Op-Ed Feb 27, 2026 We’ve overestimated Russia for too long The recent anniversary of Russia’s expanded invasion, which is now stretching into its fifth year, is as good a time as any to take stock of the state of the war itself.
Newsletter Feb 26, 2026 HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #110 In Gabon, officials have imposed an indefinite nationwide social media suspension.
Newsletter Feb 19, 2026 HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #109 In India, the government is piloting a new system that uses its central bank digital currency (CBDC) to distribute free food rations.
Newsletter Feb 12, 2026 HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #108 In Kenya, the central bank warned that making Valentine’s Day bouquets out of banknotes could carry prison sentences of up to seven years.
Newsletter Feb 5, 2026 HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #107 In Russia, physical bank branches are closing down at a record pace. The closures are placing renewed pressure on Russians living in rural areas and those contending with frequent Internet disruptions as a result of the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Newsletter Jan 29, 2026 HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #106 This week, we investigate new developments surrounding China’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), as recent design changes show that the Chinese Communist Party is experimenting with new incentives to onboard people to this more tightly controlled kind of money.
Newsletter Jan 22, 2026 HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #105 In Nigeria, a tax law requires providers of digital assets to monitor transactions, collect personal information, and link payments to biometric national ID systems.
Report Dec 23, 2025 2025 Financial Freedom Impact Report 2025 was a milestone year for HRF’s Financial Freedom program. It was defined by growth, collaboration, and real progress.
Newsletter Dec 18, 2025 HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #102 Last week, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, an international recognition of her decades-long efforts for democracy, human dignity, and free elections in Venezuela.
Op-Ed Dec 13, 2025 As Sudan burns, the NBA’s embrace of the UAE shows how sport enables atrocity As paramilitary fighters from the brutal Rapid Support Forces (RSF) overran the largest city in western Sudan – carrying out mass executions, rapes and ethnic cleansing with weapons supplied by the United Arab Emirates – the NBA’s annual in-season tournament, the Emirates NBA Cup, tipped off on Halloween night, proudly sponsored by the very same Gulf state.
Newsletter Nov 27, 2025 HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #100 One hundred weeks ago, we set out to document how authoritarian regimes manipulate money and employ financial repression to restrict civil liberties, silence dissent, and undermine human rights – and how individuals are resisting with open-source software.
Newsletter Nov 13, 2025 HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #97 The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has raised alarm over an escalating crisis for press freedom in Pakistan, where local journalists and media workers are being financially targeted.
Newsletter Oct 30, 2025 Financial Freedom Report #95 Russia’s Ministry of Finance has proposed granting dictator Vladimir Putin sweeping powers to restrict foreign currency transactions, including limits on individual dollar…
Human Rights Dispatch Oct 22, 2025 Art as activism, anniversary of Nigerian #EndSARS protest. When music meets activism, change takes the stage. On Sept. 24, Roskilde Festival and the Human Rights Foundation hosted a powerful conversation on music festivals…
Publication Aug 15, 2025 An artist on the run, an exhibition censored: How China tried to silence a Thai art show Three weeks ago, Burmese artist Sai was in Bangkok, celebrating the opening of an art exhibition he had curated with his wife at one of Thailand’s top galleries.
Publication Aug 8, 2025 Bangkok Art & Culture Centre censors works following visit from Chinese officials The Bangkok Art & Culture Centre (BACC) has removed and obscured several artworks and artists’ names from their current exhibition..
Blog Post Jul 31, 2025 Tracking CBDCs before they track you Nicholas Anthony Policymakers around the world have become consumed with the idea of launching central bank digital currencies, or CBDCs. Prior to 2019, only a small handful of central banks were exploring this idea. Yet, today,…
Blog Post Jun 6, 2025 Bitcoin Development Fund 5 year Report The Bitcoin Development Fund 5 Year Report marks five years of impact through the Bitcoin Development Fund (BDF), which has awarded over $8.5 million in BTC to nearly 300 projects across 62 countries.
Press Release May 15, 2025 HRF grants 800 million satoshis to 22 freedom tech projects worldwide The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is pleased to announce 800 million satoshis of gifts from its Bitcoin Development Fund.
Op-Ed May 9, 2025 Why is Saudi Arabia at the Gold Cup? It’s the latest in the Kingdom’s soft power campaign Last month, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) held an official draw in Miami, Florida for the 2025 Gold Cup, the premier biennial tournament for men’s football on the continent.
