Bitcoin Is a Threat to Dictators, Says HRF Executive

Bitcoin Challenges Dictatorships, Empowers Citizens, Says HRF Executive

At the Bitcoin Policy Summit in Washington, D.C., Alex Gladstein, Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation (HRF), told U.S. political leaders that Bitcoin has become a vital tool for resisting authoritarian control.

“BTC is bad for dictators,” he stated. He explained how the cryptocurrency helps protect individuals from the financial restrictions imposed by oppressive regimes.

Bitcoin Blocks Authoritarian Control

Speaking to a room of American lawmakers, Gladstein emphasized how BTC resists government overreach. When used properly—without linking it to personal identification—BTC transactions become harder to trace, making surveillance much more difficult.

He explained that self-custody of BTC protects individuals from financial censorship. “If you’re holding your own Bitcoin, governments can’t freeze your assets or inflate them away,” Gladstein said.

He described BTC as a lifeline during hyperinflation—offering a stable store of value in countries with crumbling economies. “So many people have essentially been rescued by this technology,” he added.

Ukraine Sparked HRF’s Interest in Bitcoin

Gladstein recalled HRF’s first serious encounter with BTC during Ukraine’s 2013 Maidan protests, when activists’ bank accounts were frozen by the government. With traditional systems blocked, BTC provided a working alternative.

“At the time, BTC was worth around $100. We were skeptical, but we gave it a shot—and it worked,” Gladstein said. “It got money to people when no other system could.”

BTC as a Human Rights Tool

Since 2007, Gladstein has worked with HRF to support people living under authoritarian rule. He believes Bitcoin is not just a financial asset but a critical human rights tool. The foundation now supports education and access to BTC in oppressed regions.

“Bitcoin gives people the financial freedom that dictatorships try to take away,” he concluded.