “the world’s most influential dissidents, innovators, journalists,… [+] philanthropists and policymakers.” Photo credit should be BERIT ROALD/
AFP via Getty Images
O Oslo Freedom Forumheld annually by Human Rights Foundation, has become a global cornerstone for human rights activists. This year, the 16th edition of the forum was centered on the theme “Reclaiming Democracy”. It brought together activists, thinkers and leaders to discuss the challenges of rising authoritarianism and how bitcoin can support activists fighting against oppressive regimes.
Thor Halvorssen, CEO of HRF, addressed the forum’s goal of creating empathy and achieving broader impact through sharing personal stories of triumph and tragedy. The Norwegian government and the city of Oslo support the event, recognizing its global importance.
HRF’s connection to bitcoin began in 2014, recognizing its potential to provide financial freedom and privacy. Since then, HRF has funded several bitcoin-related projects, supporting the development of tools that help activists use bitcoin safely and educating activists about its benefits.
Bitcoin as a lifeline
Hadiya Masieh, founder of The Groundswell Project, uses bitcoin to combat extremism and promote community cohesion. At the Oslo Freedom Forum, Hadiya discussed how bitcoin empowers minority communities by offering financial escape and protection. She works with women in these communities to promote financial independence. “We need to safeguard our communities and the environment,” she said, linking financial independence to preventing radicalization.
Farida Nabourema, co-founder of Africa Bitcoin Conference, spoke of the rapid adoption of bitcoin in Africa. “Africa has the fastest global adoption rate,” she noted. Starting her activism at the age of 13, Farida defends democracy and human rights in Togo. She educates about bitcoin’s potential for financial independence and resistance against oppression.
Bitcoin and human rights
The Oslo Freedom Forum featured countless other inspiring voices who highlighted the importance of bitcoin in their fight for human rights.
Alex Gladstein, director of strategy at HRF, spoke about the role of bitcoin. He discussed how bitcoin allows activists bypass financial censorship and transfer funds securely. By using bitcoin, activists can receive donations without government interference, which is crucial to sustaining their work in oppressive regimes.
Faisal Al Mutar, founder of Ideas beyond borders, discussed the role of bitcoin in promoting education and independent thought in the Middle East. His organization, which uses bitcoin to support educational initiatives, empowers people to resist extremism and authoritarianism while providing freedom and financial security. He said: “You cannot bomb democracy and freedom in countries. You can’t fight for freedom and democracy if you don’t know what that means.” Faisal also addressed the audience, saying, “Why should you care about the Middle East? It’s because the Middle East is the opposite of Las Vegas. What happens in the Middle East doesn’t stay in the Middle East.”
Prominent figures in the bitcoin community, Lyn Alden It is Jack Dorsey, also shared their insights. Jack spoke about the importance of open source solutions in the fight for financial freedom. “We need to solve the discovery problem in an open source way. Twitter took the first step, but with the algorithm, you miss out on tons of content. You need to be able to choose,” emphasizing the need for transparency and choice on digital platforms .
The Oslo Freedom Forum’s focus on bitcoin underscores its potential as a powerful tool for human rights. By providing financial freedom and security, bitcoin helps activists around the world reclaim democracy and fight authoritarianism. Stories shared on the forum highlight the resilience and determination of those who use bitcoin to advance justice and freedom, showing the world how “bitcoin solves this!”