Global Bitcoin Adoption Index Unveiled at Oslo Freedom Forum
At the 2025 Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF), Dr. Sarah Kreps—director of the Brooks School Tech Policy Institute and professor at Cornell University—launched the Global Bitcoin Adoption Index (GBAI), a comprehensive research initiative aimed at understanding how and why individuals across the world use Bitcoin, particularly under conditions of financial repression.
The GBAI is a collaborative effort supported by The Reynolds Foundation and the Human Rights Foundation (HRF). Surveys were administered to more than 25,000 participants in 25 countries, with a focus on authoritarian states such as Venezuela, Turkey, Nigeria, Egypt, and India. The survey data is complemented by 250 interviews with a diverse range of users, including small business owners, remittance senders, and activists.
Scope and Objectives of the GBAI
The Global Bitcoin Adoption Index has four primary objectives:
Understand Drivers of Adoption: Analyze usage patterns and motivations behind Bitcoin and stablecoin adoption.
Inform Policy and Innovation: Assist stakeholders—including policymakers and developers—in making data-driven decisions regarding regulation, product design, and education.
Promote Financial Inclusion: Highlight opportunities to expand financial access in regions underserved by traditional banking.
Increase Awareness: Provide reliable information on Bitcoin’s real-world applications and potential for improving financial freedom.
Unlike general surveys on “crypto” adoption, the GBAI focuses specifically on Bitcoin and stablecoins—tokens pegged to fiat currencies such as the U.S. dollar—avoiding broader classifications that include speculative digital assets.
Preliminary Findings: Usage in Fragile States
The initial findings from the GBAI suggest significant adoption of Bitcoin and stablecoins in countries facing high inflation, political repression, or limited access to traditional financial services. Key use cases include:
Preserving Value Amid Inflation: In Turkey and Argentina, citizens are using Bitcoin to hedge against currency depreciation.
Remittances Across Borders: In Venezuela and El Salvador, Bitcoin offers a faster and less monitored means of receiving funds.
Banking Alternatives for the Unbanked: In Nigeria and Brazil, individuals lacking bank access are using Bitcoin for savings and transactions.
Protection from Financial Surveillance: In Lebanon and Russia, citizens are adopting Bitcoin to safeguard assets from account freezes or currency controls.
These findings reflect a growing reliance on decentralized finance to overcome state-imposed financial restrictions and economic instability.
Policy Recommendations
Based on the data collected, Dr. Kreps and her team propose three policy directions:
Education for Financial Inclusion: Develop culturally adapted and country-specific programs to improve understanding of Bitcoin, with special attention to gender, age, and education disparities.
Support for Peer-to-Peer Systems: Maintain and expand tools for direct Bitcoin access, such as Lightning Network applications and self-custody wallets, to safeguard monetary freedom under financial censorship.
Pilot Bitcoin Remittance Systems: Collaborate with humanitarian organizations to test Bitcoin-based remittances as a complement to traditional systems, particularly in crisis zones.
Project Timeline and Support
The GBAI is scheduled for completion in May 2026. Upon release, the index is expected to provide valuable insights into Bitcoin’s real-world utility and guide future discussions on digital finance, regulatory frameworks, and financial rights under authoritarian rule.
The Human Rights Foundation (HRF), a nonpartisan organization focused on promoting rights in closed societies, is a primary partner in this initiative. Through its support, the GBAI aims to shed light on the intersection of digital currency and human rights in the modern geopolitical landscape.