The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) has recently launched the Bitcoin Humanitarian Alliance, a collaborative effort between activists, humanitarian organizations, and pro-democracy movements to utilize Bitcoin (BTC) in supporting civil liberties and providing aid in financially repressive environments.
The alliance aims to create a platform for organizations operating in regions where financial systems are weaponized to suppress dissent, surveil critics, and impede humanitarian efforts. By leveraging Bitcoin as a censorship-resistant financial tool, these groups can overcome barriers imposed by authoritarian governments.
Bitcoin serves as an alternative mechanism for transferring value, ensuring privacy, and maintaining operational continuity in restrictive environments. Activists in countries like Nigeria, Venezuela, Russia, and China have faced exclusion from the traditional banking system through blocked accounts and targeted surveillance. The Bitcoin Humanitarian Alliance seeks to formalize and expand the use of Bitcoin by building a global network of practitioners.
Founding members of the alliance are already using Bitcoin to raise uncensorable donations, pay local staff securely, and facilitate cross-border aid without relying on centralized intermediaries. Additionally, some members use Bitcoin to store value in hyperinflationary economies or jurisdictions with strict capital controls.
In the future, the alliance plans to organize workshops, conferences, and develop educational materials for nonprofit organizations interested in incorporating Bitcoin into their operations. It also aims to document Bitcoin’s role in providing financial resilience for dissidents and aid recipients, making its findings accessible to the media and policy organizations.
The HRF emphasizes the distinction between Bitcoin and the broader “crypto” ecosystem, highlighting BTC’s decentralized architecture and fixed monetary policy as structural advantages for activists seeking financial neutrality. The foundation warns of the risks associated with other digital assets that rely on centralized entities or fluctuating governance models.
The Bitcoin Humanitarian Alliance is an extension of HRF’s engagement with Bitcoin, which began in 2020 with the creation of the Bitcoin Development Fund. The fund has issued over $5.5 million in grants to support open-source Bitcoin projects, including privacy tools, custody solutions, and educational resources. HRF has utilized the fund to support initiatives such as wallet development, Lightning infrastructure, and training programs for civil society groups operating in hostile environments.