Bitcoin: The Digital Currency of Hope in a Time of Crackdowns

• Canadian truckers and protestors used Bitcoin to help them survive government crackdowns and restrictions.
• GoFundMe attempted to pass money along to causes they aligned with, but refunded the money after public outcry.
• The Iranian government has frozen the bank accounts of women who refuse to wear hijabs, and one protester has already been executed.

In March of 2022, Canadian truckers and protestors found themselves with a difficult decision to make. After the Canadian government began to crack down on protestors by freezing bank accounts, people turned to Bitcoin to help them survive. Organizations like GoFundMe not only blocked the protestors from receiving the money that had been raised, but they even attempted to pass the money along to causes that they aligned with. After some uproar, GoFundMe ended up refunding the money, but the message was clear: comply.

However, Bitcoin allowed truckers to skirt these restrictions and continue to receive donations. This caused many to take notice and realize that Bitcoin is capable of providing a safe and secure way to transfer funds without government oversight or control. This was a massive signal that perhaps the normies are starting to catch on.

More recently, the Iranian government announced that it would be freezing the bank accounts of women who refuse to wear hijabs, traditional Muslim head covering, in public. This came after the threat of imprisonments and executions in order to quell ongoing protests for the freedom of expression there. As of December 8, 2022, one protester had already been executed by hanging by the Iranian government.

The fact is, nobody is going to save you. Ethereum insists on being the new decentralized money of the internet, and yet, the protocol is enforcing Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) sanctions on its base layer. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find a safe and secure way to transfer funds without government oversight or control.

Bitcoin has been a source of hope for many who are looking for a way to transfer money without facing harsh punishments or restrictions from their governments. With more stories of government crackdowns, it’s likely that the awareness of Bitcoin will continue to grow, and more people will opt to use it as a form of digital currency. It’s a reminder that freedom of speech and expression can still be preserved in the digital age.