Why anonymity is essential for personal autonomy — And how cryptocurrency supports freedom initiatives.

During the mid-2010s, the Islamic State was swiftly gaining ground in Iraq and Syria, seizing territory and instilling fear among the local population. However, a group of Kurds in Northern Syria, representing the de facto autonomous Democratic Federation of Northern Syria in an area known as Rojava, effectively resisted the Islamic State and garnered global attention.

Individuals from various parts of the world traveled to Rojava to join the fight, but one lesser-known narrative resonated within the crypto community: Some volunteers aimed to foster blockchain and technological understanding while exploring the potential of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) as instruments for revolutionary transformation. Rojava’s emphasis on decentralization, autonomy, and self-empowerment aligns closely with these ideals.

In Episode 10 of The Agenda, hosts Ray Salmond and Jonathan DeYoung welcomed Rachel Rose-O’Leary and Kato, who shared insights about their volunteer experiences in Rojava and how these experiences influenced their current work on developing DarkFi, an anonymous blockchain protocol.

Rojava’s blockchain and crypto initiative

O’Leary made her way to Rojava in late 2018 after becoming disenchanted with the crypto landscape and its apparent departure from its original cypherpunk principles. “I was convinced at that time that Rojava was a place where the ideals of crypto were being fielded and tested,” she remarked. O’Leary drew inspiration from Amir Taaki, an early Bitcoin pioneer who had also volunteered in the region.

Kato, on the other hand, first encountered cryptocurrency while already in Rojava. “I basically got interested in crypto and in privacy technologies because of the actual need of the people,” he explained. “I observed the real-world applications, and many individuals worldwide were already utilizing crypto for practical purposes, such as transferring money.”

“If you don’t have a functioning banking system or lack access, which is the case for most of the world, it’s significantly more efficient. This is especially true if you’re facing persecution and political oppression. Often, it’s actually the only option available to you.”

O’Leary dedicated much of her time to “volunteering extensively in building educational infrastructure, particularly in technology” — including introducing individuals to crypto and blockchain. “It’s a very intriguing environment for crypto due to the absence of banks,” she noted. “Additionally, there is no state. Thus, cryptocurrency presents a fascinating financial paradigm in that context.”

Related: ‘Privacy has become a taboo,’ says crypto-anarchist project DarkFi

When inquired about the continuation of crypto education in Rojava in 2023, Kato replied, “There are technical academies and educational centers in Rojava, and even new ones have been established in recent years.” Nevertheless, the efforts remain challenging, as “the war exerts significant pressure, not only on technical education but across all social sectors.”

Privacy is crucial

Both Kato and O’Leary are currently involved with DarkFi, an anonymous layer-1 blockchain protocol. For O’Leary, privacy is vital for communities to function freely and independently, and the anonymity afforded by encryption serves as a 21st-century tool for individuals to express themselves fully:

“If people are under constant surveillance and scrutiny by a vast surveillance apparatus and a surveillance state, then they are being hindered from exercising […] their moral and political society.”

When asked about the future of privacy and the possibility of escaping the mass surveillance paradigm, Kato stated, “we’re going to have that struggle for a long time, and for much longer than decades,” adding: “It’s perhaps the most fundamental struggle of human society.”

But is there hope for the future? Kato believes that through decentralized tools like blockchain, “we possess the technology to develop our own financial and economic systems that are genuinely managed by the people who utilize them based on their actual needs.”

“There are moments in history when technology reshapes the nature of power, and the printing press is a well-known example,” O’Leary remarked. “I think we are witnessing a similar situation now with cryptocurrency, where it’s difficult to perceive at this moment because we are just at the beginning. However, the foundation of power is in the process of being redefined due to these technologies.”

To learn more from Kato and O’Leary’s discussion with The Agenda — including their perspectives on venture capital funding, decentralized finance, and solarpunk versus lunarpunk — listen to the complete episode on Cointelegraph’s Podcasts page, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Additionally, be sure to explore Cointelegraph’s full array of other shows!

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This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.