On Wednesday, socially-minded bitcoin advocates from Kenya to Canada to Russia came together for the final day of 2024. Oslo Freedom Forum As part of the Financial Freedom Track event, he shared insights into how Bitcoin can be a tool for those around the world who need it most.
Alex Gladstein, Chief Strategy Officer Human Rights Foundation (HRF)The organizers of the Oslo Freedom Forum began the day by discussing why Bitcoin is essential in the context of human rights, and then read two relevant passages from Lynn Alden’s book. Broken Money: Why Our Financial System is Failing and How to Fix It before inviting the author, a well-known macroeconomic analyst, onto the stage.
Alden gave a brief overview of the currency’s history before emphasizing that Bitcoin gives everyone around the world access to a free and open financial system. He noted that 15 years after its creation, Bitcoin has matured, become easier to use, and has become much more liquid, making it more suitable for the human rights context in terms of network and assets than in its early days.
Hadiya MashieFounder of Groundswell ProjectA representative of an organization working to foster tolerance and empathy among diverse communities took to the stage to give a talk titled, “How to Fund Anti-Terrorism Efforts with Bitcoin,” highlighting that she has been teaching Somali women how to use Bitcoin to raise funds for the political campaigns of female political candidates in the country.
Noble NyangomaCEO Bitcoin Innovation HubImmediately following Massie, he spoke about his work with refugees in Uganda, many of whom are not yet Ugandan citizens and therefore cannot open bank accounts in the country. Massie emphasized that Bitcoin is essential for these refugees.
“With Bitcoin, no one will ask, ‘Where’s your national ID?'” Nyangoma said.
One of the most moving speeches of the day was Farida NabremaTogolese activist African Bitcoin ConferenceShe recounted a harrowing experience she once had in Ghana when she needed emergency surgery but was nearly unable to undergo it because she did not have enough money in the local currency to pay for the procedure.
But even though she had enough money in her home currency to pay, the hospital wouldn’t accept it — what she meant was that there are many different currencies on the continent, none of which can be used across borders.
She explained that Bitcoin can solve this problem, especially in Africa, as it helps create a world where situations like the one she experienced in the hospital in Ghana could be avoided.
Before lunch, Ben Perrin, a.k.a. BTC Sessiongave a presentation on how to use Bitcoin in high fee environments, and HRF team member Alex Lee said, 10 Bitcoin Development Fund Grant Recipients It is for software developers creating tools to enhance privacy on the Lightning Network, build decentralized communications, and provide tech tools to human rights defenders.
in the afternoon, Sparrow Wallet Developer Craig Low detailed practical ways to make Bitcoin more private to use, Bitcoin DADAa virtual Bitcoin education platform and community for women in Africa, shared stories of how Bitcoin is making a notable difference to their students.
“Before Bitcoin, I didn’t see any real way for myself and my sisters back home to gain financial freedom and independence,” Marcel said during her presentation, revealing that the organization uses Bitcoin as a fundraising tool to help fund efforts to provide feminine hygiene products and educational materials to schoolgirls in Kibera, one of Africa’s largest urban slums.
Calle is an anonymous software developer. Kash protocol, Ecash Protocol Offers Greater Transaction Privacy with Bitcoinoutlined how ecash works and how the privacy it offers benefits activists.
In the middle of the afternoon session, Christian KeloresInterview with HRF’s Director of Financial Freedom Rusando NdabambiCommunity Leader BitcoinNdamambi told Kelores that before Bitcoin, he and many in his community had no means of savings and didn’t think much about the future.
“I tell people in my town: When you think about Bitcoin, think about saving for your children,” Ndabambi said.
Soon after, Peter McCormack What Bitcoin has brought In the podcast, we talk with Mike Block, to be decided Bloc’s Anna Chekhovich and CFO Alexei Navalny Anti-Corruption Foundation and HRF Nonprofit Bitcoin Adoption Leader. The three discussed how Bitcoin can help preserve democracy, US Crackdown on Privacy-Focused Bitcoin Wallets.
“To receive donations, we need to provide donors with advanced security tools for their payments,” Chekhovich explained.
“Obviously you wouldn’t donate if there was even the slightest chance that your personal information could be leaked to the government and put in prison. That’s why privacy tools are important and why we at the Anti-Corruption Foundation are so concerned about it. We try to do all we can to keep our donors safe,” she added.
“If these privacy tools are taken away, we will no longer be able to accept Bitcoin donations as we cannot expose our donors to such significant risk.”
Dulce Villarreal, CEO and Founder Satoshi’s Archive Library of Satoshi, a Bitcoin hub that provides Bitcoin educational materials, classes, and financial support for Bitcoin developer students, said that more than 50 million people in Latin America live under dictatorial regimes. Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)) will only further strengthen authoritarian leadership on the continent.
That’s why she is on a mission to popularize Bitcoin by training people all over the world to work with and support it.
“Our mission is to make Bitcoin technical training available in your language,” Villarreal said. “Librería de Satoshi’s goal is to develop the next generation of Bitcoin contributors, entrepreneurs and educators.”
The day concluded with a fireside chat with Founder and CEO, Jack Mallers. strikeand Managing Partner Matt O’Dell Ten31 Co-founder of OpenSatThe two discussed the importance of profitable bitcoin businesses contributing back to open source developers, just as Strike announced he would donate $100,000. Open Cash Associationis a non-profit organization that supports such developers and was founded by the aforementioned Calle.
“Through my work at HRF and coming here, I have an obligation to make sure Bitcoin succeeds, even though it may not be in the direct interest of the shareholders or my company,” Mallers explained. “It’s part of the game theory that makes the whole project work. So, regardless of role, we’re all on the same team. If Bitcoin is great, we all benefit from it.”
A powerful closing statement to a conference that featured the voices of many people who have done everything in their power to ensure that we are all actually better off with Bitcoin.
