- 20 human rights leaders from 20 countries wrote an open letter to the US Congress calling for responsible bitcoin legislation.
- The letter was in response to an anti-crypto letter recently sent to Congress, which opposed the idea that bitcoin brings positive financial innovation.
- Notable signatories to the letter include Alex Gladsen, Yonami Park and Farida Nabourema.
An open letter of support for responsible bitcoin and stablecoin policy was issued today, signed by 20 human rights leaders from 20 different countries, asking the US Congress to consider the far-reaching implications of the irresponsible legislation. Announcement The Human Rights Foundation’s chief strategy officer came from Alex Gladstein.
“We write to urge an open-minded, sympathetic approach to monetary instruments that are increasingly playing a role in the lives of those facing political repression and economic hardship,” the letter explained. “We are not industry financiers or professional lobbyists, but humanitarians and democracy advocates who have used bitcoin to help those at risk when other options have failed.”
The letter is a direct response to another letter, recently written by 1500 computer scientists, software engineers and technologists calling for legislation to be “responsible” for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. However, the latter said that the signatories disagree with either narrative, claiming that bitcoin or stablecoins are positively influencing financial innovation.
“We can personally testify – as attached reports from top global media outlets – that bitcoin gave refuge to our compatriots when currency catastrophes occurred in Cuba, Afghanistan and Venezuela,” said activists. The letter argues, providing an opposing view. Letters from Technologists.
Activists rightly acknowledge that many of the authors of the anti-crypto letter are from economically privileged countries with stablecoins, property rights and free speech. However, the experience of many of the activist writers of today’s paper is very different.
“For most in the West, the horrors of monetary colonialism, misguided financial policy, frozen bank accounts, exploitative remittance companies, and the inability to connect to the global economy may be distant thoughts,” the activists explained.
This call-to-action of humanitarian thought leaders such as Yeonmi Park (North Korea), Ricardo Herrero (Cuban Study Group) and Farida Nabourema (Togo) urges Congress to look at the empirical evidence shown in the many pieces of academic literature. Letter to consider the proven benefits of bitcoin and stablecoins.
Those who wish to support the letter can sign the open letter by June 14, 2022.
