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Reclaiming democracy with Bitcoin at the Freedom Forum in Oslo
Oslo Freedom Forum with the “world’s most influential dissidents, innovators, journalists… [+] philanthropists and politicians”. Photo credit should read BERIT ROALD/
AFP via Getty Images
THE Oslo Freedom Forumheld annually by Human Rights Foundation, has become a global milestone 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, spoke about the forum’s goal to build empathy and achieve broader impact by sharing personal stories of triumph and tragedy. The Norwegian government and the city of Oslo support the event, recognizing its global importance.
The HRF connection with bitcoin began in 2014, recognizing its potential to provide financial freedom and privacy. Since then, HRF has funded numerous 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 fight extremism and promote community cohesion. At the Oslo Freedom Forum, Hadiya discussed how bitcoin empowers minority communities, offering financial escape and protection. She works with women in these communities to promote financial independence. “We must safeguard our communities and our environment,” she said, linking financial independence to the prevention of radicalisation.
Farida Nabourema, co-founder of African Bitcoin Conference, spoke about the rapid adoption of bitcoin in Africa. “Africa has the fastest global adoption rate,” she noted. Starting her activism at 13, Farida advocates for democracy and human rights in Togo. She educates on bitcoin’s potential for financial independence and resistance against oppression.
Bitcoin and human rights
The Oslo Freedom Forum featured numerous other inspiring voices who highlighted the importance of bitcoin in their fight for human rights.
Alex Gladstein, Chief Strategy Officer at HRF, spoke about the role of bitcoin. He discussed how bitcoin allows activists to do this bypass financial censorship and transfer funds securely. Using Bitcoin, activists can receive donations without government interference, which is critical to supporting their work in oppressive regimes.
Faisal Al Mutar, founder of Ideas beyond borders, discussed bitcoin’s role in promoting education and independent thinking in the Middle East. His organization, which uses bitcoin to support educational initiatives, enables people to resist extremism and authoritarianism by providing financial freedom and security. He said, “You can’t bomb democracy and freedom in countries. You can’t fight for freedom and democracy if you don’t know what it 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 AND Jack Dorsey, they 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 tons of content is lost with the algorithm. You need to be able to choose,” underlining the need for transparency and choice on digital platforms.
The Oslo Freedom Forum’s focus on bitcoin highlights its potential as a powerful tool for human rights. By providing freedom and financial security, Bitcoin helps activists around the world reclaim democracy and fight authoritarianism. The stories shared at the forum highlight the resilience and determination of those who use bitcoin to advance justice and freedom, showing the world how “bitcoin solves this problem!”