The story of how Bitcoin helps Afghani women was released

In 2014, a groundbreaking initiative began to use Bitcoin to empower Afghan girls financially. The Women’s Annex Foundation (WAF) started paying at least 2,000 girls in Afghanistan for their blog writing and social media skills using Bitcoin. This innovative approach provided the girls with digital literacy, a safe platform to express their ideas, and financial independence in a society where women’s autonomy was severely restricted.
 

The WAF initiative was particularly significant because it bypassed the traditional banking system, which posed numerous obstacles for women in Afghanistan. Opening a bank account required extensive documentation and legal guardian approval for underage girls, creating additional barriers. Bitcoin’s pseudonymous nature meant that the girls could receive payments without the need for a bank account and without anyone other than the payee needing to know about it.
 

This method of payment was not only efficient but also discreet, allowing the girls to earn an income without drawing attention in a patriarchal society that often opposed women’s employment and education. The hope was that by earning a salary independently, the girls’ families would see their education as a source of income and become more supportive of it.
 

The initiative by WAF was a part of a broader movement to improve women’s rights in Afghanistan, which had seen some positive steps since the end of Taliban rule in 2001. However, the social and economic barriers remained daunting, and efforts like those of WAF were crucial in challenging these inequalities.