Good morning, friends! This week's Financial Freedom Report #73 is now live on nostr and features the following in global news: -Bangladesh | Currency Shortage as Central Bank Halts Printing of Banknotes -Nigeria | Regulates Bitcoin as a Security -Indonesia | Gold Rush Amid Economic Uncertainty In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News: -LNbits | Emerges from Beta with v1.0.0 Release -SeedSigner | Self-Custody Tool for Chinese Bitcoiners Facing Local Corruption -Following.space | Create and Share Follow Packs on Nostr Plus, we end with an interview with HRF Chief Strategy Officer Alex Gladstein, who explores his thinking behind the relationship between Bitcoin and human rights as we enter an age of increased corporate and nation-state adoption. View article →

Good morning, friends! This week's Financial Freedom Report #72 is now live on nostr and features the following in global news: -Belarus | Launching CBDC in Late 2026 -Russia | Proposes Digital Asset Exchange Exclusively for Wealthy Investors -Cuba | Ecash Brings Offline Bitcoin Payments to Island Nation in the Dark In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News: -Samiz | Create a Bluetooth Mesh Network with Nostr -Spark | New Bitcoin Payments Protocol Now Live -Boltz | Now Supports Nostr Zaps Plus, we feature a reading of our very own Financial Freedom Report #67 on the Bitcoin Audible podcast, where host Guy Swann reads the latest news on plunging currencies, CBDCs, and new Bitcoin freedom tools. View article →

Good morning, friends! This week's Financial Freedom Report #71 is now live on nostr and features the following in global news: -Georgia | Bans Foreign Donations for Nonprofits and NGOs -Venezuela | Opposition Mobilizes Against Maduro’s Financial Repression -India | UPI Outage Disrupts Payments Nationwide In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News: -Flash | Introduces Flash Lightning Addresses, New UI, and Encrypted Messaging -DahLIAS | New Protocol to Lower the Cost of Private Bitcoin Transactions -Bitcoin Core | Version 29.0 Now Available for Node Runners Plus, we feature the latest edition of the HRF x Pubkey Freedom Tech Series, in which Nicaraguan human rights defender Berta Valle joins HRF’s Arsh Molu to explore how authoritarian regimes weaponize financial systems to silence dissent and isolate opposition voices and how tools like Bitcoin can offer a way out. View article →

Good morning, friends! This week's Financial Freedom Report #70 is now live on Nostr and features the following in global news: -Nigeria | Artist Faces Six Months in Prison for Tossing Naira Currency -Libya | Regime Devalues Currency for First Time in Four Years -Turkey | Injects Billions to Prop Up Collapsing Lira While Rewarding Police Repression In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News: -Unocoin | Integrates Bitcoin’s Lightning Network -Phoenix Wallet | Resumes Operations in the US -Blitz Wallet | Refines Ecash Functionality Plus, we feature an article from journalist @Roger H, who details the Bitcoin-driven relief efforts led by Burmese activist and HRF fellow @Win Ko Ko Aung in the aftermath of a 7.7-magnitude earthquake. View article →

Good morning, friends! This week's Financial Freedom Report #69 is now live on Nostr and features the following in global news: -Turkey | Government Detains Thousands of Pro-Democracy Protesters -Tanzania | Regime Enacts Restrictions on Foreign Currency -China | Incorporates e-CNY CBDC into Financial Sector Guidelines In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News: -Breez | Releases New Open-Source Bitcoin Wallet -OpenCash | Bounty for Open Source Cashu x BTCPay Server Plugin -Machankura | Adds Support for Offline Bitcoin Transactions in Uganda Plus, we feature the latest edition of the HRF x Pubkey Freedom Tech Series, where HRF’s Ayelen Osorio joins Zimbabwean pastor-turned-activist Evan Mawarire, who recounts his inspiring journey of a peaceful uprising against Robert Mugabe’s dictatorship and the hyperinflation and repression he unleashed on the population. View article →

Good morning, friends! This week's Financial Freedom Report #68 is now live on nostr and features the following in global news: -Georgia | Officials Freeze Accounts of Organizations Supporting Protesters -United Arab Emirates | Plans to Launch “Digital Durham” CBDC in 2025 -India | Grants Tax Authorities Access to Citizens’ Online Data In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News: -HRF | Gifts 1 Billion Satoshis to 20+ Open Source Projects Worldwide -Cove | New Open-Source and Permissionless Bitcoin Wallet -Second | New Ark Implementation Launches on Bitcoin Signet Plus, we feature a podcast in which HRF Chief Strategy Officer Alex Gladstein discusses the state of freedom tech and why Bitcoin stands as the most promising tool for financial liberation. View article →

Good morning, friends! This week's Financial Freedom Report #67 is now live on Nostr and features the following in global news: -Turkey | Lira in Free Fall as Erdogan Arrests Political Rival -Cuba | Banks “Hijack” Citizen Remittances -Pakistan | Announces Plans to Regulate Digital Assets In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News: -Demand Pool | First Stratum V2 Mining Pool Launches -Bitcoin Mining | Three Solo Blocks Found -Krux | Adds Taproot and Miniscript Support Plus, we feature Vijay Selvam's new book, “Principles of Bitcoin.” It offers a clear, first-principles guide to understanding how Bitcoin’s technology interacts with economics, politics, philosophy, and human rights. View article →

Good morning, friends! This week's Financial Freedom Report #66 is now live on Nostr and features the following in global news: -Thailand | Announces Third Digital Cash Handout to Boost Economy -Russia | Central Bank Proposes Restricting Bitcoin Access to Wealthy Only -India | Advances Digital Rupee CBDC In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News: -Banxaas | Spend Sats in West Africa -Mi Primer Bitcoin | Bitcoin Workbook Translated to Mandarin -Blitz Wallet | Improves Ecash Functionality for Greater Financial Autonomy Plus, the latest edition of the HRF x Pubkey Freedom Tech Series, in which HRF’s Zac Guignard sits down with author Jason Maier to discuss how Bitcoin can drive human rights around the world. View article →

Good morning, Nostr! This week's Financial Freedom Report #65 is now live and features the following in global news: -Iran | Economy Minister Impeached Amid Currency Crash -ECOWAS | Plans to Launch Common Currency by 2027 -China | Policymakers Targeting Higher Inflation In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News: -MetaMask | Announces Native Bitcoin Support Coming This Year -Bitcoin Mining | Solo Miner Defies Odds and Finds Block -Hashpool | Mining Pool for Solo Bitcoin Miners Plus, an article from OpenSats that explores key developments in privacy on Bitcoin. These include Coinswap, Silent Payments, and Payjoin — all innovations that make private transactions more accessible. View article →

Good morning, friends! This week's Financial Freedom Report #64 is now live on Nostr and features the following in global news: -Nicaragua | Increases Financial Surveillance of NGOs -El Salvador | IMF Approves 1.4 Billion Loan With Further Restrictions -Iraq | Issuing CBDC to Replace Cash In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News: -Nostr Wallet Connect | Introduces Pull Request for On-Chain Send and Receive -Bitcoin Safe | Adds Support for Burmese and Korean Languages -Frostr | Turn Your Nostr Private Key into a Rotatable Multisig Plus, a new discussion from 21st Capital, where Alex Gladstein, Chief Strategy Officer at HRF, joins Ziya Sadr, an Iranian activist and Bitcoin educator, to explore Bitcoin’s role in fighting financial repression and advancing global freedom. View article →

Good afternoon, friends! This week's Financial Freedom Report #63 is now live on Nostr and features the following in global news: -Nigeria | Introducing Digital Asset Transaction Tax to Boost State Revenue -Cuba | Citizens Remain Locked Out of Devalued Funds -Niger | Delays Democratic Elections While Citizens Financially Struggle In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News: -NostrPIX | Enabling Bitcoin Payments in Brazil -Iris | Implements Double Ratchet Messaging for Better Privacy -Presidio Bitcoin | New Bitcoin Co-Working and Events Space in Bay Area Plus, the live streams of the latest bitcoin++ developer conference offer an inside look at the key presentations, projects, and workshops that defined the event. View article →

Good morning, friends! This week's Financial Freedom Report #62 is now live on Nostr and features the following in global news: -Russia | One Year Since Navalny Murdered by Regime -Argentina | Milei Facing Fraud Charges and Impeachment for Promoting Memecoin -World | Central Banks Delaying CBDC Plans In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News: -Obscura | New Virtual Private Network -Zeus Wallet and Primal | Integrate Nostr Wallet Connect -Proton | Officially Launches Proton Wallet Plus, a tutorial from BTC Sessions walks viewers through setting up a node on a computer and connecting it to Sparrow Wallet. This tutorial is especially suited for dissidents and can empower curious individuals with the ability to verify the Bitcoin network independently, enhance privacy, and eliminate reliance on third parties. View article →

Good morning, friends! This week's Financial Freedom Report #61 is now live and features the following in global news: -Central African Republic | Launches Meme Coin Experiment -Nigeria | Debuts Naira Stablecoin -Russia | Proposes Registry to Track Bitcoin Mining Hardware In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News: -Mullvad VPN | Testing Lightning Network Payments -SeedSigner | Releases Multilingual Support -Iris | Implements Private Bitcoin Payments with Cashu Plus, an article by Frank Corva spotlighting Bitcoin's growing presence across the African continent, where people are building Bitcoin circular economies, open-source financial tools, and educational initiatives. financialfreedomreport.org View article →

Good morning, friends! This week's Financial Freedom Report #60 is now live and features the following in global news: -India | Central Bank Partners with Fintech Firms to Pilot Launch CBDC -El Salvador | Lawmakers Scale Back Bitcoin Legal Tender Law -Nigeria | Regime Hikes Telecom Tariffs for Citizens In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News: -MIT | 2025 Bitcoin Expo -Bitcoin Mining | Two Blocks Mined by Solo Miners This Week -Joltz Wallet | First Self-Custodial Wallet to Support Taproot Assets Plus, Area Bitcoin has published a cautionary guide to Brazil's DREX central bank digital currency (CBDC) that explores how it works and what it means for Brazilians' financial freedom. View article →

Good morning, Nostr! This week's Financial Freedom Report #59 is now live and features the following in global news: -Belarus | Lukashenko Sweeps Openly Rigged Election Amid Financial Repression -Nigeria | Joins BRICS Economic Coalition -Pakistan | Regime Passes Repressive Bill Targeting Online Spaces In #Bitcoin and Freedom Tech News: -Super Testnet | Launches Hurricash -Zaprite | Integrates BTCPay Server -Breez SDK | Implements Pay to BIP 353 Addresses Plus, a special episode of the “Money Matters” podcast where Jack Mallers, CEO of Strike, speaks with Alex Gladstein, chief strategy officer at HRF, to discuss the powerful link between Bitcoin and financial freedom. View article →

Good morning, Nostr! This week's Financial Freedom Report #58 is now live and features the following in global news: -Iran | Regime Profiting From Currency Devaluation -Nicaragua | Regime Dismantles More Nonprofit Organizations -Nigeria | Political and Bitcoin Activist Faces Regime Censorship In #Bitcoin news: -Mostro | Implements Key Management to Boost Privacy -Bitcoin Safe | New Bitcoin Wallet Designed for Non-Technical Users -Solo Satoshi | Introduces Bitaxe Touch Plus, the release of Evan Mawarire's memoir "Crazy Epic Courage," in which the Zimbabwean pastor and activist recounts his inspiring journey of a peaceful uprising against Robert Mugabe’s dictatorship and hyperinflation. View article →

Good morning, everyone! This week's Financial Freedom Report #57 is now live on Nostr and features the following in global news: -Burma | Military Junta Enacts Sweeping Cybersecurity Law -Nigeria | Inflation Continues as State Closes Ways Out -Kazakhstan | Shuts Down Dozens of Digital Asset Exchanges In #Bitcoin news: -Coinswap | Releases Beta of Coinswap Protocol -Nstart | Simplified Access to Nostr Protocol -Bitcoin Student Network | Launches Layer Zero Plus, the first three chapters of Evan Mawarire’s upcoming memoir "Crazy Epic Courage," in which the Zimbabwean pastor turned activist recounts his powerful journey of inspiring a peaceful uprising against brutal dictator Robert Mugabe. View article →

The first Financial Freedom Report of 2025 is now live on Nostr and features the following in global news: -Nicaragua | Financial Reforms Risk Enshrining Repression Into Law -China | Regime Monitoring and Censoring Economists -Iran | Shutters Onramps to Digital Asset Exchanges In Bitcoin news: -Live Wallet | Releases Transaction Privacy Analysis -Bull Bitcoin Wallet | Implements Serverless Asynchronous Payjoin -RaspiBlitz | Integrates Alby Hub Plus, an interview with Bitcoin Dada founder Lorraine Marcel, where she discusses the empowering nature of Bitcoin for women facing systemic rights abuses and financial repression. naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzpuvcn2tdwk4rs66vsu25xcnvhvmzcqey3v3qmjdw20tua7724ukpqq3yv6twv9hxx6tpdsk5vun9v4jx7mfd2fjhqmmjwskn2d3dxf3r2etnvgsxjnar

Today we unveil the Finney Freedom Prize statue designed by the artist cryptograffiti. Here is a short video from the artist himself featuring the statue, the meaning, and the style:

NEW: The Finney Freedom Prize for the 2012-2016 era goes to Pieter Wuille and Gregory Maxwell for their contributions to Bitcoin usability, scalability, and privacy. For more info on the Prize, Hal’s story, the committee, and future prizes, visit

Human Rights Foundation

Finney Prize

About Hal Prize Details Laureates Treasury Committee About the Finney Prize In 2024, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) created the Finney Freedom P...