Anita Posch on Why ‘Bitcoin Is a Tool for Freedom’ – Especially in Africa - Ep. 531

Aug 15, 2023

Anita Posch, a Bitcoin educator and founder of Bitcoin for Fairness, shares her mission to promote Bitcoin adoption in Africa. She discusses the essential role of Bitcoin in countries like Zimbabwe, highlighting its power to empower the marginalized. Anita reveals the scams faced by users in developing nations and the challenges posed by strict regulations. She emphasizes Bitcoin's importance for human rights, particularly for women, while critiquing Worldcoin's centralized nature. Her new educational program aims to foster financial literacy and independence.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Bitcoin Scams in Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, a maid asked Anita Posch about Bitcoin after seeing a flyer, worried about a scam offering double returns in 3 weeks.
This highlights the prevalence of Bitcoin scams targeting vulnerable individuals.

INSIGHT

Bitcoin Circumventing Financial Controls

Zimbabwe's strict financial controls make sending money difficult, pushing people towards Bitcoin.
The central bank acts as an intermediary, even paying businesses' foreign suppliers, creating delays and disruptions.

ANECDOTE

Bitcoin Ekasi

Bitcoin Ekasi, a surf school in South Africa, teaches Bitcoin alongside surfing and pays coaches in Bitcoin.
Local shops accept Bitcoin, and Pick n Pay, a major supermarket, now accepts Lightning payments, creating a circular Bitcoin economy.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Educator Anita Posch has spent months on the ground in Africa onboarding new users into the world of Bitcoin. In the West, bitcoin may seem extraneous; but in her telling, bitcoin in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and other African countries is essential. “Bitcoin can be one of the solutions for people who are disempowered, who are outlawed, the misfits,” says Posch. “Bitcoin is for them because no one can take it away from you.”

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Show highlights:

what Anita does for Bitcoin education and why she was inspired to do this
how people in developing countries are constantly getting scammed
how the Central Bank of Zimbabwe acts as an intermediary in business operations
whether people in these countries use BTC or stablecoins for their day to day expenses
what the differences are between the several Bitcoin communities around the world
how in Zimbabwe people could get arrested for transacting in Bitcoin
why Bitcoin is essential to human rights, according to Anita
whether Bitcoin can help to tackle the issue of discrimination against women, particularly in finance
why Anita is “very sad” about the launch of Worldcoin
why she was against Bitcoin Ordinals in the first place and whether she has changed her mind
what Anita’s new Bitcoin learning program aims to accomplish

Thank you to our sponsors!

Guest:

Anita Posch, founder of Bitcoin for Fairness, author of (L)earn Bitcoin, and host of the Anita Posch show.
Online Learning and Scholarship Program
Website
45min Documentary: How Bitcoin Enforces Human Rights
13 min Keynote: Bitcoin empowers Africa and Africans empower Bitcoin