Palestinians in the Gaza region are increasing their Bitcoin and cryptocurrency usage, according to a report by Coindesk.
The move to digital currencies has the potential to begin an economic escape from the Israeli government and give them much-needed independence.
Previous reporting from Coindesk illustrates the increased usage of Bitcoin traders, with one serving around 50 clients a month. Other sources backed up this claim, stating that there were at least 20 dealers in the region.
Although it is hard to quantify due to Palestine’s disenfranchisement from global crypto exchanges and banks, the power of Bitcoin and its defiant qualities seems to be getting through to the people. There are around 10,000 occasional bitcoin users in Gaza.
This number is only set to grow, especially as their newly elected Prime minister, Mohammad Shtayyeh has vocally expressed his support for a Palestinian national cryptocurrency. The PM hopes it will release Palestine from reliance on the Israeli Shekel and allow the nation to have its own currency, something that was outlawed in the 1994 Paris protocol.
Part of the reason for the increased Bitcoin usage is due to the Palestinian’s consistent disenfranchisement from society. Paypal and other online payment services exclude Gaza and other Palestinian held territories, meaning many have small options if they wish to partake in international transfers and pay freelance work.
Banks are also difficult for international transfers. The threat of US and Israeli authorities blocking or curtailing them is an ever-present danger, something they did to Gaza following Hamas’ election in 2006.
The rebellious and empowering qualities of cryptocurrencies are certainly something the people of Gaza can get behind, especially with their history. The small region made headlines after protests against the Israeli regime saw violence not seen since the Gaza war in 2014.
According to a Human Rights Watch report: “Between March 30 and November 19, security forces killed 189 Palestinian demonstrators, including 31 children and 3 medical workers, and wounded more than 5,800 with live fire.”
Posted from my blog with SteemPress : https://coinnewsextra.com/index.php/2019/09/03/cryptocurrency-usage-increases-in-palestine/
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