Alex Gladstein: Bitcoin Helps Bypass Government Control

Crypto News Cryptocurrencies

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: June 30, 2025

Key Takeaways

Bitcoin helps people in authoritarian countries keep control of their money and avoid surveillance;
Gladstein said Bitcoin works best when users stay anonymous and manage their own wallets;
In 2013, Bitcoin helped Ukrainian protestors get funds after banks froze their accounts.

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Alex Gladstein: Bitcoin Helps Bypass Government Control

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Alex Gladstein, the chief strategy officer at Human Rights Foundation, shared how Bitcoin BTC $88,935.34 is helping people push back against authoritarian control.

Speaking at the Bitcoin Policy Summit in Washington, DC, he explained that this digital currency gives individuals a way to protect their money from being frozen, monitored, or devalued by their governments.

According to Gladstein, Bitcoin is especially effective when used without linking personal identity to it. In such cases, he said, it becomes much harder for authorities to track someone’s financial activity.

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He also stated:

If you’re self-custodying your Bitcoin, governments can’t delete or freeze your stuff, and they certainly can’t hyperinflate you.

Gladstein gave an example during Ukraine’s protests against then-president Viktor Yanukovych in 2013. Many protestors suddenly lost access to their bank accounts.

At the time, Bitcoin was still relatively unknown and trading at around $100. The Human Rights Foundation was uncertain about its reliability but decided to try sending Bitcoin directly to those on the ground.

Gladstein said the result was a success since activists received funds even when other systems had failed.

The Human Rights Foundation works to defend civil liberties worldwide, particularly in countries with limited freedoms. Gladstein, who joined the organization in 2007, views Bitcoin as another tool to help people avoid financial control and censorship.

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