Alex Gladstein is the Chief Strategy Officer of the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) and the most prominent voice connecting Bitcoin to human rights and financial freedom.
Bitcoin and Human Rights
Gladstein has documented and advocated for Bitcoin’s use as a tool for financial freedom in authoritarian regimes, countries with hyperinflation, and places where people lack access to stable currencies or banking infrastructure. His work highlights how Bitcoin enables people in countries like Nigeria, Cuba, Afghanistan, and Myanmar to receive and store value outside the control of repressive governments.
Writing and Advocacy
Gladstein is the author of Check Your Financial Privilege (2022), which examines global monetary inequality and argues that Bitcoin provides an escape valve for the billions of people living under authoritarian monetary systems. The book presents case studies of Bitcoin adoption in developing countries and challenges the Western-centric view that Bitcoin is primarily a speculative asset.
He is a prolific writer and speaker, publishing essays in Bitcoin Magazine, TIME, and other outlets. His work has been instrumental in shifting the Bitcoin narrative beyond price speculation toward humanitarian use cases.
Human Rights Foundation
Through HRF, Gladstein has directed Bitcoin development grants to open-source projects focused on privacy, censorship resistance, and usability in developing countries. The HRF Bitcoin Development Fund has supported developers working on the Lightning Network, privacy tools, and education initiatives.