June 9, 2025 • 11 mins
The Bitcoin Series - Part 8: Bitcoin and Rights: Can It Help Protect Freedoms?
Women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, & civil liberties.
In this episode, we explore one of the most important—and misunderstood—questions surrounding Bitcoin: Can it actually protect human rights and civil liberties? From censorship resistance and financial access to political dissent and surveillance, we break down how Bitcoin is being used around the world—and whether its promises hold up under pressure.
What rights are really at stake? Who benefits? And could Bitcoin help close the gap, or just create new forms of power?
No hype. No tribalism. Just a grounded look at how technology and freedom intersect.
Stay curious. Stay grounded. Let’s build better.
Listen now and follow The Crypto 101 Show for more deep-dive episodes in this series.
Join the discord server - https://discord.gg/Y9CPnYm8C2
Looking for Crypto apparel? Crypto 101 swag, shirts and apparel available here. This episode is sponsered by Joe Ugly Apparel - www.joeuglyapparel.com
This week's episode was produced by The WIld 1 Media. If you or anyone you know is looking for podcast editing, podcast production, or any other podcast services please reach out to The WIld 1 Media at www.thewild1media.com. Thanks for listening.
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#bitcoin #BTC #crypto #cryptocurrency #defi #coins #cryptocoins #blockchain #finance #inequality #policyagnostic #inflation #centralbanks #technology
Women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, & civil liberties.
In this episode, we explore one of the most important—and misunderstood—questions surrounding Bitcoin: Can it actually protect human rights and civil liberties? From censorship resistance and financial access to political dissent and surveillance, we break down how Bitcoin is being used around the world—and whether its promises hold up under pressure.
What rights are really at stake? Who benefits? And could Bitcoin help close the gap, or just create new forms of power?
No hype. No tribalism. Just a grounded look at how technology and freedom intersect.
Stay curious. Stay grounded. Let’s build better.
Listen now and follow The Crypto 101 Show for more deep-dive episodes in this series.
Join the discord server - https://discord.gg/Y9CPnYm8C2
Looking for Crypto apparel? Crypto 101 swag, shirts and apparel available here. This episode is sponsered by Joe Ugly Apparel - www.joeuglyapparel.com
This week's episode was produced by The WIld 1 Media. If you or anyone you know is looking for podcast editing, podcast production, or any other podcast services please reach out to The WIld 1 Media at www.thewild1media.com. Thanks for listening.
FOLLOW US ON:
Facebook - @crypto101show or https://www.facebook.com/The-Crypto-101-Show-100158338867665
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/crypto101show/
Sign up for our newsletter - thecrypto101show@gmail.com
Produced by The Wild 1 Media - www.thewild1media.com
Check out our other podcasts-
https://darksidediaries.sounder.fm
https://anchor.fm/ttmygh
https://anchor.fm/morning-joe-rant-show
#bitcoin #BTC #crypto #cryptocurrency #defi #coins #cryptocoins #blockchain #finance #inequality #policyagnostic #inflation #centralbanks #technology
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome to the Crypto one on one Show, where we
dive into the world of cryptocurrencies, bitcoin, blockchain, and all
the technology with it. Whether you're experienced or a beginner
to crypto, our goal is to break down complex concepts
and make it easy for you to understand the basics,
from Bitcoin to all coins. We'll cover it all in
a way that's easy to digest and provide listeners with
(00:30):
the knowledge and understanding they need to make informed decisions
and better critical thought. Sit back, relax, and let's simplify
your understanding of cryptocurrencies on the Crypto one on one Show,
(00:53):
Part eight, Bitcoin and Rights. Can it help protect freedoms,
Women's rights, lgb ETQ plus rights and civil liberties. I
need to start off by saying this is not financial advice,
so if you're looking for that, the show isn't for you.
The content of this podcast episode is for informational purposes only.
The opinions expressed here are not meant to be taken
(01:15):
as financial investment or any other advice. This is the
episode where we ask the hardest most human questions so far,
not just about economics, but about ethics. Because if bitcoin
is supposed to offer freedom, we need to ask freedom
for who. In a world where civil liberties are constantly
under pressure from war zones to protest zones, to reproductive
(01:37):
healthcare and LGBTQ plus rights, can bitcoin actually be a
tool for liberation? Can it help people survive when governments
collapse or turn against them? Or is there a darker
edge to decentralization, one that makes it easier to fund hate,
spread abuse, or undermine democracy Today we're not just talking
about money, We're talking about agency, safety, privacy, and power.
(02:01):
Let's get into it. Question one. Can bitcoin empower marginalized
groups to resist authoritarianism? The freedom tech argument? Let's start
with the big promise. Bitcoin is supposed to be freedom tech,
a decentralized currency that doesn't care who you are, where
you're from, or what you believe. No gatekeepers, no bank discrimination,
(02:24):
no government freezing your funds just because they don't like
your politics, identity, or body. But that's the theory. What
about the reality where it is empowering people In places
like Nigeria During the ensar's protests, the government froze activists
bank accounts. Protests are switched to bitcoin quickly. In Ukraine,
(02:44):
when war broke out, bitcoin was used to fund both
humanitarian aid and resistance and moved across borders faster than
banks could react. After Roe v. Wade was overturned, some
privacy advocates started using bitcoin to fund reproductive care anonymously
to prevent payment processors from flagging them or tracking data. Journalists, whistleblowers,
(03:05):
and even LGPTQ plus activists and authoritarian states have used
bitcoin to receive donations, protect themselves from surveillance, and escape
financial censorship. So yes, in real, tangible ways, bitcoin can
act as a lifeline when traditional financial systems become weapons.
But it's not magic. It's access or the flip side,
(03:28):
Bitcoin is only empowering if you can access it. That
means you need a smartphone, some technical literacy, the courage
to use it under pressure, and a network to help
you on board. For many marginalized groups, especially those already
under pressure, those are big hurdles, and that's where the
promise of bitcoin can start to feel like privilege. If
(03:48):
bitcoin is freedom tech, then we have to ask who
actually gets to be free, And there's another complication and
authoritarian regimes. Bitcoin's transparency can be dangerous. Yes, it's pseudoanonymous,
but not anonymous. If someone links your wallet to your
identity and that's tied to protest activity or reproductive healthcare
(04:09):
or LGBTQ plus donations, that could put you in harm's way.
So again, Bitcoin can be a tool of resistance, but
only if used carefully, and that requires education, infrastructure, and solidarity.
So what's the answer. Bitcoin can absolutely empower marginalized groups,
but it's not automatically liberating. It has to be taught,
(04:31):
supported and protected, not just left to figure itself out.
If we want bitcoin to be a tool for resistance,
we have to build the tools, education, and safety around
it on purpose. Question two, how are people already using
bitcoin to preserve rights or survive when systems collapse? Examples
Ukraine War, Nigeria protests, reproductive rights post row. When we
(04:56):
talk about bitcoin as a tool for resistance or for
protecting freedoms, it can sound theoretical, like a nice idea
that maybe applied somewhere else. But here's the truth. In
some of the hardest, most unjust, most unstable places in
the world, bitcoin isn't theory. It's survival. Let's start with Ukraine.
When Russia invaded in twenty twenty two, millions of people
(05:17):
lost access to their banks, their ATMs, their savings, and
in a moment of complete chaos, the Ukrainian government posted
a bitcoin address on Twitter. People around the world donated millions,
not in weeks, not in days, in hours, and that
money was used for food, equipment, shelter, for staying alive.
When the global banking system shut down, bitcoin didn't. Then
(05:40):
you have Nigeria. During the Enstar's protests, when activists rose
up against police brutality, the government froze the bank accounts
of the organizers, so they turned to bitcoin, not to
get rich, but to stay funded to keep the movement
going when the state tried to shut them down. Because
in a system designed to punish descentcoin became the workaround
(06:01):
and closer to home the US, after Roe v. Wade
was overturned, suddenly in some states it became risky to
donate to abortion funds or even to use your credit
card to help someone get care. So what happened Those
funds started accepting bitcoin. Because when financial privacy becomes a
matter of personal safety, you start to understand why censorship
(06:22):
resistant money matters For LGBTQ plus people, especially transfolks. Bitcoin
has quietly become a lifeline in places where your very
identity can be criminalized, tracked, or cut off from support.
A peer to peer tool that doesn't ask for your name, gender,
or permission can mean the difference between surviving and not.
(06:43):
Bitcoin doesn't see you as other, It sees you as
a wallet, and sometimes that anonimity is the only protection
a person has. These are real people, not cryptobros, not maximalists,
not libertarian reddit threads. These are human beings trying to
protect themselves when the system breaks or turns against them.
That's what bitcoin is doing right now. It doesn't mean
(07:04):
it's perfect, it doesn't mean it's easy, but it does
mean this Bitcoin isn't just for stacking. It's for surviving.
And if we care about human rights, civil liberties, and
the ability to move through the world with some amount
of agency, then we have to care about the tools
people reach from when everything else is taken away. Question three?
What other risks could decentralize money, help fund hate, enable abuse,
(07:29):
or undermine democracy. Up to this point, we've talked about
how bitcoin can help people, how it can protect freedoms,
provide a financial voice for the unheard, and become a
tool for resistance When systems collapse. A flip side to this,
those same qualities can also be abused, and they have been.
The same censorship resistant tools that help a protester can
(07:51):
help a propagandist. The same ammunimity that protects an activist
can shield a scammer, a trafficker, or a hate group.
Centralized money doesn't ask who you are or what you're funding,
and that's both the power and the problem. Here's some
real world risks and examples. In twenty seventeen, white nationalist
groups in the US raise money in bitcoin after getting
(08:14):
banned by mainstream payment processors. In twenty twenty one, a
far right extremists donated hundreds of thousands in bitcoin to
influencers and organizations involved in the January sixth insurrection. Around
the world, crypto has been used to fund disinformation campaigns,
hate networks, black markets, and fraud schemes because there's no gatekeeper,
(08:34):
there's no filter, there's no terms of service that says sorry,
your cause doesn't align with our values. And while that
makes bitcoin a tool of freedom, it also makes it
a tool of chaos. If we're not careful, there's real
ethical tension, So we're left with a moral paradox. Bitcoin
gives power to the people, but people don't always use
power wisely. It removes control from centralized institutions, but it
(08:58):
doesn't replace that control with and in a world already
struggling with disinformation, polarization, and crumbling democratic trust, the last
thing we need is financial tools that accelerate division and extremism.
So what can be done? What's the answer. Bitcoin's code
won't stop this, but we can by how we design wallets,
(09:19):
how we set social norms, how we teach about privacy, transparency,
and impact. It's about building better tools around the protocol,
not pretending it can solve everything alone. Bitcoin doesn't fund
hate people do. The question is what kind of people
are we becoming? So here's the thing. Bitcoin doesn't care
who you are. It doesn't care what you believe, who
(09:40):
you love, where you live, or whether you have access
to a traditional bank. That's its greatest feature and also
its greatest risk. It means you don't need permission to survive.
But it also means no one stops you from misusing it.
Bitcoin can protect freedoms, We've seen it happen, but it
won't guarantee them. That's on us, not the code. It's
(10:01):
about the culture. The world we build with bitcoin will
reflect the people using it, and if we want that
world to be freer, safer, and more just, we have
to be intentional about how we use these tools. Decentralization
is only powerful if we don't abandon responsibility along the way.
Thanks for listening to Part eight of the Bitcoin Series.
(10:21):
In the next episode, we're going to ask the question
can bitcoin and the environment coexist? We're discussing one of
the biggest criticisms of bitcoin head on and showing the
nuance around energy use, climate impact, and mining innovation. Until then,
stay curious, stay grounded. I want to be extremely upfront
that I'll try my best to leave all of my
opinions out of this. I know this is very condensed
(10:43):
and simplified, but I want you to gain your own
understanding of beliefs and not be persuaded by me. I
hope this helps you gain a better grasp of it.
Please remember to share, follow, and subscribe to our mailing
list and to your favorite podcast app for future episodes
so you can gain more with your crypto knowledge. If
this sparks something in you or made you question what's possible,
I'd love to hear about it, and if you found
(11:04):
this valuable, share it, tag someone who needs to hear
it or just sit with it. Thanks for listening. Thanks
for listening to this episode of The Crypto One on
one Show. If you would like to join our email list,
(11:24):
email us at the Crypto One on One Show at
gmail dot com For more helpful tips, subscribe in your
favorite podcast app and leave a review so that you
don't miss our next episode. See you next time.
Welcome to the Crypto one on one Show, where we
dive into the world of cryptocurrencies, bitcoin, blockchain, and all
the technology with it. Whether you're experienced or a beginner
to crypto, our goal is to break down complex concepts
and make it easy for you to understand the basics,
from Bitcoin to all coins. We'll cover it all in
a way that's easy to digest and provide listeners with
(00:30):
the knowledge and understanding they need to make informed decisions
and better critical thought. Sit back, relax, and let's simplify
your understanding of cryptocurrencies on the Crypto one on one Show,
(00:53):
Part eight, Bitcoin and Rights. Can it help protect freedoms,
Women's rights, lgb ETQ plus rights and civil liberties. I
need to start off by saying this is not financial advice,
so if you're looking for that, the show isn't for you.
The content of this podcast episode is for informational purposes only.
The opinions expressed here are not meant to be taken
(01:15):
as financial investment or any other advice. This is the
episode where we ask the hardest most human questions so far,
not just about economics, but about ethics. Because if bitcoin
is supposed to offer freedom, we need to ask freedom
for who. In a world where civil liberties are constantly
under pressure from war zones to protest zones, to reproductive
(01:37):
healthcare and LGBTQ plus rights, can bitcoin actually be a
tool for liberation? Can it help people survive when governments
collapse or turn against them? Or is there a darker
edge to decentralization, one that makes it easier to fund hate,
spread abuse, or undermine democracy Today we're not just talking
about money, We're talking about agency, safety, privacy, and power.
(02:01):
Let's get into it. Question one. Can bitcoin empower marginalized
groups to resist authoritarianism? The freedom tech argument? Let's start
with the big promise. Bitcoin is supposed to be freedom tech,
a decentralized currency that doesn't care who you are, where
you're from, or what you believe. No gatekeepers, no bank discrimination,
(02:24):
no government freezing your funds just because they don't like
your politics, identity, or body. But that's the theory. What
about the reality where it is empowering people In places
like Nigeria During the ensar's protests, the government froze activists
bank accounts. Protests are switched to bitcoin quickly. In Ukraine,
(02:44):
when war broke out, bitcoin was used to fund both
humanitarian aid and resistance and moved across borders faster than
banks could react. After Roe v. Wade was overturned, some
privacy advocates started using bitcoin to fund reproductive care anonymously
to prevent payment processors from flagging them or tracking data. Journalists, whistleblowers,
(03:05):
and even LGPTQ plus activists and authoritarian states have used
bitcoin to receive donations, protect themselves from surveillance, and escape
financial censorship. So yes, in real, tangible ways, bitcoin can
act as a lifeline when traditional financial systems become weapons.
But it's not magic. It's access or the flip side,
(03:28):
Bitcoin is only empowering if you can access it. That
means you need a smartphone, some technical literacy, the courage
to use it under pressure, and a network to help
you on board. For many marginalized groups, especially those already
under pressure, those are big hurdles, and that's where the
promise of bitcoin can start to feel like privilege. If
(03:48):
bitcoin is freedom tech, then we have to ask who
actually gets to be free, And there's another complication and
authoritarian regimes. Bitcoin's transparency can be dangerous. Yes, it's pseudoanonymous,
but not anonymous. If someone links your wallet to your
identity and that's tied to protest activity or reproductive healthcare
(04:09):
or LGBTQ plus donations, that could put you in harm's way.
So again, Bitcoin can be a tool of resistance, but
only if used carefully, and that requires education, infrastructure, and solidarity.
So what's the answer. Bitcoin can absolutely empower marginalized groups,
but it's not automatically liberating. It has to be taught,
(04:31):
supported and protected, not just left to figure itself out.
If we want bitcoin to be a tool for resistance,
we have to build the tools, education, and safety around
it on purpose. Question two, how are people already using
bitcoin to preserve rights or survive when systems collapse? Examples
Ukraine War, Nigeria protests, reproductive rights post row. When we
(04:56):
talk about bitcoin as a tool for resistance or for
protecting freedoms, it can sound theoretical, like a nice idea
that maybe applied somewhere else. But here's the truth. In
some of the hardest, most unjust, most unstable places in
the world, bitcoin isn't theory. It's survival. Let's start with Ukraine.
When Russia invaded in twenty twenty two, millions of people
(05:17):
lost access to their banks, their ATMs, their savings, and
in a moment of complete chaos, the Ukrainian government posted
a bitcoin address on Twitter. People around the world donated millions,
not in weeks, not in days, in hours, and that
money was used for food, equipment, shelter, for staying alive.
When the global banking system shut down, bitcoin didn't. Then
(05:40):
you have Nigeria. During the Enstar's protests, when activists rose
up against police brutality, the government froze the bank accounts
of the organizers, so they turned to bitcoin, not to
get rich, but to stay funded to keep the movement
going when the state tried to shut them down. Because
in a system designed to punish descentcoin became the workaround
(06:01):
and closer to home the US, after Roe v. Wade
was overturned, suddenly in some states it became risky to
donate to abortion funds or even to use your credit
card to help someone get care. So what happened Those
funds started accepting bitcoin. Because when financial privacy becomes a
matter of personal safety, you start to understand why censorship
(06:22):
resistant money matters For LGBTQ plus people, especially transfolks. Bitcoin
has quietly become a lifeline in places where your very
identity can be criminalized, tracked, or cut off from support.
A peer to peer tool that doesn't ask for your name, gender,
or permission can mean the difference between surviving and not.
(06:43):
Bitcoin doesn't see you as other, It sees you as
a wallet, and sometimes that anonimity is the only protection
a person has. These are real people, not cryptobros, not maximalists,
not libertarian reddit threads. These are human beings trying to
protect themselves when the system breaks or turns against them.
That's what bitcoin is doing right now. It doesn't mean
(07:04):
it's perfect, it doesn't mean it's easy, but it does
mean this Bitcoin isn't just for stacking. It's for surviving.
And if we care about human rights, civil liberties, and
the ability to move through the world with some amount
of agency, then we have to care about the tools
people reach from when everything else is taken away. Question three?
What other risks could decentralize money, help fund hate, enable abuse,
(07:29):
or undermine democracy. Up to this point, we've talked about
how bitcoin can help people, how it can protect freedoms,
provide a financial voice for the unheard, and become a
tool for resistance When systems collapse. A flip side to this,
those same qualities can also be abused, and they have been.
The same censorship resistant tools that help a protester can
(07:51):
help a propagandist. The same ammunimity that protects an activist
can shield a scammer, a trafficker, or a hate group.
Centralized money doesn't ask who you are or what you're funding,
and that's both the power and the problem. Here's some
real world risks and examples. In twenty seventeen, white nationalist
groups in the US raise money in bitcoin after getting
(08:14):
banned by mainstream payment processors. In twenty twenty one, a
far right extremists donated hundreds of thousands in bitcoin to
influencers and organizations involved in the January sixth insurrection. Around
the world, crypto has been used to fund disinformation campaigns,
hate networks, black markets, and fraud schemes because there's no gatekeeper,
(08:34):
there's no filter, there's no terms of service that says sorry,
your cause doesn't align with our values. And while that
makes bitcoin a tool of freedom, it also makes it
a tool of chaos. If we're not careful, there's real
ethical tension, So we're left with a moral paradox. Bitcoin
gives power to the people, but people don't always use
power wisely. It removes control from centralized institutions, but it
(08:58):
doesn't replace that control with and in a world already
struggling with disinformation, polarization, and crumbling democratic trust, the last
thing we need is financial tools that accelerate division and extremism.
So what can be done? What's the answer. Bitcoin's code
won't stop this, but we can by how we design wallets,
(09:19):
how we set social norms, how we teach about privacy, transparency,
and impact. It's about building better tools around the protocol,
not pretending it can solve everything alone. Bitcoin doesn't fund
hate people do. The question is what kind of people
are we becoming? So here's the thing. Bitcoin doesn't care
who you are. It doesn't care what you believe, who
(09:40):
you love, where you live, or whether you have access
to a traditional bank. That's its greatest feature and also
its greatest risk. It means you don't need permission to survive.
But it also means no one stops you from misusing it.
Bitcoin can protect freedoms, We've seen it happen, but it
won't guarantee them. That's on us, not the code. It's
(10:01):
about the culture. The world we build with bitcoin will
reflect the people using it, and if we want that
world to be freer, safer, and more just, we have
to be intentional about how we use these tools. Decentralization
is only powerful if we don't abandon responsibility along the way.
Thanks for listening to Part eight of the Bitcoin Series.
(10:21):
In the next episode, we're going to ask the question
can bitcoin and the environment coexist? We're discussing one of
the biggest criticisms of bitcoin head on and showing the
nuance around energy use, climate impact, and mining innovation. Until then,
stay curious, stay grounded. I want to be extremely upfront
that I'll try my best to leave all of my
opinions out of this. I know this is very condensed
(10:43):
and simplified, but I want you to gain your own
understanding of beliefs and not be persuaded by me. I
hope this helps you gain a better grasp of it.
Please remember to share, follow, and subscribe to our mailing
list and to your favorite podcast app for future episodes
so you can gain more with your crypto knowledge. If
this sparks something in you or made you question what's possible,
I'd love to hear about it, and if you found
(11:04):
this valuable, share it, tag someone who needs to hear
it or just sit with it. Thanks for listening. Thanks
for listening to this episode of The Crypto One on
one Show. If you would like to join our email list,
(11:24):
email us at the Crypto One on One Show at
gmail dot com For more helpful tips, subscribe in your
favorite podcast app and leave a review so that you
don't miss our next episode. See you next time.
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