Digital currencies like Bitcoin are providing Afghan women with critical tools to challenge the Taliban’s oppressive regime, says Roya Mahboob, founder of the Digital Citizen Fund (DCF). Speaking at the Bitcoin Policy Summit, Mahboob highlighted how Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies offer hope and financial freedom to women barred from traditional banking and employment.
The DCF educates Afghan women in financial and digital literacy through both online and underground channels, focusing heavily on Bitcoin ownership and use. Under Taliban restrictions—including denial of IDs, education, and paid work—Bitcoin serves as a vital survival tool and a means to bypass social and financial exclusion. Its decentralized nature also aligns with human rights advocacy, with DCF collaborating with the Human Rights Foundation to integrate democratized financial services into their campaigns.
Despite progress, challenges remain daunting: restricted education access forces clandestine learning, while poor internet connectivity limits outreach, especially in rural areas. Afghanistan’s strict 2022 cryptocurrency ban, grounded in religious and economic policy, pushes crypto use underground through peer-to-peer networks. While officially “haram” and punishable, the crypto underground market thrives, even reportedly involving some Taliban members.
Other countries banning digital currencies include Bangladesh, Nepal, Algeria, Morocco, and Bolivia—citing concerns over volatility, decentralized control, and illicit activities. Yet for Afghan women, digital currencies represent a beacon of hope, financial empowerment, and resistance against systemic repression.
