1/12 Been waiting 3 months to see these finding First-ever quantitative study reveals an estimated 329,000+ refugees have used Bitcoin while fleeing across borders Study highlights that Bitcoin works when cash, stablecoins and other assets fail 🧵 The study is from @dari_org

2/12 Bitcoin's humanitarian value is not just "anecdotal" 2025 Projection: 6.5+ million refugees will have carried Bitcoin across borders Why? Bitcoin users and refugees are on the rise 📈 18% p.a Bitcoin user adoption 🚨 12+ years of rising displacement (117M+ people)

3/12 Key finding: Refugees carrying #Bitcoin can cross borders with savings on a USB or memorized phrase. This helps: 🛡️ Avoid destitution ⚡ Speed up resettlement 🏛️ Lower burden on host nations and aid agencies

5/12 Digital Assets Research Institute (DARI) found: Bitcoin's censorship-resistance, global accessibility, and independence from centralized banking systems filled gaps that traditional banking and humanitarian stablecoin programs cannot.

6/12 Methodology The 329,000 is derived using an inference based approach using: 🌍 UNHCR refugee data 📊 TripleA's crypto adoption rates 🔍 65% BTC ownership adjustment (Binance) ➖ Excluded 22% in refugee camps Note: 329,000 is a FLOOR—true number is likely higher

7/12 Policy blindspot The paper points out that many regulators treat Bitcoin as risk, NOT humanitarian tool But data shows 🛡️ Bitcoin users avoid aid dependency 💸 Reduce burden on host nations As refugees increase, so does the need for bitcoin

8/12 Important nuance: These refugees aren't "new users." They held Bitcoin before fleeing and leveraged its unique properties: 🔑 Control of keys = Control of funds, even after displacement 🌐 Internet access = Financial access No banks/ID required

9/12 Recommendation To aid refugees while lowering burdens on hosting countries, policymakers must: 🔬 Recognize BTC's humanitarian role 🛡️ Create "safe harbor" rules for refugees 📱 Support BTC literacy/access in aid programs Target illicit use WITHOUT blocking lifelines

10/12 Bottom line: When you can only carry what’s essential, Bitcoin is not just digital gold, it's teleportable gold - a financial springboard in your new country. This study reveals 329,000+ refugees are likely using bitcoin to re-settle, growing to 6.5M+ by 2035

12/12 Finally, a big thanks to @simonocollins, @JanWues, Rian Dewhurst and @dari_org team for writing the report and @gladstein for having the vision to see the need to quantify bitcoin's humanitarian benefits, and @HRF for making this project possible.