Venezuelan political leader and human rights advocate María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her decades-long advocacy to restore democracy and human rights in Venezuela.
But beyond her political struggle, Machado has emerged as one of Latin America’s most prominent Bitcoin supporters, championing the cryptocurrency as a path to economic freedom.
Machado believes Bitcoin’s decentralized nature offers Venezuelans a way to escape government-imposed financial repression.
Her recognition by the Nobel Committee shines a global spotlight on the increasing intersection of technology and human rights in the modern era.
Bitcoin: Venezuela’s Financial Lifeline During Crisis
Between 2016 and 2023, Venezuela’s economy collapsed under hyperinflation and currency controls. The national currency, the bolívar, lost almost all its value. Ordinary citizens saw life savings vanish overnight, while the government heavily restricted access to U.S. dollars.
In this environment, many Venezuelans turned to Bitcoin. They used it to protect their savings, send remittances, and bypass government exchange rates.
Speaking with Alex Gladstein of the Human Rights Foundation in 2024, Machado said Bitcoin had become a “lifeline” for those facing economic turmoil.
“Some Venezuelans used Bitcoin to finance their escape or to survive hyperinflation,” she said. “It has evolved from a humanitarian tool into a means of resistance.”
For the first time in history, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to a Bitcoiner.
Congratulations to Maria Corina Machado, and also to @HRF who continues to explain to the world what is so obvious to so many-
Bitcoin IS human rights pic.twitter.com/92cHOieeEb
— Jeff Park (@dgt10011) October 10, 2025
Political Challenges and Criticism
Despite her growing international recognition, Machado’s movement faces controversy. Some critics claim Venezuela’s opposition leaders act under foreign influence.
According to The New York Times, five Venezuelan opposition figures met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in May 2025 to discuss political change. Machado, however, has denied external interference, insisting her mission is rooted in freedom, equality, and self-determination for all Venezuelans.
Bitcoin and Global Freedom Movements
Machado’s praise for Bitcoin reflects a broader global trend. Around the world, activists are turning to peer-to-peer (P2P) technologies to resist censorship and state control.
For context, in 2022, Canadian trucker protesters turned to Bitcoin after the government froze their bank accounts during COVID-19 demonstrations. Supporters turned to Bitcoin donations, raising over 20 BTC, most of which stayed beyond government seizure due to the decentralized nature of the transactions.
Similarly, in September 2025, protesters in Nepal used Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat app, a Bluetooth-based, internet-free communication tool, during a state-imposed social media and internet blackout. The app allowed activists to stay connected through a local mesh network, avoiding digital surveillance.
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