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Newsletter - Financial Freedom Reports

Financial Freedom Reports

The Financial Freedom Report is a weekly newsletter that exposes how authoritarian regimes weaponize money against activists and citizens alike.

Newsletter - Financial Freedom Reports

Financial Freedom Reports

The Financial Freedom Report is a weekly newsletter that exposes how authoritarian regimes weaponize money against activists and citizens alike.

The Financial Freedom Report is a weekly newsletter that exposes how authoritarian regimes weaponize money against activists and citizens alike.

It also highlights how open-source technologies help people resist financial repression. Each edition features timely news, updates on censorship-resistant tools, and recommended content.
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Recent Newsletters

Financial Freedom Report 32
Newsletter
Jul 19, 2024
HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #32
This week, authoritarian regimes intensified financial controls in response to global cost of living pressures. In El Salvador, President Nayib Bukele initiated investigations into supermarkets allegedly hiking the prices of basic goods.
Newsletter
Jul 11, 2024
HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #31
This week, financial policies impacting personal freedoms worldwide take center stage. In Russia, imprisoned opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza was transferred to a prison hospital, while officials issued an arrest warrant for Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Alexei Navalny and new chair of the Human Rights Foundation, for being part of an “extremist group.”
Newsletter
Jul 8, 2024
HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #30
In Kenya, thousands of young citizens protested new taxes and a bailout for the government, which continues to erode democracy. Thirty-nine people were killed. Meanwhile, Bolivia experienced an alleged coup attempt led by the former commander general of the military, which some suspect was orchestrated by President Luis Arce to boost his dwindling popularity amid severe financial hardships.
Financial Freedom Report 29
Newsletter
Jun 28, 2024
HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #29
This past week, Russian officials detained a Russian-American woman for the “crime” of donating $51.80 to a pro-Ukraine charity. Meanwhile, in China, the regime renamed over 600 villages significant to the Uyghur Muslim minority group in its efforts to further erase Uyghur cultural identity.
Newsletter
Jun 20, 2024
HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #28
From June 3 to 5, human rights advocates gathered in Norway for the Oslo Freedom Forum to share their stories and reclaim individual rights from authoritarian regimes. During the Financial Freedom track, speakers highlighted how Bitcoin funds counter-terrorism and pro-democracy movements, provides banking services to repressed populations, and safeguards against the risks of central bank digital currencies.
HRF Financial Freedom Program generic header
Newsletter
Jun 13, 2024
HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #27
From June 3 to 5, human rights advocates gathered in Norway for the Oslo Freedom Forum to share their stories and reclaim individual rights from authoritarian regimes. During the Financial Freedom track, speakers highlighted how Bitcoin funds counter-terrorism and pro-democracy movements, provides banking services to repressed populations, and safeguards against the risks of central bank digital currencies.
Financial Freedom Report 26
Newsletter
May 30, 2024
HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #26
This week in Nicaragua, the number of political prisoners continues to grow. This time, the targets are journalists and teachers who are arbitrarily detained and often cut off from their banking accounts.
Financial Freedom Report 25
Newsletter
May 23, 2024
HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #25
In Hong Kong, officials launched a pilot program for China’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), the e-CNY, marking its first expansion beyond the mainland. But even under duress, adoption remains limited as many Chinese workers are quickly converting their e-CNY for traditional currency, emphasizing their distrust of centralized digital currencies.
Financial Freedom Report 24
Newsletter
May 16, 2024
HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #24
This week in Russia, Vladimir Putin’s “reelection” for a fifth term underscores a deepening authoritarian regime, characterized by stringent control over the financial system and harsh crackdowns on dissenters — a far cry from his pledge to “preserve and develop democracy” when first assuming office in 2000.
Financial Freedom Report 23
Newsletter
May 9, 2024
HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #23
n Nigeria, the director general of the Securities and Exchange Commission announced the government’s intention to delist the naira from peer-to-peer platforms, a move that would effectively trap the public inside the failing currency.
Financial Freedom Report 22
Newsletter
May 3, 2024
HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #22
This week news centered around the harassment of press freedom defenders through financial de-platforming. In Somalia, the regime froze the bank accounts of the Somali Journalist Syndicate (SJS).
Financial Freedom Report 21
Newsletter
Apr 28, 2024
HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #21
Last week, on halving day, the Human Rights Foundation launched the Finney Freedom Prize to honor the legacy of Hal Finney and inspire others to follow in his footsteps. As the world becomes increasingly digital, the fight for electronic privacy and cash becomes more and more important.
Financial Freedom Report 20
Newsletter
Apr 18, 2024
HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #20
Depending on your time zone, Bitcoin’s fourth halving will take place tomorrow or Saturday at block height of 840,000. Here’s a great 101 from Andreas Antonopolous on the basics of the halving, why it is important, and what he expects to happen as a result of Bitcoin issuance being cut in half.
Financial Freedom Report 19
Newsletter
Apr 13, 2024
HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #19
After five failed currencies in the last ten years, Zimbabwe is launching yet another currency. This time, one ostensibly backed by foreign reserves and precious metals. Observers, however, remain skeptical, questioning whether the regime will provide sufficient reserves to back up the new currency.
Financial Freedom Report 18
Newsletter
Apr 8, 2024
HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #18
This week’s news is led by the headline that SWIFT — the global messaging system for banks — is developing a central bank digital currency platform to facilitate the interoperability of CBDCs across the globe, most of which are being issued by authoritarian governments.
Financial Freedom Report 17
Newsletter
Mar 28, 2024
HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #17
In Hong Kong, lawmakers have passed a new national security law aimed at suppressing dissent among citizens. Meanwhile, the ruling Indian government has frozen the bank accounts of the Indian National Congress, the largest political opposition group in the country, further raising concerns over the erosion of freedom and democracy.
Financial Freedom Report 16
Newsletter
Mar 21, 2024
HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #16
We’re thrilled to announce that this week HRF granted $500,000 to 14 projects worldwide as part of its Bitcoin Development Fund.
Financial Freedom Report #15
Newsletter
Mar 14, 2024
HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #15
This past week, BRICS — an intergovernmental organization led by the Russian and Chinese dictatorships — explored the development of an independent payment system that aims to use digital currencies and potentially central bank digital currencies.
Financial Freedom Report #14
Newsletter
Mar 7, 2024
HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #14
This week’s news focuses on the growing interest in central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) from governments. Turkey concluded its initial research phase, while Ghana revealed ambitious plans to launch its own CBDC.
Financial Freedom Report #13
Newsletter
Feb 29, 2024
HRF’s Weekly Financial Freedom Report #13
This week, we witnessed a rise in state-level censorship in finance and communications. Honduran regulators banned the country’s financial institutions from trading in cryptocurrency; Nigerian officials restricted access to global cryptocurrency exchanges in a desperate attempt to stabilize its currency, the Naira; and Pakistan blocked access to the X platform for eight days straight amid political unrest.
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