HRF

The Human Rights Foundation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies.

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npub17xvf49kht23cddxgw92rvfktkd3vqvjgkgsdexh9847wl0927tqsrhc9as

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nprofile1qqs0rxy6jmt44guxkny8z4pkym9mxckqxfytygxuntjn6l80hj409sgpr4mhxue69uhkummnw3ezu6m0de5kueedv3jkwunpv9nzumnvqyd8wumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytnydankgmm8vfskx6ewvdhk6fa3l0a

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nostr.koning-degraaf.nl

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npub17xvf49kht23cddxgw92rvfktkd3vqvjgkgsdexh9847wl0927tqsrhc9as

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Last Notes

2026-08-25 16:38:31 UTC

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HRF's Bitcoin Development Fund is awarding more than 500 million satoshis to 16 Bitcoin and freedom tech projects worldwide.
This round supports Bitcoin and Nostr development, self-custody, censorship-resistant communications, merchant and mobile payments integration, decentralized mining, research, and education.
Read our press release to learn more about the projects working to strengthen the Bitcoin protocol and expand access to secure tools for dissidents around the world.
#naddr1qv…jgxd

2026-08-15 13:37:02 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week’s AI for Individual Rights Newsletter #13 is out!
In China, an unsecured police database revealed how facial recognition and personal data can be combined to monitor foreigners.
Meanwhile, Meta committed to developing AI that empowers individuals and released a new open-weight model that individuals anywhere, in any country, under any government, can download and run privately.
We end with a tutorial from freedom tech educator, Sovereign Sessions, that shows beginners how to use LM Studio, an application for running AI models locally on their own computers.
#naddr1qv…cax0

2026-08-13 15:24:19 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #133 is here and covers Russia's official designation of HRF as an "undesirable" organization, suggesting HRF’s work is having a major impact on one of the world’s largest dictatorships.
In Bitcoin news, we cover the Red Team's response to the coldcard incident, in which a community-led effort is identifying critical vulnerabilities in Bitcoin-related software.
We end with the latest HRF x PubKey Freedom Tech Series, featuring a conversation between Russian dissident Anna Chekhovich and Finite engineer Alex Lewin.
#naddr1qv…xkc7 #naddr1qv…xkc7

2026-07-23 14:29:04 UTC

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Good morning!
Financial Freedom Report #130 is here and covers the expansion of financial surveillance under Russia's foreign agent law, which now requires banks to provide officials with information about a given individual or organization's financial activity within 3 working days of a request.
In freedom tech news, the Cashu ecash wallet Cashu Me, launched a native Android and iOS version, expanding the accessibility of ecash to human rights defenders and individuals more broadly.
We end with the launch of Coin Center's new Substack, Peer-to-Peer, which focuses on technological authoritarianism and the open-source tools being built to resist it.
#naddr1qv…q8dh

2026-07-03 14:58:30 UTC

What technologies will help preserve freedom in the digital age?
Last month, HRF hosted the Freedom Tech track at the 2026 Oslo Freedom Forum, bringing together activists, developers, and researchers building tools to resist authoritarianism.
The recordings are now available, featuring talks on Bitcoin, AI, digital privacy, censorship resistance, and other technologies helping people defend their rights in an increasingly controlled world.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9flMWibV82cPmsNH2mkSKLswl7UaQKZK
https://blossom.primal.net/7c2e9d0039e035c100db39579b20c628851c6f74f39611dfe8654953889d2740.png

2026-07-02 15:53:54 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
Financial Freedom Report #127 is here and brings news from Gaza, where Palestinians report that they are unable to access their own money after the Bank of Palestine froze accounts without warning.
In #Bitcoin news, Ashigaru released a desktop wallet that includes CoinJoin, a privacy-preserving technique that obfuscates transaction details by mixing the inputs of multiple transactions.
We inlcude an essay from software engineer Innocencia Ndembera, who shares her reflections on discovering Bitcoin and the opportunities it offers Malawi.
#naddr1qv…ml3k

2026-06-25 18:38:11 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
Financial Freedom Report #126 has been published and covers new economic reforms being passed by the Communist Party of Cuba, but critics warn these represent not a genuine economic opening, but rather a controlled transfer of state assets into the hands of politically connected insiders.
In #Bitcoin News, Cashu developers announced they are adding Payjoin support to the ecash protocol, potentially improving privacy at the edges of the system.
We include a podcast episode with activist Win Ko Ko Aung, who shares his journey from growing up under military rule in Burma to becoming a leading advocate for Bitcoin and financial freedom.
#naddr1qv…gqm5

2026-06-25 18:28:43 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
Financial Freedom Report #126 has just been published and covers new economic reforms passed by the Communist Party of Cuba. Rather than a genuine economic opening, though, critics warn it could instead represent a controlled privatization of state assets into the hands of politically connected insiders.
In #Bitcoin news, Cashu developers announced they are working on Payjoin support for the ecash protocol, which could help improve privacy at the edges of the system.
We include a podcast episode featuring activist Win Ko Ko Aung, who shares his journey from growing up under military rule in Burma to becoming a leading advocate for Bitcoin and financial freedom.
#naddr1qv…gqm5

2026-06-18 16:39:54 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
Financial Freedom Report #125 is here and covers the alarming escalation of a law proposed by the military junta in Burma that would grant officials real-time access to citizens' financial and communications data.
In #Bitcoin news, we cover the launch of Bark on Mainnet, another backend for Bitcoin wallets and applications to use the Lightning Network and provide users with fast and low-cost payments.
We include El Faro's account of the Bukele government freezing the bank accounts and property of two shareholders of the independent media outlet.
#naddr1qv…sxqh

2026-06-11 17:02:01 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
Financial Freedom Report #124 is here and covers an alarming attempt by the Kenyan government to sell datasets it collects from public service portals like eCitizen.
In Bitcoin news, we highlight developments of a new layer-two called Cube, an attempt to expand the capabilities of Bitcoin without changing core operational realities.
We also feature this year’s Freedom Tech track at the 2026 Oslo Freedom Forum, where dissidents, technologists, and human rights defenders explored how Bitcoin, Nostr, Bitchat, and open-source AI can help people communicate, transact, and resist authoritarian repression.
Enjoy the report.
#naddr1qv…cwlq

2026-05-20 01:01:31 UTC

The Human Rights Foundation just published “Bitcoin for Nonprofits: A Guide To Help Your Movement Achieve Financial Freedom.”
This is a practical guide for civil society organizations to accept and manage Bitcoin donations. It covers key tools, privacy best practices, real-world case studies from activists already using it, and common misconceptions.
If you work with or support nonprofits, please help share this guide. The more organizations that can receive sats, the harder they will be for dictators to shut down.
Read or download the PDF: https://hrf.org/latest/bitcoin-for-nonprofits-a-guide-to-help-your-movement-achieve-financial-freedom/

2026-05-14 15:14:35 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
Financial Freedom Report #121 is here!
In El Salvador, officials froze the assets of two members of El Faro, one of the country’s leading independent media organizations, a textbook case of financial repression to silence independent journalism.
In freedom tech news, we cover the launch of Maple AI's new private Personal Intelligence Platform that expands Maple from a private AI chatbot into a suite of encrypted AI tools.
We include an interview with Afghan activist and tech entrepreneur Roya Mahboob, who explains why Bitcoin is perceived radically differently in places like Kabul or Tehran than it is in New York or London.
#naddr1qv…4s4r

2026-04-02 13:06:38 UTC

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Good morning, Nostr!
This week’s Financial Freedom Report #115 examines how India’s central bank is negotiating to expand its digital rupee CBDC for cross-border institutional and retail transactions.
In freedom tech news, early Bitcoin developer Martti Malmi released Nostr VPN, a tool that allows users to manage their own private networks without centralized accounts, centralized servers, or reliance on any single company.
We include a recent discussion at PubKey in Washington, DC, where human rights advocates Leopoldo López, Berta Valle, and Anaïse Kanimba discuss opposing authoritarian regimes and the role of freedom tech in supporting their efforts.
#naddr1qv…z25u

2026-03-31 19:08:05 UTC

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Good afternoon, friends!
This month's AI for Individual Rights newsletter #8 is out.
We cover a new report revealing how eleven African countries have collectively spent over $2 billion on Chinese-built “smart city” AI-powered surveillance systems.
Meanwhile, NVIDIA has committed $26 billion to building open AI models and partnered with Mistral AI to co-develop them. Open models can be accessed privately, bringing powerful capabilities to human rights defenders operating under surveillance.
We close with some reflections from HRF’s Alex Gladstein on OpenClaw, an open-source AI assistant. He argued that it represents a Satoshi Nakamoto-like turning point: the moment individuals gained the ability to control their own intelligence.
#naddr1qv…3twr

2026-03-19 12:11:20 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #113 examines Venezuela's first official inflation reading in more than a year, after the regime halted public reporting and restricted independent estimates.
On the #Bitcoin side, we cover the Blockstream Jade's Lightning Network integration.
Finally, we include an interview with Fedi CEO, Obi Nwosu, who makes clear the importance of financial privacy in the work of dissidents and civil society.
#naddr1qv…06gu

2026-03-12 15:28:06 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
Financial Freedom Report #112 has just been released.
We begin this week’s edition in Cuba, where personal stories reveal the human toll of currency collapse under the communist regime.
We also bring word from Iran, where millions remain cut off from the outside world as the clerical regime enforces sweeping internet blackouts amid unrest and continued air strikes.
In #Bitcoin news, Bitwise made a $233,000 donation to support open-source Bitcoin development, fulfilling a pledge to allocate 10% of annual profits from its Bitcoin ETF.
We end with a Bitcoin Policy Institute report examining the monetary preferences of advanced AI models.
#naddr1qv…al74

2026-02-26 15:51:06 UTC

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Good morning, Nostr!
This week's Financial Freedom Report is now out and covers a nationwide social media ban in Gabon as well as post-hyperinflation tax hikes in Lebanon.
In Freedom Tech, P2P exchange Mostro added a built-in Lightning wallet, and Bitchat shared plans to introduce device-to-device installs, eliminating the need for an internet connection to download the app.
We include an article in which the global humanitarian organization Save the Children shares the inspiration and rationale behind its newly launched #Bitcoin Fund.
#naddr1qv…2gqk

2026-02-25 22:52:46 UTC

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Good afternoon, friends!
This month’s AI for Individual Rights Newsletter #7 is out.
We cover Russia’s push into AI-enhanced internet filtering, Chinese AI models parroting CCP propaganda, and an AI-powered hacking campaign targeting Iranians who documented the regime’s killing of protesters.
On the tools side, we explore how the explosion of AI agents like OpenClaw and developments in new agentic models are refining workflows and accelerating software development.
We also feature the latest episode of Preston Pysh’s Infinite Tech podcast where HRF’s Alex Gladstein and Justin Moon discuss how open-source AI tools like OpenClaw advance individual freedom.
#naddr1qv…67ge

2026-02-19 22:22:15 UTC

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Good afternoon, readers!
Financial Freedom Report #109 was just published.
It features pressing developments, including India advancing a CBDC pilot to distribute food rations. This comes in addition to coverage on Hong Kong sentencing media tycoon Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison, and a crackdown on informal currency exchange activity by the military junta in Burma.
In #Bitcoin news, we cover the addition of Silent Payment support, a bitcoin privacy upgrade, in Sparrow and Nunchuck wallet.
We include an interview with Iranian Bitcoin educator, Ziya Sadr, who shares his experience during Iran’s 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom movement and the broader impact of currency collapse and state financial repression.
#naddr1qv…fyu3

2026-01-29 17:10:05 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
Financial Freedom Report #106 is out.
This week, we examine how financial systems are being reshaped under pressure:
• China’s CBDC, where new features blur the line between central bank money and bank deposits.
• Yemen, as a major bank shutdown deepens an already severe humanitarian crisis.
• Iran, where new data shows economic survival topping people’s concerns amid protests and blackouts.
In Bitcoin & freedom tech:
• A new Bitcoin Core privacy upgrade for transaction broadcasting.
• Programming Lightning releases open-source Lightning education.
• Electrum adds submarine payments, bridging on-chain and Lightning.
Plus, a new HRF x Pubkey Freedom Tech Series episode with Harrison Friedes and Block engineer Alex Hancock on vibe coding and building under surveillance.
#naddr1qv…cjcp

2026-01-22 19:41:53 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #105 is published and features the following in global news:
-Nigeria | Tax Law Ties Digital Asset Transactions to National ID
-Iran | Freedom Tech Surges Amid Historic Protests
-India | Proposes Linking Authoritarian CBDC Infrastructure
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Hack4Freedom | New Freedom Tech Tools Built
-Bitchat | New Update as App Clone Circulates in Iran
-Fedi | Community Generator Tool Launched
We end with a new episode of The Network State Podcast, where HRF’s Chief Strategy Officer Alex Gladstein sits down with Balaji Srinivasan to explain how Bitcoin serves as a financial escape hatch.
#naddr1qv…0dlk

2026-01-10 14:25:13 UTC

HRF and the Finney Family award the Finney Freedom Prize for the 2016–2020 era (Block Height 420,000 - 630,00) to Andreas M. Antonopoulos.
For years, Andreas helped the world understand Bitcoin as a tool for individual freedom. Through his writing, talks, and inspirational education, he brought millions of people into the Bitcoin network, inspired a generation of developers, and showed how decentralized money can defend human rights and challenge authoritarian power.
Learn more about Andreas' contributions here:
https://hrf.org/program/financial-freedom/finney-prize/about-andreas-antonopoulos/
https://blossom.primal.net/38e266955ca1c5e15e4b102a6dfe5043b56015ae088741db8acb7c1e44e344a1.png

2025-12-18 18:23:50 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #102 is out and features the following in global news:
-Venezuela | María Corina Machado Awarded Nobel Peace Prize
-Russia | Increased Cash Use Amid Internet Outages and Financial Controls
-Cuba | Former Economy Minister Sentenced to Life in Espionage Case
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Save the Children | Bitcoin Fund Launched
-MetaMask | Bitcoin Support Added
-PlebQR | Pay in Bitcoin in Thailand
We end with the livestreams of the 2025 Africa Bitcoin Conference!
#naddr1qv…93q8

2025-12-11 16:48:30 UTC

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Good morning!
Financial Freedom Report #101 is live and features the following in global news:
-India | NPCI Confirms CBDC is Live With Spending Controls
-Russia | New Tax Hike Deepens Financial Pressure on Households and Small Businesses
-Tunisia | Top Human Rights Advocate Arrested Amid Financial Repression of Civil Society
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-DMND Pool | Full Public Launch
-BULL Wallet | New Update Brings Blockstream Jade Support and Greater Privacy
-bitcoin++ | Open Source Edition Announced in Kenya
We include an episode of What Bitcoin Did, where Bitcoin educator Ben Perrin (BTC Sessions) explains what secure Bitcoin self-custody looks like.
#naddr1qv…ft8c

2025-12-04 18:37:45 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
Today, we celebrate 100 editions of HRF's Financial Freedom Report.
What started as an effort to track how authoritarian regimes use money as a tool of repression has evolved into THE weekly newsletter covering the global state of financial freedom.
From frozen bank accounts, currency collapse, and CBDCs to resisting with Bitcoin and freedom tech, we are grateful to all our readers who have joined us on this journey.
Onward to the next 100!
#naddr1qv…5sm3

2025-11-27 17:45:28 UTC

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Happy Thanksgiving, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #99 was just published and features the following in global news:
-Belarus | Law Enforcement Empowered to Block Financial Transactions
-Tunisia | Financial Repression of Human Rights Organizations
-United Arab Emirates | New Law Passed to Regulate Self-Custody Tools
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Blue Wallet | Lightning Network Support Added via Arkade
-Bitcoin | Home Miner Finds Solo Block
-BULL Wallet | Support for Krux Added
We end with a narrated edition of Alex Gladstein’s Journal of Democracy essay “Why Bitcoin is Freedom Money,” where Guy Swann guides listeners through how financial repression has become a core tool of modern authoritarianism and why Bitcoin is emerging as a lifeline for those targeted.
#naddr1qv…0uh2

2025-11-21 01:47:59 UTC

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Good evening, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #98 is live and features the following in global news:
-Indonesia | Government Plans Rupiah Redenomination Bill
-Tanzania | Bitcoin Becomes a Bridge During Internet Blackout
-United Arab Emirates | First CBDC Transaction Completed
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-BULL Wallet | SeedSigner Support Added
-Lightning Dev Kit | Splicing and Asynchronous Payments Added
-Breez | Spark Supports Privacy Mode and Nostr Zaps
We end with the latest installment of the HRF x PubKey Freedom Tech Series, where HRF’s Femi Longe and Christian Keroles explain how the Bitcoin Development Fund (BDF) helps sustain the global builders creating the permissionless and privacy-preserving tools on which dissidents increasingly depend.
#naddr1qv…q2ln

2025-11-06 16:50:36 UTC

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Good morning, readers!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #96 is published and features the following global strories:
-Cuba | Independent Media Outlet Blamed for Inflation
-Indonesia | Central Bank Expands Oversight with New CBDC-Linked Stablecoin
-Tanzania | Internet Blackout and Curfew Follow Unfree and Unfair Elections
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Phoenix | Phoenix Wallet Launches Taproot Channels and Multi-Wallet Support
-Bitkey | Introduces Chain Code Delegation for Enhanced Privacy
-Cashu | Update Adds Mint Discovery and Web-of-Trust Ratings
We end with a new episode of the “What Bitcoin Did” podcast, where HRF’s Chief Strategy Officer Alex Gladstein explains how Bitcoin protects civil society from dictators who devalue currencies, freeze bank accounts, monitor financial activity, and employ myriad other forms of financial repression.
#naddr1qv…tujm

2025-10-23 15:57:56 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #94 is live and features the following in global news:
-Venezuela | Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to María Corina Machado
-Russia | Putin Signs Amendments to Foreign Agent Law
-Kenya | Virtual Asset Service Providers Law Passed
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Square | Bitcoin Payments Introduced
-BULL Wallet | Open-Source Wallet with Payjoin Privacy Tool
-Signal | Proof of Concept for Cashu Ecash Integration
We end with a podcast episode where Ledn co-founder Mauricio Di Bartolomeo shares how Bitcoin became his family’s lifeline amid Venezuela’s economic collapse.
#naddr1qv…3fa6 #naddr1qv…3fa6

2025-10-09 17:48:36 UTC

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Good morning, nostr!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #93 is live and features the following in global news:
-China | Opens International Operations Center for Digital Yuan
-Nicaragua | Human Rights Guarantees Eliminated
-World | SWIFT Eyes Blockchain Payment System Overhaul
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Sparrow Wallet | Implements Send to Silent Payments
-Breez | Shares Q3 Lightning Integrations
-Bitcoin Babies | Releases “The Sovereign Mother” Book
We end with an essay from HRF’s chief strategy officer, Alex Gladstein, who explains in the Journal of Democracy why Bitcoin is best thought of as freedom money. He traces how governments have used modern financial systems to surveil and repress, and how Bitcoin provides an alternative.
#naddr1qv…6wvv

2025-10-02 15:40:47 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #92 is now published and features the following in global news:
-North Korea | Automated Banking Hotline Deepens Surveillance
-Russia | Amends Foreign Agent Law with Tougher Penalties
-Togo | Digital Protests Against Gnassingbé Dictatorship
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Research | Daniela Brozzoni Analyzes Bitcoin Node Fee Filter Settings
-Cashu | Draft Proposal Adds Oblivious HTTP for Stronger Privacy
-Layerz Wallet | New Bitcoin Wallet with Multi-Layer Support
We end with a chilling dispatch from Russian independent media outlet Meduza, which collected testimonies where Russians describe daily life on the Kremlin’s new “whitelist” Internet, which allows access only to state-approved sites.
#naddr1qv…euch

2025-09-25 18:00:41 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #91 is now published and features the following in global news:
-Vietnam | Millions of Bank Accounts Deleted
-El Salvador | New Banking Law Amid Democratic Backslide
-Cuba | Integrates into Chinese Payment System and Represses Protests
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Swapso | Integrates Lightning and Liquid Networks with Breez SDK
-Alby | Testing Spark Wallet Integration
-Cashu Development Kit | Introduces FFI Bindings for Interoperability
We end with an article in Journal of Democracy, where University of Chicago professor Paul Staniland examines how mass protests have toppled governments in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka in the past three years.
#naddr1qv…ppvs

2025-09-18 14:39:33 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #90 is now published and features the following in global news:
-Thailand | Freezes Accounts and Imposes Transfer Limits
-India | Government Opposes Complete Digital Asset Framework
-Russia | St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport Accepts CBDC Payments
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Bitchat | Surges Amid Social Media Bans and Protests
-Fedimint | Launches E-Cash App
-Banxaas | Expands Bitcoin Access to Côte d’Ivoire
We end with an interview on the F-Squared Podcast with Catherine Karimi Gichunge, who recounts how one of Africa’s largest mobile money systems, M-Pesa, was built.
#naddr1qv…xjv4

2025-09-11 14:26:02 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #89 is now on nostr and features the following in global news:
-Russia | Pushes New State-Controlled Message App to Public
-Indonesia | Police Violently Suppress Student-Led Protests
-Nicaragua | Ortega-Murillo Regime Land Grab
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-NIP-EE | Merged into Nostr Protocol
-Macadamia Wallet | First Ecash Wallet to Implement Multi-Nut Payments
-Bitchat | Adds Built-in Tor Support on Android
We end with a vibe coding tutorial by HRF’s Justin Moon, Alex Gladstein, and Jhanisse Vaca Daza. In it, they teach activists and dissidents how to vibe code a simple website.
#naddr1qv…wkjj

2025-09-04 14:32:23 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #88 is now on nostr and features the following in global news:
-Georgia | Freezes Bank Accounts of Seven NGOs
-Nigeria | eNaira CBDC Goes Offline
-Cuba | Pension Increase Evaporates Under Currency Debasement
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Damus | Launches on Android
-Cashu | Merges Support for BOLT 12
-Papa Swap | New Submarine Swap Protocol
We end with an interview with Rwandan activist Anaïse Kanimba, who reflects on her family’s fight for freedom after her father Paul Rusesabagina’s abduction and explains how Bitcoin has become both a practical tool and a symbol of resilience for those resisting authoritarian regimes in Africa.
#naddr1qv…frcx

2025-08-28 15:37:39 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #87 is now on nostr and features the following in global news:
-Russia | Grants Police Power to Freeze Bank Accounts
-Iran | Confiscates Property and Bank Accounts of Bahá’i Minorities
-Syria | Plans to Drop Two Zeros from Currency
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Bitsacco | Adds Support for Lightning Addresses
-Bitchat | Launches on Google Play Store
-Africa Bitcoin Institute | New African Leadership in Bitcoin Research
We end with a dedicated Freedom Tech portion of the SALT Investment Conference, showcasing how Bitcoin and open source technologies intersect with human rights, activism, and financial freedom.
#naddr1qv…84wu

2025-08-21 16:02:03 UTC

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Good morning, readers!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #86 is now on nostr and features the following in global news:
-Ethiopia | Freezes Bank Accounts of Individuals Using Foreign Currency
-Cuba | Four Hundred Pesos to the Dollar
-Tanzania | Court Bans Broadcasting of Opposition Trial
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Ginger Wallet | Adds Native CoinJoin Privacy Feature
-BTCPay Server | Integrates Cal.com
-Block Inc. | Introduces Proto Rig and Fleet
Plus, we end with the latest edition of the HRF x Pubkey Freedom Tech Series, where Rwandan human rights advocate, Anaïse Kanimba, joins HRF’s Global Bitcoin Lead, Femi Longe, to discuss her story, securing the release of her father, and how it led her to embrace Bitcoin as a freedom technology.
#naddr1qv…jjrs

2025-08-14 16:30:43 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #85 is now on nostr and features the following in global news:
-Bolivia | Banks Limit Withdrawals as Digital Asset Usage and Inflation Climb
-Russia | Crackdown on Financial Dissent Expands to Digital Control
-Turkey | Detains Ethereum Developers
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Payjoin Foundation | Launches to Advance Bitcoin Privacy
-Mi Primer Bitcoin | Releases AI Agent for Bitcoin Diploma
-Nostrpay | New Bitcoin Lightning Wallet for Youth
Plus, we end with the full live stream of the 'privacy edition' bitcoin++ developer conference, where Bitcoin privacy developers from projects like Cashu ecash, nonprofit grantmaker Brink, and private messaging app White Noise share in-development freedom tech and research that makes Bitcoin more private, scalable, and censorship-resistant.
#naddr1qv…z4we

2025-08-07 14:56:26 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #84 is now on nostr and features the following in global news:
-El Salvador | Congress Approves Unlimited Presidential Reelections
-North Korea | Regime Shutters Currency Exchange Centers Amid Currency Crash
-Burma | Invasive Cybersecurity Law Comes into Full Effect
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-PPQ AI | Bitcoin-Powered AI Access
-Bitle | Run Your Own Bitchat Node
-Fedimint | Releases ‘Fedimint-in-a-Box’
Plus, we end with a new study from the Bitcoin Policy Institute, authored by HRF Global Bitcoin Adoption Fellow Win Ko Ko Aung, that explores how individuals across Burma, Thailand, and Laos use Bitcoin to navigate financial repression, authoritarian control, and banking exclusion.
#naddr1qv…h8vd

2025-07-31 16:56:01 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #83 is now on nostr and features the following in global news:
-Russia | Sentences Man to Three Years in Prison for Donation to ACF
-El Salvador | Top Human Rights Group Flees Country
-Georgia | Freezes Bank Account of Independent Media Outlet
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-SPHINCS+ | Bitcoin Post-Quantum Signature Scheme
-Spark | Implements Unilateral Exit
-Bitchat | Launches on Apple App Store
Plus, we end with an interview on the Innovate Asia podcast with Hugo, a Burmese citizen who shares how Myanmar’s military coup upended his life and led him to discover Bitcoin.
#naddr1qv…2hjt

2025-07-17 17:47:24 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #81 is now published on nostr and features the following in global news:
-Venezuela | Bolívar Depreciating by 13% a Month
-Kenya | ‘Shoot in the Leg’ Order Amid Protests
-Russia | Delays Launch of Digital Ruble CBDC
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-White Noise | New Encrypted Messaging App Built on Nostr
-Cornell Bitcoin Club | Global Bitcoin Adoption Index
-Fernweh | Offline Messaging via Bluetooth
Plus, we end with the latest installment of the HRF x Pubkey Freedom Tech series, where HRF’s bitcoin development lead, Alex Li, sits down with Soapbox CEO Alex Gleason to discuss the current state and future of decentralized social protocols.
#naddr1qv…rzkx

2025-07-10 14:31:19 UTC

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Good morning, readers!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #80 is now live on nostr and features the following in global news:
-Iran | Financial Repression and Arrests
-Russia | Tracking Bitcoin Mining via National Registry
-Hong Kong | Central Bank Intervenes to Defend Currency
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Bitchat | P2P Messaging Over Bluetooth
-Cake Wallet | Airgap Any Device
-Damus | Apple App Store Removes Zaps
Plus, we end with the latest bitcoin++ Insider Edition interview, where Bitcoin developer Sosthene breaks down Silent Payments, a promising privacy improvement for Bitcoin addresses that can greatly benefit activists and nonprofits by better protecting their financial activity from surveillance by dictators.
#naddr1qv…je2z

2025-07-03 15:09:27 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #79 is now live on nostr and features the following in global news:
-Kenya | Protests and Police Repression on Anniversary of Anti-Tax Demonstrations
-India | Expands Offline CBDC Access for Citizens
-Bolivia | Bitcoin Adoption Grows as a Hedge Against Currency Devaluation
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-JAN3 | Integrates Liquid into BTCPay Server via Aqua Wallet
-SeedSigner | Adds Support for Seven New Languages
-Wallet of Satoshi | Launches on Spark
Plus, we end with the live stream of this year’s Bitcoin Policy Summit, where academics, policymakers, and human rights activists gathered to discuss the opportunities and strategic decisions presented by Bitcoin.
#naddr1qv…5f0p

2025-06-26 15:24:05 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #78 is now on nostr and features the following global updates:
-Iran | Largest Digital Asset Exchange Hacked
-India | Thousands Report Frozen Bank Accounts as Officials Crack Down on Cybercrime
-Venezuela | Gold Grams Against Hyperinflation
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Blitz Wallet | Introduces LNURL Addresses and Self-Custodial Zaps
-Ashigaru | Releases Zerolink CoinJoin Coordinator
-Sorted Wallet | Implements Breez SDK for Bitcoin Lightning Payments
Plus, we end with a debate on What Bitcoin Did, where HRF Chief Strategy Officer Alex Gladstein and LayerTwo Labs CEO Paul Sztorc tackle a critical question: is Bitcoin scaling properly?
#naddr1qv…9ejj

2025-06-19 16:44:21 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #77 is now live on nostr and features the following in global news:
-El Salvador | Approves Foreign Agents Law
-Cuba | University Students Protest Internet Rate Hike
-Iran | Currency Plunges Amid Financial Restrictions
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-SeedSigner | Introduces Right-to-Left Language Support
-P2P BAND | Global Peer-to-Peer Bitcoin Aggregator
-Cove Wallet | Releases on App Store with Coin Control
Plus, we end featuring a new joint publication between HRF and The Signal, which explores the global battle over money and assets between dictators and dissidents.
#naddr1qv…7zc8

2025-06-12 15:49:15 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
After a short break, HRF's weekly Financial Freedom Report is back! Weve got a lot of ground to cover, starting with the following in global news:
-Kenya | Criminal Prosecution of Software Developer
-Venezuela | National Police Raid Home of El Dorado Founder
-Tanzania | Blocks Access to X and Telegram Amid Financial, Political, and Media Repression
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Breez | Adds BOLT 12 and BIP 353 Support to Nodeless SDK
-BTCNutServer | Accept Ecash Payments with BTCPay Server
-Chorus.Community | New Social App for Activists
Plus, we end featuring an interview with exiled Hong Kong activist Nathan Law, who turned to Bitcoin to stay active in his push for freedom and democracy in the wake of China’s authoritarian crackdown.
#naddr1qv…qplj

2025-06-11 21:38:55 UTC

After a short break, HRF’s Financial Freedom Report is back!
A lot has happened in the last two weeks, and we’ve got it all covered.
Subscribe for free at financialfreedomreport.org to get tomorrow’s full issue delivered straight to your inbox.
Here’s a sneak peek at what’s inside:
https://blossom.primal.net/6d1fa40a0ae856b4902325e623680b47a8c104eac2dcd1ff399f16913dc8319a.png

2025-05-22 17:11:44 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #75 is now live on nostr and features the following in global news:
-El Salvador | Bukele Reintroduces Foreign Agents Bill
-China | Injects Billions to Stabilize Economy
-World | Authoritarian Regimes Lead CBDC Push, Study Finds
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-ChapSmart | Permissionless Remittances in Tanzania
-Bitkey | Multisignature for Families Protecting Wealth from State Seizure
-Parasite Pool | New Zero-Fee, Lightning Native Bitcoin Mining Pool
Plus, we end with an Ask Me Anything (AMA) with Bitcoin educator Anita Posch on Stacker News, who shares her thoughts, experiences, and views from her time conducting Bitcoin education in authoritarian regimes in Africa.
#naddr1qv…qv5d

2025-05-21 20:19:10 UTC

Sneak preview of tomorrow's Financial Freedom Report #75 👀
Subscribe for free at financialfreedomreport.org and receive updates on #Bitcoin and human rights directly to your inbox every Thursday!
https://blossom.primal.net/33898cd933088dff0568172664efc373de6c44b2752340a66b90817b7bf41589.png

2025-05-15 14:44:47 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #74 is now live on nostr and features the following in global news:
-DR Congo | Rebel Rule and Economic Ruin
-China | Law Enforcement Freezes Bank Accounts of Independent Media Outlet Channel C
-Venezuela | Blackouts, Inflation, and Currency Shortages
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Cashu | Make Ecash Payments from Multiple Mints
-Bitika | Bridging Bitcoin and M-Pesa in Kenya
-Frostsnap | New Bitcoin Multisig Custody Solution
Plus, we end with the latest edition of the HRF x Pubkey Freedom Tech series, where the Human Rights Foundation’s Alex Gladstein discusses the upcoming Oslo Freedom Forum and HRF’s role in supporting open-source freedom tech with Pubkey’s co-founder, Thomas Pacchia.
#naddr1qv…hakc

2025-05-14 19:45:13 UTC

Sneak peek of tomorrow's Financial Freedom Report #74 👀
When access to money becomes contingent on political obedience, press freedom can’t survive.
Subscribe for free at financialfreedomreport.org and receive these updates directly in your inbox every Thursday morning.
https://blossom.primal.net/f7164bcad7e1d6bb597a3b9c84c1869de699d79ca87274cd552fa772264e10fa.png

2025-05-08 15:07:43 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #73 is now live on nostr and features the following in global news:
-Bangladesh | Currency Shortage as Central Bank Halts Printing of Banknotes
-Nigeria | Regulates Bitcoin as a Security
-Indonesia | Gold Rush Amid Economic Uncertainty
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-LNbits | Emerges from Beta with v1.0.0 Release
-SeedSigner | Self-Custody Tool for Chinese Bitcoiners Facing Local Corruption
-Following.space | Create and Share Follow Packs on Nostr
Plus, we end with an interview with HRF Chief Strategy Officer Alex Gladstein, who explores his thinking behind the relationship between Bitcoin and human rights as we enter an age of increased corporate and nation-state adoption.
#naddr1qv…mcac

2025-05-01 15:52:37 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #72 is now live on nostr and features the following in global news:
-Belarus | Launching CBDC in Late 2026
-Russia | Proposes Digital Asset Exchange Exclusively for Wealthy Investors
-Cuba | Ecash Brings Offline Bitcoin Payments to Island Nation in the Dark
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Samiz | Create a Bluetooth Mesh Network with Nostr
-Spark | New Bitcoin Payments Protocol Now Live
-Boltz | Now Supports Nostr Zaps
Plus, we feature a reading of our very own Financial Freedom Report #67 on the Bitcoin Audible podcast, where host Guy Swann reads the latest news on plunging currencies, CBDCs, and new Bitcoin freedom tools.
#naddr1qv…6gca

2025-04-24 16:20:31 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #71 is now live on nostr and features the following in global news:
-Georgia | Bans Foreign Donations for Nonprofits and NGOs
-Venezuela | Opposition Mobilizes Against Maduro’s Financial Repression
-India | UPI Outage Disrupts Payments Nationwide
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Flash | Introduces Flash Lightning Addresses, New UI, and Encrypted Messaging
-DahLIAS | New Protocol to Lower the Cost of Private Bitcoin Transactions
-Bitcoin Core | Version 29.0 Now Available for Node Runners
Plus, we feature the latest edition of the HRF x Pubkey Freedom Tech Series, in which Nicaraguan human rights defender Berta Valle joins HRF’s Arsh Molu to explore how authoritarian regimes weaponize financial systems to silence dissent and isolate opposition voices and how tools like Bitcoin can offer a way out.
#naddr1qv…6pqu

2025-04-17 15:35:01 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #70 is now live on Nostr and features the following in global news:
-Nigeria | Artist Faces Six Months in Prison for Tossing Naira Currency
-Libya | Regime Devalues Currency for First Time in Four Years
-Turkey | Injects Billions to Prop Up Collapsing Lira While Rewarding Police Repression
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Unocoin | Integrates Bitcoin’s Lightning Network
-Phoenix Wallet | Resumes Operations in the US
-Blitz Wallet | Refines Ecash Functionality
Plus, we feature an article from journalist @nprofile…pg9z, who details the Bitcoin-driven relief efforts led by Burmese activist and HRF fellow @nprofile…cnef in the aftermath of a 7.7-magnitude earthquake.
#naddr1qv…j7rp

2025-04-10 14:27:14 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #69 is now live on Nostr and features the following in global news:
-Turkey | Government Detains Thousands of Pro-Democracy Protesters
-Tanzania | Regime Enacts Restrictions on Foreign Currency
-China | Incorporates e-CNY CBDC into Financial Sector Guidelines
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Breez | Releases New Open-Source Bitcoin Wallet
-OpenCash | Bounty for Open Source Cashu x BTCPay Server Plugin
-Machankura | Adds Support for Offline Bitcoin Transactions in Uganda
Plus, we feature the latest edition of the HRF x Pubkey Freedom Tech Series, where HRF’s Ayelen Osorio joins Zimbabwean pastor-turned-activist Evan Mawarire, who recounts his inspiring journey of a peaceful uprising against Robert Mugabe’s dictatorship and the hyperinflation and repression he unleashed on the population.
#naddr1qv…ahzy

2025-04-09 17:44:06 UTC

Here’s a sneak peek from Financial Freedom Report #69, dropping tomorrow👇
Subscribe for free at financialfreedomreport.org to get these updates every Thursday!
https://m.primal.net/QJtX.png

2025-04-03 14:31:53 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #68 is now live on nostr and features the following in global news:
-Georgia | Officials Freeze Accounts of Organizations Supporting Protesters
-United Arab Emirates | Plans to Launch “Digital Durham” CBDC in 2025
-India | Grants Tax Authorities Access to Citizens’ Online Data
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-HRF | Gifts 1 Billion Satoshis to 20+ Open Source Projects Worldwide
-Cove | New Open-Source and Permissionless Bitcoin Wallet
-Second | New Ark Implementation Launches on Bitcoin Signet
Plus, we feature a podcast in which HRF Chief Strategy Officer Alex Gladstein discusses the state of freedom tech and why Bitcoin stands as the most promising tool for financial liberation.
#naddr1qv…z9tt

2025-04-02 17:23:04 UTC

Here’s a sneak peek from Financial Freedom Report #68, dropping tomorrow👇
Subscribe for free at financialfreedomreport.org to get these updates every Thursday!
https://m.primal.net/QByc.png

2025-04-01 14:32:49 UTC

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HRF #Bitcoin Development Fund Supports 20+ Projects Worldwide.
More details below:
#naddr1qv…ur0p

2025-03-27 13:57:47 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #67 is now live on Nostr and features the following in global news:
-Turkey | Lira in Free Fall as Erdogan Arrests Political Rival
-Cuba | Banks “Hijack” Citizen Remittances
-Pakistan | Announces Plans to Regulate Digital Assets
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Demand Pool | First Stratum V2 Mining Pool Launches
-Bitcoin Mining | Three Solo Blocks Found
-Krux | Adds Taproot and Miniscript Support
Plus, we feature Vijay Selvam's new book, “Principles of Bitcoin.” It offers a clear, first-principles guide to understanding how Bitcoin’s technology interacts with economics, politics, philosophy, and human rights.
#naddr1qv…hm2k

2025-03-20 14:23:02 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #66 is now live on Nostr and features the following in global news:
-Thailand | Announces Third Digital Cash Handout to Boost Economy
-Russia | Central Bank Proposes Restricting Bitcoin Access to Wealthy Only
-India | Advances Digital Rupee CBDC
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Banxaas | Spend Sats in West Africa
-Mi Primer Bitcoin | Bitcoin Workbook Translated to Mandarin
-Blitz Wallet | Improves Ecash Functionality for Greater Financial Autonomy
Plus, the latest edition of the HRF x Pubkey Freedom Tech Series, in which HRF’s Zac Guignard sits down with author Jason Maier to discuss how Bitcoin can drive human rights around the world.
#naddr1qv…qfnr

2025-03-13 14:57:01 UTC

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Good morning, Nostr!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #65 is now live and features the following in global news:
-Iran | Economy Minister Impeached Amid Currency Crash
-ECOWAS | Plans to Launch Common Currency by 2027
-China | Policymakers Targeting Higher Inflation
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-MetaMask | Announces Native Bitcoin Support Coming This Year
-Bitcoin Mining | Solo Miner Defies Odds and Finds Block
-Hashpool | Mining Pool for Solo Bitcoin Miners
Plus, an article from OpenSats that explores key developments in privacy on Bitcoin. These include Coinswap, Silent Payments, and Payjoin — all innovations that make private transactions more accessible.
#naddr1qv…8m2a

2025-03-06 14:53:06 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #64 is now live on Nostr and features the following in global news:
-Nicaragua | Increases Financial Surveillance of NGOs
-El Salvador | IMF Approves 1.4 Billion Loan With Further Restrictions
-Iraq | Issuing CBDC to Replace Cash
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Nostr Wallet Connect | Introduces Pull Request for On-Chain Send and Receive
-Bitcoin Safe | Adds Support for Burmese and Korean Languages
-Frostr | Turn Your Nostr Private Key into a Rotatable Multisig
Plus, a new discussion from 21st Capital, where Alex Gladstein, Chief Strategy Officer at HRF, joins Ziya Sadr, an Iranian activist and Bitcoin educator, to explore Bitcoin’s role in fighting financial repression and advancing global freedom.
#naddr1qv…63yz

2025-02-27 21:30:59 UTC

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Good afternoon, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #63 is now live on Nostr and features the following in global news:
-Nigeria | Introducing Digital Asset Transaction Tax to Boost State Revenue
-Cuba | Citizens Remain Locked Out of Devalued Funds
-Niger | Delays Democratic Elections While Citizens Financially Struggle
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-NostrPIX | Enabling Bitcoin Payments in Brazil
-Iris | Implements Double Ratchet Messaging for Better Privacy
-Presidio Bitcoin | New Bitcoin Co-Working and Events Space in Bay Area
Plus, the live streams of the latest bitcoin++ developer conference offer an inside look at the key presentations, projects, and workshops that defined the event.
#naddr1qv…tguv

2025-02-20 14:23:05 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #62 is now live on Nostr and features the following in global news:
-Russia | One Year Since Navalny Murdered by Regime
-Argentina | Milei Facing Fraud Charges and Impeachment for Promoting Memecoin
-World | Central Banks Delaying CBDC Plans
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Obscura | New Virtual Private Network
-Zeus Wallet and Primal | Integrate Nostr Wallet Connect
-Proton | Officially Launches Proton Wallet
Plus, a tutorial from BTC Sessions walks viewers through setting up a node on a computer and connecting it to Sparrow Wallet. This tutorial is especially suited for dissidents and can empower curious individuals with the ability to verify the Bitcoin network independently, enhance privacy, and eliminate reliance on third parties.
#naddr1qv…7l6n

2025-02-13 14:26:58 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #61 is now live and features the following in global news:
-Central African Republic | Launches Meme Coin Experiment
-Nigeria | Debuts Naira Stablecoin
-Russia | Proposes Registry to Track Bitcoin Mining Hardware
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Mullvad VPN | Testing Lightning Network Payments
-SeedSigner | Releases Multilingual Support
-Iris | Implements Private Bitcoin Payments with Cashu
Plus, an article by Frank Corva spotlighting Bitcoin's growing presence across the African continent, where people are building Bitcoin circular economies, open-source financial tools, and educational initiatives.
financialfreedomreport.org
#naddr1qv…dzpk

2025-02-06 14:02:45 UTC

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Good morning, friends!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #60 is now live and features the following in global news:
-India | Central Bank Partners with Fintech Firms to Pilot Launch CBDC
-El Salvador | Lawmakers Scale Back Bitcoin Legal Tender Law
-Nigeria | Regime Hikes Telecom Tariffs for Citizens
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-MIT | 2025 Bitcoin Expo
-Bitcoin Mining | Two Blocks Mined by Solo Miners This Week
-Joltz Wallet | First Self-Custodial Wallet to Support Taproot Assets
Plus, Area Bitcoin has published a cautionary guide to Brazil's DREX central bank digital currency (CBDC) that explores how it works and what it means for Brazilians' financial freedom.
#naddr1qv…yk6q

2025-01-30 15:29:35 UTC

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Good morning, Nostr!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #59 is now live and features the following in global news:
-Belarus | Lukashenko Sweeps Openly Rigged Election Amid Financial Repression
-Nigeria | Joins BRICS Economic Coalition
-Pakistan | Regime Passes Repressive Bill Targeting Online Spaces
In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News:
-Super Testnet | Launches Hurricash
-Zaprite | Integrates BTCPay Server
-Breez SDK | Implements Pay to BIP 353 Addresses
Plus, a special episode of the “Money Matters” podcast where Jack Mallers, CEO of Strike, speaks with Alex Gladstein, chief strategy officer at HRF, to discuss the powerful link between Bitcoin and financial freedom.
#naddr1qv…jrug

2025-01-23 14:43:39 UTC

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Good morning, Nostr!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #58 is now live and features the following in global news:
-Iran | Regime Profiting From Currency Devaluation
-Nicaragua | Regime Dismantles More Nonprofit Organizations
-Nigeria | Political and Bitcoin Activist Faces Regime Censorship
In #Bitcoin news:
-Mostro | Implements Key Management to Boost Privacy
-Bitcoin Safe | New Bitcoin Wallet Designed for Non-Technical Users
-Solo Satoshi | Introduces Bitaxe Touch
Plus, the release of Evan Mawarire's memoir "Crazy Epic Courage," in which the Zimbabwean pastor and activist recounts his inspiring journey of a peaceful uprising against Robert Mugabe’s dictatorship and hyperinflation.
#naddr1qv…ekyy

2025-01-16 16:02:35 UTC

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Good morning, everyone!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #57 is now live on Nostr and features the following in global news:
-Burma | Military Junta Enacts Sweeping Cybersecurity Law
-Nigeria | Inflation Continues as State Closes Ways Out
-Kazakhstan | Shuts Down Dozens of Digital Asset Exchanges
In #Bitcoin news:
-Coinswap | Releases Beta of Coinswap Protocol
-Nstart | Simplified Access to Nostr Protocol
-Bitcoin Student Network | Launches Layer Zero
Plus, the first three chapters of Evan Mawarire’s upcoming memoir "Crazy Epic Courage," in which the Zimbabwean pastor turned activist recounts his powerful journey of inspiring a peaceful uprising against brutal dictator Robert Mugabe.
#naddr1qv…swc8

2025-01-11 19:32:56 UTC

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The first Financial Freedom Report of 2025 is now live on Nostr and features the following in global news:
-Nicaragua | Financial Reforms Risk Enshrining Repression Into Law
-China | Regime Monitoring and Censoring Economists
-Iran | Shutters Onramps to Digital Asset Exchanges
In Bitcoin news:
-Live Wallet | Releases Transaction Privacy Analysis
-Bull Bitcoin Wallet | Implements Serverless Asynchronous Payjoin
-RaspiBlitz | Integrates Alby Hub
Plus, an interview with Bitcoin Dada founder Lorraine Marcel, where she discusses the empowering nature of Bitcoin for women facing systemic rights abuses and financial repression.
naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzpuvcn2tdwk4rs66vsu25xcnvhvmzcqey3v3qmjdw20tua7724ukpqq3yv6twv9hxx6tpdsk5vun9v4jx7mfd2fjhqmmjwskn2d3dxf3r2etnvgsxjnar

2025-01-10 15:49:46 UTC

Today we unveil the Finney Freedom Prize statue designed by the artist cryptograffiti.
Here is a short video from the artist himself featuring the statue, the meaning, and the style:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S1w9DkYFpo

2025-01-10 15:30:10 UTC

NEW: The Finney Freedom Prize for the 2012-2016 era goes to Pieter Wuille and Gregory Maxwell for their contributions to Bitcoin usability, scalability, and privacy.
For more info on the Prize, Hal’s story, the committee, and future prizes, visit http://finneyprize.org
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2024-12-26 16:38:13 UTC

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Happy Holidays everyone!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #55 is live on Nostr and features the following in global news:
-Russia | Sweeping Amendments Expand Financial Repression Against Dissidents
-North Korea | Failing Currency Forces Return to Barter
-Nicaragua | Human Rights Abuses and Financial Repression Exposed
In Bitcoin news:
-Tando | Bridging Bitcoin and Everyday Payments in Kenya
-Yakihonne | Adds Support for Improved Encrypted Direct Messaging
-Mostro | Making Bitcoin More Accessible and Private
Plus, the latest episode of HRF's Dissidents and Dictators podcast featuring Togolese human rights activist Farida Nabourema sharing her first-hand experience growing up under the Gnassingbé dictatorship and the financial struggles she faced.
#naddr1qv…2sm8

2024-12-19 15:18:29 UTC

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This week's Financial Freedom Report #54 is now live on Nostr and features the following in global news:
-Syria | Assad Regime Overthrown
-China | Youth Bear the Brunt of Economic Slowdown
-Tunisia | Growing Repression of Journalists Amidst Worsening Economic Crisis
In #Bitcoin news:
-Klever Wallet | Integrates Lightning Network
-Fedi | Adds Cashu Melting and Portable Nostr Keys
-Core Lightning | Releases Latest Version with BOLT 12 by Default
Plus, a live stream of the 2024 Africa Bitcoin Conference showcasing the innovative ideas, individuals, and practical tools that defined this impactful gathering.
#naddr1qv…6hy2

2024-12-12 14:49:17 UTC

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Good morning, everyone!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #53 is now live on Nostr and features the following in global news:
-Tunisia | Turns to Central Bank to Repay Debts
-India | RBI Pushes Banks to Re-KYC Customers
-Kenya | Reinstates Tax Measures that Ignited Nationwide Protests
In Bitcoin news:
-Eclair | Integrates Support for BOLT 12, Splicing, Liquidity Ads, and On-The-Fly Funding
-Machankura | Launches Android App
-Lark | New Command Line Application for USB Hardware Wallets
Plus, the latest installment of the HRF x Pubkey Freedom Tech Series featuring HRF's Bitcoin Development Lead, Alex Li, conversing with Bitcoin Core maintainer Gloria Zhao on the importance of censorship-resistant payments and the current challenges facing Bitcoin.
#naddr1qv…f8sn

2024-12-05 15:11:42 UTC

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Happy 100k everyone!
This week's Financial Freedom Report #52 is now live on Nostr and features the following in Global News:
-Thailand | Begins Second Phase of CBDC Handout
-Brazil | Proposes Ban on Transferring Stablecoins to Self-Custody
-China | Prepares for Sanctions While Eyeing Taiwan
In Bitcoin News:
-Tornado Cash | Fifth Circuit Court Lifts Sanctions
-Robosats | Shared Nostr Order Book With LNP2Bot
-Primal | Releases Version 2.0
Plus, the latest installment of the HRF x @npub1key…lt3h Freedom Tech Series featuring Jorge Jraissati discussing the state of freedom technologies like Bitcoin in Venezuela following Maduro’s stolen election earlier this year.
#naddr1qv…62kc

2024-11-28 20:30:27 UTC

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Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
HRF's Financial Freedom team is excited to share the first ever Financial Freedom Report posted natively here on Nostr.
Let us know what you think in the comments below!
#naddr1qv…qa50

2024-11-21 21:24:59 UTC

This week's Financial Freedom Report #50 marks the 1st anniversary of the newsletter and features the following in global news:
-Russia | Draft Law Prevents ‘Foreign Agents’ From Accessing Money
-Mozambique | Unrest and Debt Crisis Push Frelimo to the Brink of Default
-Nigeria | Inflation Accelerates Increasing Food Insecurity
In Bitcoin news:
-BlindBit | New Silent Payments Wallet Under Development
-Blitz Wallet | Integrates PicknPay Payments
-OpenSecret | New Encrypted Backend for Applications
Plus, a compelling essay in Journal of Democracy by Félix Maradiaga discusses the first-hand financial repression he and his family faced under Daniel Ortega's regime in Nicaragua.
Read more here:
https://hrf.org/program/financial-freedom/bitcoin-development-fund/financial-freedom-reports/

2024-11-14 18:54:19 UTC

This week's Financial Freedom Report #49 features the following in global news:
-Pakistan | Proposes Regulatory Framework for CBDC
-Mozambique | Protests Over Election Results Extending Frelimo’s Half-Century Rule
-Burma | International Payment Services Suspended for Citizens
In Bitcoin news:
-Boltz | Introduces BOLT 12 and Rootstock Swaps
-RaspiBlitz | Introduces Public Pool Support and Zeus Connection
-DATUM | Now Live on Umbrel App Store
Plus, a new paper co-authored by Lyn Alden and Steve Lee detailing the the risks, tradeoffs, and incentives involved when changing Bitcoin’s consensus mechanisms.
Read more here:
https://hrf.org/program/financial-freedom/bitcoin-development-fund/financial-freedom-reports/

2024-11-08 20:22:16 UTC

This week's Financial Freedom Report #48 features the following in global news:
-India | Regulators Mull Bitcoin Ban While Pushing CBDC
-Russia | State Banks Begin Offering Mortgages in Occupied Ukraine Territory
-Turkey | New Foreign Agents Law Threatens Civil Society
In Bitcoin news:
-Lightspark | Announces New Layer Two Protocol for Bitcoin
-Bitsacco | Bitcoin-Powered Cooperative for African Communities
-BTCPay Server | New Release Includes Simplified Translating and Onboarding
Plus, a Spanish tutorial from Bitcoin educator Ben Perrin details how to set up and use Alby Hub, a dedicated Lightning Network node software that works particularly well with Nostr and its “zap” feature.
Read more here:
https://hrf.org/program/financial-freedom/bitcoin-development-fund/financial-freedom-reports/

2024-10-24 18:05:41 UTC

This week's Financial Freedom Report #46 features the following in global news:
-Burma | Major Banks Complicit in Junta’s Financial Crackdown
-Tunisia | Saied Secures Reelection Amid Struggling Economy
-Sub-Saharan Africa | Women Entrepreneurs Use Bitcoin to Overcome Barriers
In Bitcoin news:
-Fedimint | Announces Fedimint Web Software Development Kit (SDK)
-Boltz | Adds Auto Consolidation of UTXOs and Partners with Ark Protocol
-Zeus | New Release Includes Inbound Routing Fees and Improved Privacy
Plus, a podcast episode between Peter McCormack and Alex Gladstein discussing HRF’s mission to support people living under authoritarian regimes and the importance of open-source freedom technologies like Bitcoin, Nostr, and ecash to empower activism and pro-democracy movements worldwide.
Read more here:
https://hrf.org/category/financial-freedom/

2024-10-17 16:54:31 UTC

This week's Financial Freedom Report #45 features the following in global news:
-North Korea | Won Currency Plummets as Authorities Tighten Exchange Controls
-Cuba | New Censorship Law Approved Under the Guise of Reform
-Pakistan | Protesters Rally for Imran Khan’s Release Amid Internet Shutdowns
In Bitcoin news:
-Coinbase | Implements Taproot Addresses
-Phoenix | Transitions to New Open Protocol for Lightning Service Provider
-Vexl | New KYC-Free Bitcoin Peer-to-Peer Trading App
Plus, the latest episode of the HRF x Pubkey Freedom Tech Series where philosophy professor Troy Cross discusses how Bitcoin mining can advance financial freedom and human rights.
Read more here:
https://hrf.org/category/financial-freedom/

2024-10-10 17:34:26 UTC

This week's Financial Freedom Report #44 features the following in global news:
-Russia | CBDC Rollout, Journalists Charged, & Criminal Defendants on the Front Line
-Lebanon | Regional Conflict Deepens Economic Crisis
-Hong Kong | Plans to Install Thousands of Surveillance Cameras
In Bitcoin news:
-Bitcoin Core | Version 28.0 Now Available
-Nunchuk | Introduces Decoy Wallets
-JAM | Freeze, Unfreeze, and Review UTXOs
Plus, a recap video of the 2024 Global Bitcoin Summit that brought together more than 125 human rights defenders, Bitcoin developers, educators, and designers from more than 60 countries at Bitcoin Park in Nashville, Tenn. Together, they shared stories of life under dictatorships and collaborated to create new tools and initiatives to push back against financial repression.
Read more here:
https://hrf.org/category/financial-freedom/

2024-10-04 15:32:22 UTC

This week's Financial Freedom Report #43 features the following in global news:
-Kuwait | Mandates Biometric Data for Access to Financial Accounts
-Egypt | Rising Costs and Repression Deepen Financial Struggles
-Zimbabwe | New ZiG Currency Faces First Official Devaluation
In Bitcoin news:
-Telegram | Announces New Compliance Measures
-Boltz | Launches BTCPay Server Plugin
-Tornado Cash | Legal Battle Set Precedent for Financial Privacy and Freedom
Plus, a podcast featuring HRF's Nonprofit Bitcoin adoption Lead Anna Chekhovich detailing the realities of life and activism under Vladimir Putin’s regime where activists, dissidents, and nonprofits face regular acts of repression, fabricated criminal charges, and asset seizures.
Read more here: https://hrf.org/category/financial-freedom/

2024-09-26 16:11:30 UTC

This week's Financial Freedom Report #42 features the following in global news:
-Zimbabwe | New ZiG Currency Fails to Maintain Value
"Zimbabweans like Thabo Ncube believe the repeated currency woes “have opened the door for #Bitcoin adoption in Zimbabwe, and that no person and no institution will be able to stop it.”
-Tunisia | Economic Challenges Grip Citizens as Saied Crushes Opposition
-Iran | Physical and Financial Repression of Women Intensifies
In Bitcoin news:
-Dana Wallet | Native Silent Payments Wallet
Wasabi Wallet | Implements Taproot Receive Addresses and Free Coordinators
-BOLT 12 | Merged into Lightning Specification
Plus, the latest instalment of the HRF x Pubkey Freedom Tech Series where author and journalist Roger Huang discusses the clash between open-source technology and state-led censorship and repression in China.
Read more here: https://hrf.org/category/financial-freedom/

2024-09-19 16:29:26 UTC

This week's Financial Freedom Report #41 features the following in global news:
-Nicaragua | Strips Citizenship and Confiscates Assets of Nicaraguans
-Nigeria | Uses Binance Employee as a Scapegoat for Currency Crisis
-Cuba | Mass Migration in Search of Financial Freedom
In Bitcoin news:
-SuperTestnet | Introduces Brick Wallet
-HTX | Integrates Lightning Network
-HRF | Gifts 1 Billion Satoshis to 20 Open Source Projects Worldwide
Plus, a new video by Reason and HRF explores how Nostr, a decentralized social media protocol, can offer a solution to global online censorship.
Read more here: https://hrf.org/category/financial-freedom/

2024-09-12 15:24:20 UTC

This week's Financial Freedom Report #40 features the following in global news:
-Venezuela | Opposition Leader Refers to Bitcoin as a Lifeline
-Ukraine | IMF Pushes for Currency Devaluation
-Tunisia | Electoral Commission Removes Three Presidential Candidates
In Bitcoin news:
-BtcTurk | Integrates Lighting Network
-BitBox | Introduces Support for Sending Silent Payments
-Strike | Announces Support for BOLT 12 Offers
Plus, an insightful article from political scientist Sarah Kreps, where she examines Bitcoin’s slow adoption in El Salvador. Despite this, she sees tremendous potential for Bitcoin in the remittance market, where Salvadorans spend millions of dollars annually on fees.
Read more here: https://hrf.org/category/financial-freedom/

2024-09-05 15:52:25 UTC

This week's Financial Freedom Report #39 features the following in global news:
-Brazil | Court Orders Nationwide Suspension of X and Freezes Financial Accounts
-Syria | Bashar al-Assad Cripples Financial Freedom
-Nicaragua | Bans 1,500 NGOs From Operating in Country
In Bitcoin news:
-ALS Network | Receives Finney Freedom Prize
-Tando | Brings Bitcoin Payments to Kenya
-Nostr Web Services | First Release
Plus, we feature a step-by-step guide for buying Bitcoin on RoboSats, a peer-to-peer and KYC-free Bitcoin exchange powered by the Lightning Network.
Read more here:
https://hrf.org/hrfs-weekly-financial-freedom-report-39

2024-08-29 19:18:08 UTC

This week's Financial Freedom Report #38 features the following in global news:
-Telegram | CEO Arrested in France
-Hong Kong | Diaspora Denied Access to Retirement Savings
-Nigeria | Prominent Whistleblower (and Bitcoin User) is Missing
In Bitcoin news:
-Bisq 2 | Adds Support for Lightning Network Settlements
-Floresta | New Release Makes Running Full Nodes More Accessible
-SeedSigner | Adds Support for Legacy Bitcoin Addresses
Plus, a featured tutorial from BTC Sessions in Spanish walks users through using the Coldcard Q hardware wallet for long-term Bitcoin savings.
Read more here:
https://hrf.org/hrfs-weekly-financial-freedom-report-38

2024-08-23 00:52:12 UTC

This week's Financial Freedom Report #37 features the following in global news:
- Venezuela | Approves Repressive NGO Law
- Russia | Sentences Woman to 12 Years in Prison for Donating to Ukraine Charity
- Bangladesh | Political Turmoil Threatens Citizens' Financial Freedom
In Bitcoin news:
- Boardwalk | Introduces Lightning eCash Tips
- BlueWallet | Implements BIP-47 Payment Codes
- Bankify | Turns Any Cashu Mint into a Lighting Wallet
Plus, a recommended piece on how Bitcoin is quietly disrupting today's outdated and entrenched power structures.
Read more here:
https://hrf.org/hrfs-weekly-financial-freedom-report-37

2024-08-21 17:22:36 UTC

This week's guest article by Jorge Jraissati, Venezuelan activist and president of the Economic Inclusion Group, delves into the power of decentralized technologies like Bitcoin and Nostr in nonviolent resistance. By circumventing the regime’s stranglehold on finance and communication, these tools offer Venezuelans a vital means of fighting for a more open, just, and democratic society.
Read the full piece here:
https://hrf.org/the-role-of-freedom-tech-in-venezuela

2024-08-15 18:15:41 UTC

Financial Freedom Report #36 is out now. We highlight:
-Venezuela: Amid post-election turmoil, Venezuelans face restrictions accessing Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange. Meanwhile, dictator Nicolás Maduro blocked access to X and detained thousands, deepening financial and speech repression.
-Nigeria: Political activist James Otudor filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian regime. He advocates for the right to own, trade, and use Bitcoin to safeguard against local currency devaluation and inflation.
-Kyrgyzstan: Plans to launch a CBDC by 2027, raising concerns about potential misuse under President Sadyr Japarov’s increasingly repressive regime.
In Bitcoin news:
-Speed: Launches USDT-L, a new stablecoin on the Lightning Network, providing faster, cheaper, and more private transactions.
-Voltz: Unveils a custodial wallet that combines on-chain Bitcoin, Lightning, and eCash transactions for greater financial privacy.
-Proton VPN: Introduces new anti-censorship features helping users bypass digital repression in countries where access to platforms and information is increasingly restricted.
Read this and more:
https://hrf.org/category/financial-freedom/

2024-08-08 16:53:40 UTC

Financial Freedom Report #35 is out now. We highlight:
- Nigeria | Regime Sends Security Forces to Quell Cost of Living Protests
- Libya | Russian Counterfeiting Fueling Dinar Devaluation
- Somalia | Targets Press Freedom Through Financial Repression
In Bitcoin news:
- Fedi | Launches its Community Superapp
- Strike | Launches BTCPay Server Plugin
- Mutiny Wallet | Winding Down Operations by End of Year
Read the latest report here: https://hrf.org/category/financial-freedom/

2024-08-07 19:21:47 UTC

HRF's Financial Freedom program exists to highlight how authoritarian regimes engage in financial repression to crack down on dissent and opposition and to support individuals pushing back through the use of open source Bitcoin software.
Learn more: https://hrf.org/programs/financial-freedom/

2024-08-02 18:25:17 UTC

This week's Financial Freedom Report #34 covers stories of financial repression enforced by dictators. For example:
- Venezuela | Maduro Rigs Election to Prolong Regime
- Russia | Introduces New & Repressive Digital Asset Laws
- Ethiopia | Currency Devaluation to Secure IMF Loan
In Bitcoin news, we highlight:
- BitAxe | Mines First Solo Bitcoin Block
- Fedi | Announces Save the Children Collaboration
- Lightning Labs | Releases Taproot Assets on Lightning
All this and more in our latest newsletter here: https://hrf.org/category/financial-freedom/
Subscribe to the newsletter here: http://financialfreedomreport.org

2024-07-25 16:42:40 UTC

- reply

Thank you!

2024-07-25 16:42:33 UTC

- reply

Thank you so much!

2024-07-25 15:17:42 UTC

Good morning, and welcome to HRF on nostr. We are thrilled to be here!
Each week, we'll circulate our weekly newsletter, the Financial Freedom Report, to help you stay informed about the latest news on financial repression around the world. We’ll also highlight the latest developments in the Bitcoin space. You won’t want to miss it.
Read our latest newsletter here: https://hrf.org/topic/financial-freedom/
Subscribe to the Financial Freedom Report here: http://financialfreedomreport.org/