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Add personas and use cases for activists #1147
Description
Various parties are interested and working on facilitating the user of bitcoin for activism. My sense is that there is not a clear understanding of who these activists are and what their practical needs are. It would then be helpful to do some basic research and identify personas and use cases, which then make it easier for software teams to shape their products, features and user experience.
Some ideas:
- I recommend that we start discussion around this in the research channel in Discord.
- There's probably a good amount of information out there we can gather and analyze.
- In-person interviews at the Oslo Freedom Forum might also be a good option.
- There are probably also books and other reading material around activism in general and how activist networks are organized and work with money.
What do you think?
Activity
yashrajd commentedon Feb 25, 2025
This is a great question, because IMO the dictionary definition of activist: "a person who campaigns to bring about political or social change" is too narrow. For Dana wallet, but also in general (IMO), a broader definition like "those who work for the public good without a profit motive" might be more useful and include brave people in other professions such as journalists or developers (& FOSS contributors /cough/) who need and accept donations.
Another demographic that is very important with the donations framing is the donors themselves! Would also love to see use-cases and personas developed for donors, without whom, there are no donations.
Would these be in scope for this exercise?
GBKS commentedon Feb 26, 2025
I would leave this completely open. Defining a scope on research before having started, when you try to get a sense for an unknown space, is not a great idea.
Most likely, there are even more sub-groups. The key is really to understand the whole ecosystem, the various roles, what their needs are, how they interact with each other, etc.
I asked two different AIs, and here's what they came up with:
One
Two
Core Activist Roles
Community Organizers
These frontline activists are the foundation of movements, working directly within communities to build relationships and mobilize participation. They translate broader movement goals into local context, coordinate meetings and actions, and often operate with limited resources. Most rely on volunteer labor or part-time work, requiring flexible funding mechanisms that can support both organizational and personal needs.
Movement Strategists
These leadership figures develop long-term vision and campaign strategies, analyzing political opportunities and making key decisions about resource allocation. Their high visibility often makes them targets for surveillance and financial monitoring, creating specific security needs around communications and financial transactions.
Campaign Coordinators
Operating at a tactical level, these activists implement specific campaigns with defined objectives, managing timelines and resources. They balance security concerns with operational transparency and need reliable funding mechanisms that can adapt to rapidly changing campaign needs.
Media Activists
These communicators create movement narratives, manage social media presence, and produce independent journalism. They may operate in contexts with press censorship and need financial support for equipment and operations that traditional media funding doesn't provide.
Legal Support
Legal defenders provide critical defense for activists facing charges, advise on legal risks, and file strategic litigation. They may need confidential payment methods for sensitive cases, particularly in contexts where providing legal support to certain groups is itself controversial.
Tech Support Activists
These behind-the-scenes specialists develop and maintain secure communication infrastructure, train others on digital security, and adapt tools for movement needs. Despite their critical role in movement security, they often struggle to secure funding for hardware, hosting, and development resources.
Mutual Aid Coordinators
Focused on community support, these activists organize resource sharing networks and direct material resources to those in need. They often manage informal financial flows and operate in communities with limited banking access, requiring alternative financial systems.
Trainers and Educators
These knowledge workers develop educational materials, facilitate skill-sharing, and document movement history. Despite their critical role in movement building, they're often underfunded as their work is less visible than direct action.
Direct Action Specialists
These tactical activists plan and execute high-risk civil disobedience, developing security protocols and operating in small, high-trust groups. They need anonymous funding methods to protect identities and require rapid access to bail funds.
Research and Policy Activists
These knowledge workers analyze data, draft policy proposals, and monitor opposition activities. Their work provides the intellectual foundation for movement demands, often through academic institutions or policy organizations.
Supporting Ecosystem Elements
Formal NGOs
These organizations provide legal structure for receiving institutional funding, managing staff and budgets. Subject to regulatory oversight, they often serve as fiscal sponsors for smaller initiatives while balancing institutional legitimacy with movement accountability.
Coalitions and Networks
These meta-structures connect different groups working on related issues, pooling resources and coordinating shared campaigns. They face unique challenges in resource distribution and need flexible financial infrastructure.
Movement Support Foundations
These funding entities provide grants to movements, often serving as intermediaries between wealthy donors and grassroots groups. They may face legal restrictions on funding certain activities and must balance donor requirements with movement needs.
Individual Donors
These supporters provide financial contributions at various scales, from small recurring donations to major funding. They may require anonymity and are increasingly interested in direct support models without intermediaries.
Movement Artists
These cultural workers create art expressing movement values, building identity and solidarity. Despite working with limited resources, they contribute significantly to movement sustainability through cultural expression.
Asking for personas, I get this:
Personas
Maria - Human Rights Advocate in an Authoritarian State
James - Environmental Campaign Coordinator
Amara - Democracy Movement Leader
Sofia - Independent Investigative Journalist
Chen - Digital Privacy Advocate
Aisha - Mutual Aid Network Coordinator
Victor - Indigenous Rights Defender
We obviously don't want to just ask AI and pretend it's research, but it's a starting point and better than nothing, and helps us start thinking while we refine our understanding through our own research.
That research should also provide a deep rooting in the practical, lived experience of activists. Ideally, new tools can smoothly fit in with how they already do things, so there is little disruption and high adoption rates. That's really only possible by speaking directly with people.
GBKS commentedon Mar 17, 2025
Just going to add a bit more AI slop here about general use cases, because I think it's a useful dimension to think along. Individuals will have needs that likely to be derived of those top-level ones.
Here's my assessment of Bitcoin's activism use cases, considering impact, fit, and achievability (1-10 scale):
1. Financial Censorship Resistance (9/10)
Bitcoin excels here by design - it enables transactions without requiring permission from governments or financial institutions. When payment processors, banks, or governments attempt to block funding to activist causes, Bitcoin provides a reliable alternative. This has proven effective for whistleblowers, political dissidents, and organizations facing financial blockades.
2. Cross-Border Value Transfer (8/10)
Bitcoin removes geographical barriers to financial support. The network operates 24/7 with settlement finality in minutes to hours, allowing activists to receive international support without the delays, high fees, or restrictions of traditional banking. This is particularly valuable in international solidarity movements or for causes in regions with limited banking access.
3. Store of Value in Unstable Regions (7/10)
In countries experiencing hyperinflation or currency controls (like Venezuela, Lebanon, or Zimbabwe), Bitcoin offers protection against local currency devaluation. While Bitcoin's volatility remains a challenge, it often performs better than rapidly collapsing local currencies during crises. The comparative advantage improves as Bitcoin matures.
4. Banking the Unbanked (7/10)
With just a smartphone and internet connection, individuals without access to traditional banking can participate in Bitcoin's financial network. This enables economic participation for the estimated 1.4 billion unbanked adults globally. The major limiting factors are internet access, technical knowledge, and cryptocurrency on/off-ramps in underserved regions.
5. Financial Privacy (6/10)
Bitcoin offers pseudonymity rather than complete anonymity. While the public ledger records all transactions, users can take measures to enhance privacy. For activists facing surveillance, this provides some protection, though it requires technical knowledge to use effectively and securely.
6. Fundraising Transparency (6/10)
Bitcoin's public ledger enables donors to verify receipt of funds and track usage. This can build trust with supporters, though the transparency is limited to on-chain movements and doesn't inherently track how funds are ultimately spent in the real world.
The top-ranked use cases align with Bitcoin's core design goals of creating a censorship-resistant, borderless monetary system, while the lower-ranked items attempt to stretch Bitcoin beyond its primary strengths.