Happy Monday Lightning Payers!
Did you know that our CRO, Simon Collins is also bitcoin researcher? Simon has worked with Satoshi Action in the US, and is a founding researcher at the Digital Asset Research Institute (DARI), as well as producing independent research.
Recently, as part of a project with the Human Rights Foundation, DARI released a first-of-its-kind report on the use of Bitcoin by refugees.
We often talk about Bitcoin as a way to build wealth in first-world countries — as an investment, an inflation hedge, a savings vehicle.
But for millions of people on the move, Bitcoin is proving to be something even more powerful: a fresh start.
One in 69 people on Earth are currently displaced. While they may have to leave behind homes and possessions, Bitcoin means they don’t have to leave behind their financial future. By remembering just twelve words, people can carry their wealth with them across borders.
And that changes everything. With resources at hand, refugees can pay for food, transport, and housing when they arrive somewhere new. Instead of starting from zero, they begin rebuilding immediately — with dignity, independence, and hope.
The research shows:
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At least 329,000 refugees have already used Bitcoin to carry or protect savings during displacement.
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That number could grow to 7.5 million by 2035.
