BTPI Launches Study on Bitcoin’s Impact on Financial Freedom in Authoritarian...

[ABCbits]

BTPI Launches Study on Bitcoin’s Impact on Financial Freedom in Authoritarian Countries

The Brooks School Tech Policy Institute (BTPI) at Cornell University has launched a $1 million research project to explore the relationship between Bitcoin and financial freedom in authoritarian countries.

Led by BTPI Director Sarah Kreps, the research aims to understand how individuals use Bitcoin and stablecoins for financial security in these environments... Read more here.


While it's not started yet and we probably will see the result 2026, i find it's exciting news. After all, it's one of very real/important usage of Bitcoin. Although looking at institute's website, i also find they only focus on 12 country which is weird for me. Your opinion is greatly appreciated.

[TomPluz]

This can be a good study to find out how people under an oppressive governments are and can be using Bitcoin to help them in their financial goals. Maybe they should also go into the details on how people in these countries are able to get into Bitcoin and how they gonna be converting them into their national currency since am sure there can be restrictions on popular cryptocurrency exchanges operating overseas to enter their countries. I am looking forward to see and read the final outcome of this research. As an empowering tool for the people, there can be things we need to know more on how people are taking advantage of Bitcoin actually not just on the financial side but on showing people they can get away from the control of the people who are supposed to be serving them, in the first place.

[Mr. Magkaisa]

        -   They are doing that well, and I hope in other countries they will do the same style so that people can understand Bitcoin or cryptocurrency more quickly and how it can help individuals in their jurisdictions.

It's like caravan events that happen where each country has 1000 people just to gather data adoptions. After all, it's not easy; it's actually a bit of an effort, but it's a good program, honestly speaking. Here in our country, there are groups of crypto enthusiasts going around school academies and universities just to share Bitcoin and crypto adoptions with students.

[ABCbits]

Maybe they should also go into the details on how people in these countries are able to get into Bitcoin and how they gonna be converting them into their national currency since am sure there can be restrictions on popular cryptocurrency exchanges operating overseas to enter their countries

Good point, it would be interesting to read. Although i expect some of them either,
1. Perform P2P exchange between member on local cryptocurrency community.
2. Use foreign currency or bank service, assuming their country isn't under economic sanction.

[mu_enrico]

We want to study how people in these countries are using Bitcoin and stablecoins in the pursuit of their financial security.

Source.

Not sure if it's enough to draw a conclusion on this "Bitcoin’s Impact on Financial Freedom in Authoritarian Countries" topic. Since Indonesia is one of the countries covered in this study (for example), we can see here that Financial Freedom measures a lot of things, and most aren't crypto related:

To assess the overall level of financial freedom that ensures easy and effective access to financing opportunities for people and businesses in a country’s economy, the Index takes account of five broad areas:

The extent of government regulation of financial services,
The degree of state intervention in banks and other financial firms through direct and indirect ownership,
Government influence on the allocation of credit,
The extent of financial and capital market development, and
Openness to foreign competition.

But perhaps the study can explain more of "financial inclusion," a more limited indicator of financial freedom, or other specific indicators.