Day 5 - What's this Bitcoin thing & why does it matter?

Day 5 - What's this Bitcoin thing & why does it matter?
As the Global Bitcoin Lead on the Financial Freedom team at the Human Rights Foundation, Iâm deeply immersed in the world of Bitcoin.
Just Bitco...
As the Global Bitcoin Lead on the Financial Freedom team at the
@HRF, Iâm deeply immersed in the world of Bitcoin.
Just #Bitcoin. Not blockchain, crypto, Web3, or DeFi.
Why Bitcoin and Not the Others?
You might be wondering, âWhatâs the difference between Bitcoin and all those other terms?â Well, thereâs a huge difference, both in spirit & implementation.
In future posts, Iâll dig into that, but for now, Iâve chosen to focus narrowly on Bitcoin. Honestly, itâs enough to keep me busy for a lifetime! Why go searching for whatâs not lost (and yes, please read that last part with a Yoruba accent)?
What Bitcoin Really Is
Bitcoin is a decentralized, permissionless, censorship-resistant, open-source, peer-to-peer system of electronic cash.
It was created by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, who didnât just build itâhe handed it over to the community and walked away over a decade ago. By removing himself from the picture, Satoshi ensured Bitcoinâs true decentralization.
Only 21 million Bitcoin will ever exist, with new ones mined approximately every 10 minutes by a global network of computers solving complex mathematical problems. Each Bitcoin can be broken down into 100 million satoshis, and you can send or receive the smallest fractions across the world with ease.
Why Iâm Excited About Bitcoin
Most people focus on Bitcoinâs price in relation to fiat currencies like USD, Euro, or Pounds. But for me, the real excitement lies in its ability to transfer value globally without needing a third party like a bank or Visa/Mastercard.
As an African, Iâve seen firsthand the challenges of trading with neighbors using foreign currencies like the USD. Bitcoin, on the other hand, is neutralâitâs not controlled by any one country, it canât be printed excessively, and central banks canât devalue it.
No one can block my access to send or receive Bitcoin, no matter where I am in the world.
And perhaps most importantly, thereâs no central team that can suddenly steal everything and disappear into the sunset. Bitcoinâs design makes that impossible.
Whatâs Next for Bitcoin?
Weâre still in the early days of Bitcoin, and some of the smartest minds are working on improving the network and addressing real-world challenges using it.
Iâm grateful to be part of this journey, especially when it comes to empowering human rights activists and everyday people fighting to hold governments accountable.
Iâm here for the long haul, and Iâm excited to see where Bitcoin takes us next.