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Something significant just happened for many people in Syria. For the first time in almost a decade, they are allowed to use Binance, a major exchange for buying and selling cryptocurrencies, basically the biggest. Now someone in Damascus or Aleppo, can buy Bitcoin or Ethereum with Syrian pounds. Although there are some people who still are unable to access and use this kind of platform, for many they feel as if this access is almost unbelievable.
The situation arose because the United States has loosened some of its sanctions that have been implemented for the better part of a decade. The mere existence of these regulations made it nearly impossible for the people of Syria to trade globally or do even simple business online. Now, all of a sudden, they are able to open a Binance account. Some people think this is just a matter of the influence of Saudi Arabia, but regardless of the reason, this is a significant shift for the people of Syria who have not been included for more than a decade.
Having lived through forced relocation and losing your home or your job, watching your money burn to value, controlling even a small part of your finances is something that counts. Sure, not everything has changed. The country is still grappling with huge issues. But, this is a small door opening something that hasn't happened in quite some time.
There are so many things that are significant about being able to move your own money, to send a couple of dollars to a friend or to save something for the future. Before this, that was not even an option. Crypto may still be confusing or risky for some, but for the lucky ones, it may be a new beginning. Not a miracle, not a magic bullet, but a tool. And for Syrians who have lost almost everything, being able to access a tool like this may be the first real change that they have seen in several years.