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.
Starvation Conditions in Gaza – Findings from the IPC and Global Humanitarian Observers
According to recent analysis published in the London Review of Books by Alex de Waal (May 14, 2025), humanitarian conditions in Gaza have deteriorated to levels approaching famine. Following the imposition of a total blockade by Israel on 2 March 2025, and amid ongoing conflict, food availability in the region has been reduced to levels significantly below international standards for nutritional sufficiency.
The standard daily humanitarian ration is 2,100 calories per person. Estimates from humanitarian agencies suggest that the average availability in Gaza may have dropped to approximately 1,400 calories per person per day by mid-April, with further declines likely. Vulnerable populations—infants, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and those with special dietary needs—are most at risk. Reports indicate that individuals without access to informal networks or humanitarian assistance are experiencing extreme malnutrition and organ failure.
Data from Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)
Between 28 April and 6 May, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system conducted its fifth phone-based assessment of food security in Gaza since the onset of war nineteen months ago. Despite the challenges of data collection in an active conflict zone, the IPC's May 12 snapshot report estimated that:
925,000 people (44% of Gaza’s population) are in “emergency” acute food insecurity.
244,000 people (12%) are in “catastrophe” conditions—below the starvation threshold.
These figures are considered consistent with observed food stock depletion and restricted access to humanitarian aid.
Limited Coping Mechanisms and Restricted Mobility
Unlike famine-affected populations in regions such as Somalia or Sudan, Palestinians in Gaza face unique limitations. Israel retains full control over financial transactions, trade, humanitarian supplies, and movement. Traditional coping mechanisms—including foraging, remittance transfers, or internal migration—are not available. Gaza’s population remains unable to relocate or access alternative food sources, creating what analysts describe as a “starvation under siege” scenario.
Though Gaza has so far avoided mass outbreaks of disease due to high prewar vaccination rates, continued deprivation threatens public health infrastructure and increases vulnerability to communicable disease outbreaks in the future.
Surveillance-Based Aid and Infrastructure Collapse
Israel has proposed a new system for aid distribution, based on biometric screening and individual tracking. The plan involves notifying pre-approved recipients via SMS to collect aid from four fixed distribution centres, using facial recognition software for identity verification. According to leaked implementation outlines, this program would cover only 60% of the population and operate within a restricted geographic zone.
The approach has been described by observers as a form of “surveillance humanitarianism” and is viewed by some humanitarian experts as an adaptation of historical counterinsurgency methods. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), previously the primary aid distributor, has been sidelined in favor of new mechanisms coordinated by private contractors and a proposed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
This program, even if scaled, does not address infrastructure needs for water, shelter, sanitation, healthcare, or electricity—all of which remain significantly impaired. Aid agencies previously operated approximately 400 distribution sites prior to the current blockade.
Legal and International Developments
On 28 April, the UN requested an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding Israel’s cooperation with UN humanitarian mechanisms. Israel declined to participate, rejecting the proceedings as biased. Of the 39 states that made presentations in The Hague, only the United States and Hungary supported Israel’s position. The U.S. invoked the 1948 Geneva Conventions but did not reference Israel’s obligations under later treaties such as the Genocide Convention.
The Genocide Convention (Article 2c) prohibits “deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.” On this basis, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern in April 2025 that current conditions in Gaza may be approaching this threshold.
Humanitarian Risk Assessment and Outlook
The IPC’s Famine Review Committee noted that the situation remains “highly dynamic,” with increasing scarcity of food, water, and medical care. Social structures are under pressure, with widespread displacement and many families residing in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions.
While temporary increases in aid flow—such as those seen during past ceasefires—have reduced short-term mortality risks, analysts caution that continued cycles of restriction followed by limited relief are unsustainable. If access to food and essential services is not restored at scale, a collapse in basic survival thresholds is likely.
Source:
Alex de Waal. “Starvation in Gaza.” London Review of Books, May 14, 2025.
Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), United Nations.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – April 2025 Briefing.
Dr. Lina Qasem Hassan: Medical Ethics in a Divided Nation
Dr. Lina Qasem Hassan, a Palestinian citizen of Israel and a family physician, has emerged as a significant figure in the intersection of healthcare, ethics, and human rights. Following the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas and the subsequent war in Gaza, Dr. Hassan mobilized resources with Physicians for Human Rights Israel (P.H.R.I.) to support evacuees from Kibbutz Be’eri at a temporary clinic in Ein Bokek. Her actions highlighted the role of medical professionals in emergency response during politically sensitive and emotionally charged events.
Medical Neutrality and Professional Challenges
While offering medical assistance to Israeli victims, Dr. Hassan also mourned the loss of her own relative—a paramedic killed in Gaza on the same day. Her dual identity brought challenges. Despite her commitment to universal medical care, she faced accusations of political bias. A televised interview in February 2024, where she discussed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and raised concerns about international law violations, led to patient complaints demanding her dismissal.
An internal review by Clalit, Israel’s largest healthcare organization, cleared her of wrongdoing. However, the case underscores the precarious position of Arab medical professionals in Israel, particularly in the aftermath of national trauma. According to 2023 data, Arab citizens represent 25% of doctors and nearly half of all pharmacists in Israel’s healthcare system.
Navigating Identity in a Segregated System
Dr. Hassan’s experience reflects the broader structural challenges faced by Palestinian citizens in Israeli institutions. Although healthcare is often cited as a model of coexistence, studies indicate that Arab professionals are frequently expected to suppress political expression to maintain career security. Following October 7, dozens of Arab citizens, including medical personnel, faced investigations for incitement based on social media activity.
Despite these pressures, Dr. Hassan continued her involvement in medical ethics education and fieldwork in the occupied territories. However, controversy over classroom materials—such as the inclusion of a Haaretz article describing detainee mistreatment—led to internal inquiries and prompted her decision to step back from teaching. She cited concerns about constrained academic freedom and unequal treatment.
On-the-Ground Medical Aid and Humanitarian Advocacy
As Chair of P.H.R.I., Dr. Hassan has been involved in mobile clinics serving displaced Palestinians in the West Bank. During a recent visit to Danaba, she treated patients with chronic conditions who had lost access to medication and documentation. These efforts occurred against the backdrop of widespread displacement and infrastructural damage resulting from ongoing military operations.
Dr. Hassan’s advocacy includes working on reports highlighting the treatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli facilities. A recent P.H.R.I. publication documented the experiences of 24 medical professionals detained in Gaza, citing violations of medical ethics and international humanitarian standards.
Broader Implications for Civil Rights and Coexistence
The case of Dr. Hassan illustrates broader social dynamics affecting Palestinian citizens of Israel. While the government has made investments in education for Arab communities, there remain disparities in land access, urban planning, and political representation. Public discourse following October 7 reflected increased polarization, with surveys showing heightened mistrust and limitations on expressions of dual identity.
Despite community and family concerns regarding the risks of public advocacy, Dr. Hassan continues to serve in her clinic and remains engaged in medical humanitarian work. Her case is frequently referenced in discussions about the boundaries of professional responsibility, citizenship, and dissent.
Source: Based on reporting by Eyal Press, The New Yorker, June 16, 2025.
Read the full article: A Palestinian Doctor in Israel Helps People on Both Sides
Physicians for Human Rights Israel - A Convisero Gathering
Pictured here are friends and allies who have come to a Trebuchet/Convisero meeting for Physicians for Human Rights Israel at my home, moderated by Convisero mentor Susannah Sirkin, former longtime policy director at Physicians for Human Rights (U.S.).
From left to right-
Standing: Jehane Sedky, Dick Lanza, Susannaah Sirkin, Sherman Teichman, Michael M.J. Fischer, Dr. Lina Qassem-Hassan, Dr. Guy Shalev, Joshua Rubenstein, Cristiano Bonino, Mona Mowafi.
Kneeling: Shai Schubert, Ken Shulman, Prof. Leibowitz
Here is the invitation from Susannah:
I'm very pleased to join Sherman Teichman and Iris Adler who are graciously hosting a discussion with Drs. Guy Shalev and Lina Qassem-Hassan of Physicians for Human Rights - Israel (PHRI). *
They will talk about their efforts to respond the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza and the West Bank as well and PHR-I's longtstanding and ongoing work to promote dignity, equality and justice for all people living under Israel's responsibility control.
These human rights leaders will be on a short visit to the Northeast U.S. to raise awareness and broaden their network for advocacy and support.
Sunday evening, March 31st, 7 pm, at Sherman's home
Dr. Guy Shalev—Guy is PHRI's Executive Director and a research fellow at the Minerva Center for the Rule of Law Under Extreme Conditions. He is a medical and political anthropologist specializing in the intersection of medical professionalism, ethnonational politics, and bioethics in Israel/Palestine. Guy received his Ph.D. from The University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill in 2018, and his publications have appeared in American Anthropologist, Israeli Sociology, and Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry.
Dr. Lina Qassem-Hassan—Lina is the Chairperson of PHRI's Board of Directors. She is a family medicine specialist with Clalit Health Services in the Haifa and Western Galilee District, specializing in end-of-life care. In addition to regularly volunteering with PHRI's West Bank mobile clinic and medical delegations to Gaza, Lina volunteers with their Prisoners and Detainees department, accompanying Palestinian hunger strikers. Recently, Lina volunteered with PHRI's emergency make-shift clinic for survivors of the October 7 massacre and has spoken out about her belief that all victims of this war deserve medical treatment.
Much appreciation,
Susannah (Sirkin), former longtime policy director at Physicians for Human Rights (U.S.)
The horrific events of October 7th in all its brutality and sadism, and the subsequent Israeli regime’s rampant operational reaction to destroy Hamas with its abhorrent loss of thousands of innocent lives have shaken me. Elsewhere I have addressed strategies attempting to restore deterrence but for me, the imperative has always remained how to struggle to secure a humane future for both Israeli and Palestinian peoples (NIMEP Insights).
This meeting of PHRI is, among others I have hosted including the Abraham Initiatives, of organizations I believe have integrity in the midst of all this horrific chaos.
I have defended the concept of self-determination for both Israel and Palestine for many decades. Immediately after the days after the ’67 war, influenced by Prof. Leibowitz who I had met at Givat Ram Hebrew University “warned against the state of Israel and Zionism becoming more sacred than Jewish humanist values”… and of the “dehumanizing effect of the occupation on the victims and the oppressors.”
We were privileged to have in our midst Prof. Liebowitz's grandson Akiva and his wife Hila.
Frances Dixon Promoted to Colonel in the U.S. Air Force (Res.)
From left to right – Col. Abby Kent, Sherman Teichman, Frances Dixon
With Col. Abby Kent her inductor
Building Bridges Across the Mediterranean: A New Era of Regional Collaboration
The Action Committee for the Mediterranean (ACM) is preparing for its official launch in Spring 2025 in Malaga, Spain, and with it, a call to reimagine the region’s future—not through the lens of political polarization, but through the undeniable ties of demographics, interdependence, and shared interest.
Moving Beyond Politics
As anti-immigration rhetoric intensifies in the North and anti-Western sentiments rise in the South, ACM emphasizes a different story—one that unfolds beneath the political surface. Demographic shifts are fundamentally reshaping the region. Aging populations in Europe increasingly depend on the vitality and talent of the younger generation in the South, while countries in the South benefit from northern investment, knowledge exchange, and industrial cooperation.
This evolving interdependence is not a challenge to manage, but a foundation to build on. ACM believes that where politics divides, reality unites.
Turning Challenges into Shared Opportunities
The committee identifies key issues that require a coordinated, regional response:
Stabilizing the region
Adapting to demographic change
Aligning labor markets
Creating cross-border value chains in industry and services
Addressing climate change and food security
Improving cultural integration
Crafting a common narrative for the region
These aren’t just problems to be solved—they’re opportunities to shape a common Mediterranean destiny.
A New Model for Regional Collaboration
ACM’s method is based on inclusivity, collaboration, and continuity:
Inclusivity: Engaging economists, academics, civil society, and institutional partners from across the Mediterranean.
Collaboration: Hosting informal, discreet annual forums to encourage real conversation and solution-focused action.
Continuity: Producing actionable reports and white papers through a permanent secretariat and ensuring sustained follow-up.
Founders Hakim El Karoui and Marc Reverdin, along with a diverse executive board, are already driving this vision forward. The committee’s inaugural Mediterranean Demographics Report will set the tone for future work, offering data-driven insight into the forces shaping the region.
Join the Effort
ACM is now building a network of experts and Mediterranean organizations—from think tanks and academic institutions to private sector leaders. Their goal is clear: turn shared challenges into shared solutions through action, not rhetoric.
More information and opportunities to collaborate are available at: action-med.org
CEMEFI Encuentro Highlights Collaboration Across Latin America
The Encuentro de Colaboración Ciudadana, organized by Centro Mexicano para la Filantropía (CEMEFI), brings together leading voices in Latin American philanthropy, responsible business, and civil society. Taking place in Mexico City, this annual convening serves as a critical hub for mapping new actors in the ecosystem, monitoring donor and impact trends, and strengthening collaboration across sectors.
CEMEFI promotes philanthropy, sustainability, and social responsibility throughout the region. The organization also facilitates discounted technology access and supports 501(c)(3) equivalency determinations for NGOs operating in Latin America.
Shoshana Grossman, a member of Convisero, actively collaborates with CEMEFI and its partners in efforts to strengthen cross-border infrastructure for social good. Events such as this Encuentro offer vital opportunities for aligning local efforts with regional and global social impact strategies.
More information about CEMEFI’s programs can be found at cemefi.org.
Inside Chicago’s Street Outreach Response: How Community-Led Intervention Is Saving Lives
Frederick Seaton works with the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago, supervising nine street-outreach workers in West Garfield Park, the neighborhood where they all grew up.
Image Courtesy - WBEZChicago
As Chicago experiences a significant drop in homicides and nonfatal shootings, attention is turning to the power of community violence intervention (CVI) — and in particular, the life-saving work of street outreach workers like Frederick Seaton of the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago.
Operating on the West Side, particularly in West Garfield Park, Seaton and his team are often the first on the scene — not to make arrests, but to defuse retaliation, offer support to grieving families, and prevent the next shooting before it happens.
Violence Is Falling — And Outreach Is Working
Chicago’s murder rate is the lowest it’s been in over a decade. In West Garfield Park, homicides have dropped from 15 (in the same time frame in 2021) to just 3 in 2025. Nonfatal shootings have fallen by more than half. Experts credit a range of factors, but CVI efforts are increasingly seen as a critical piece of the city’s public safety gains.
Seaton, now 66, has spent nearly two decades in this work — beginning with Ceasefire (now Cure Violence) in 2005 and now leading outreach teams at the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago. Many of his colleagues are system-impacted individuals who have gained trust in their neighborhoods as “credible messengers.”
Responding in Real Time
During a recent shooting in West Garfield Park, Seaton coordinated teams on the ground and at the hospital. While police alerts were still coming in, his team was already talking to families, identifying relatives likely to retaliate, and building a strategy to prevent escalation.
“Everybody has got a crazy cousin,” Seaton said. “Our job is to get love in there before someone reacts.”
That real-time response is crucial. At the hospital where one shooting victim had just died, Seaton witnessed family members in visible distress. One man tried to get in a car to retaliate. Outreach workers and loved ones stopped him. These moments — intense, emotional, and often invisible to the public — are where intervention efforts make their deepest impact.
Building Trust, Not Sharing Intel
Outreach teams like Seaton’s maintain communication with local police — but they do not act as informants. That firewall is essential for community trust.
“Our job is to do what we do because we can get into some crannies and some holes that [the police] can’t,” Seaton said.
Still, the relationship has evolved. District commanders now respect outreach teams and even reach out to offer assistance, a dramatic shift from decades of tension.
Not Just About Gangs
The shooting that Seaton responded to was later determined to be interpersonal — not gang-related. That mattered. Interpersonal shootings, while devastating, are less likely to provoke chain reactions than clique-based violence. Outreach efforts can focus on stabilizing immediate emotional fallout, rather than navigating long cycles of retaliation.
The Bigger Picture
Chicago’s “safety gap” — the racial disparity in homicide victims — remains staggering, but progress is clear. Black homicide victims have dropped by 50% since 2021, and outreach in neighborhoods like West Garfield Park is a major reason why.
Seaton puts it plainly:
“With relationship gathering and being credible messengers, we’re going to be able to work with the community to stop the next shooting.”
For more on this story, visit WBEZ's full report.
To learn more about the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago, visit: nonviolencechicago.org
Social Impact Compass: How Smart Partnerships Accelerate Change
Social Impact Compass is highlighting how strategic partnerships—across both nonprofit and corporate sectors—are becoming essential for scalable, sustainable social impact.
Collaboration in Action: NGO Workshop in Panama
At a pitch workshop in Panama led by Social Impact Compass, NGO leaders gathered to refine their funding and partnership strategies. One participant pitched her organization’s readiness to expand across borders, seeking operational partners. Another rewrote a proposal immediately after the session, integrating new insights.
The workshop emphasized more than just improved messaging. It reflected a deeper momentum toward collaboration, peer learning, and practical partnership-building.
Rethinking Fundraising: Why Consortia Matter
Donors today seek broad-scale results while still valuing local impact. Traditional grant models often fall short. In response, many funders are turning to consortia—networks of regional organizations that pool funding and share goals.
In Guatemala, examples like Recarga and She’s the First channel significant funding through streamlined structures, often distributing resources equally across member organizations. This approach offers both administrative simplicity and community-level reach.
Key point: When presenting a partnership model, clearly articulate what it enables—expanded access, increased efficiency, or impact that would not be achievable independently.
Corporate Strategy: Shared Infrastructure, Shared Results
The corporate sector faces similar challenges. Companies often aim to contribute to social impact without overwhelming internal teams. The solution lies in partnering strategically with NGOs, governments, or peer companies.
Example: Danone Mexico
To strengthen its milk supply chain, Danone works not only with large farms, but also with small family farmers. The initiative’s success depends on a partnership model that includes:
TechnoServe for training and technical assistance
Government agencies for rural extension support
A credit union for farmer financing
Participating farmers have, on average, tripled their income.
Implementation Guidance
Start small and be strategic. Select one aligned partner. Define shared goals. Build capacity together. Effective partnerships take time, but they offer multiplier effects in reach and impact.
For upcoming workshops and tools for both NGOs and corporate teams, visit the Social Impact Compass platform.
Social Impact Compass: www.socialimpactcompass.org