You'd have to be living under a rock to have not witnessed the scenes of chaos emerge for Afghanistan as the United States and it's Allies leave Afghanistan after a 20 year war that amounted to having the Taliban re-emerge as the nation's leading faction.
The move has sent millions trying to flee the nation with women being one of the most vulnerable within the nation.
The Taliban quickly ran to the nation's bank to access cash supply. In Afghanistan under Taliban rule women are not permitted to have bank accounts or earn money and their money if they have some must be held in trust of their father, brother or partner.
One third of Afghanistan wealth is tied up in United States reserves which prompted Biden to quickly freeze the Taliban's access to the cash Source with many allied nations doing the same.
Women have been rushing to banks to withdraw their money prior to the Taliban getting a hold of it. With women employed as Bankers already removed from employment and replaced with men. As women are not permitted to work under Taliban rule, furthermore it has led to women shredding university degrees as women are also not permitted to go to university.
Roya Mahoob whom was named one of the world's top 100 most influential people has been working with women across Afghanistan to train them in STEAM fields. Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.
In 2017 a STEM team was established and won numerous awards for their work utilising renewable energy that supports farmers maintain their crops. President Trump had to intervene as even not under Taliban control they were being limited in participation in global contests. They were subsequently allowed to attend with Trumps push and won.
Roya is Co-founder and CEO of Digital Citizen Fund and has been in operation for 8 years teaching Afgahni women financial literacy. Due to the harsh environment towards women and ownership the organisation had to be established in New York for Roya to lead.
Bitcoins use in women's rights
A campaign has been launched to secure the financial freedom of women in Afghanistan with Digital Citizen Fund implementating Bitcoin to pay women and to have their wealth transferred to bitcoin and bitcoin wallets.
Bitcoin wallets enable women to hide their wealth with anonymous wallets and also enable cross country trading. They also provide an additional support for women fleeing the nation. Previously asylum seekers would sow gold and items of wealth into their clothes and carry them on long journeys. The added extra weight would slow down people moving as well as put them at risk of being robbed as thief's would often target fleeing people. Bitcoin alleviates this risk by being held online and only accessible by the person that holds the wallet key.
Digital Citizen Fund is also accepting donations in cryptocurrency to support women and also pay them for their work is private. You can reach the organisations page Here
Taliban and Bitcoin
The Taliban's main income stream at current is from the sale of opium. Reports are coming in that with the freezing of assets that Taliban is also utilising Bitcoin to facilitate their trade.
Things are beginning to escalate in the nation and leaders are already beginning to problem solve many of the issues arising since the Taliban return to power.
It's interesting that Bitcoin is being used as a means to support women's rights and circumnavigate the oppressive regime. The same can be said with the current sanctions imposed by the US and its Allies on Taliban funds. As they enter negotiations to access their money the IMF and global banks are hesitant to provide access to it in the event it aids the creation of a new terrorist organisation.
Time will tell how this will pan out but it has also provided a spanner in the works for KYC and US regulations surrounding brokers as any legislative change will now negatively impact women's liberation as economic participation in Afghanistan. A move US law makers are currently aware of and are keeping in their thoughts.
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