Cryptocurrency and the community that aims for free and transparent economic processes, the creation of new metaverses, and the reduction of dependence on formal limitations imposed by governments, meet the world of people fighting for their rights and freedoms. It is a world of projects and organizations that help people escape their personal hells and live in systems where 'human rights' are not just empty words. It is a world where human rights defenders help those with little privilege and protect them from an aggressive state that seeks to destroy them, while anti-war activists defend their country from destruction and prevent those who do not want to commit an international crime and a crime of conscience from being sent to war.

These two worlds are already working hand in hand, and their collaboration can bring even more benefits to society. According to the report by the analytical company Elliptic, Ukraine has received over $180 million in crypto donations since the beginning of the war. Innovations in blockchain technology, such as DeFi, NFT tokens, and DAO, played a significant role in attracting funds and allowed for fast action without waiting for bank transfers to be approved. NFT campaigns, in particular, stand out for being able to attract over $7.8 million in cryptocurrency, which is almost 10% of the total amount.

In the early days of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, cryptocurrency allowed for the quick gathering of over $34 million to meet urgent needs of the army, such as bulletproof vests, thermal imaging optics, medical supplies, food, helmets, and radios. An unknown individual donated an NFT from the CryptoPunks collection to Ukraine's crypto fund, which was later sold for 90 ETH. Activist Alena Shevchenko, the digital artists group PleasrDAO, and Pussy Riot member Nadya Tolokonnikova formed the Ukraine DAO, which raised 2258 ETH (~$6.75 million) at an auction selling an NFT of the Ukrainian flag. Over the course of the war, the “Повернись живим” fund gathered over $16 million in cryptocurrency to support the Ukrainian army.

I want this blog to serve as a small bridge to projects fighting for a world based on different rules and principles. These are projects led by people who evacuate LGBTQ+ individuals from Chechnya and other regions of the North Caucasus, where police torture and kill them for their sexual orientation. These are projects that help people avoid participating in the criminal war on Russia's side and protect them from mobilization. These are projects that provide psychological, medical, and material assistance to refugees. These are projects that fight against sexual and domestic violence where authorities only encourage different forms of violence and are themselves its authors.

I will tell you here about the projects that we have already implemented with the support of Nadya Tolokonnikova and Pussy Riot, with the support of artists and public figures who are looking in the same direction as us. And about how you, as people who understand blockchain, can become part of very important changes that are happening now.

I was born in Russia. But I did not start the war, I did not seize the territories of other countries and never violated their borders. I did not persecute people for their political views or their sexual orientation. I did not kill people. And I want us, as a community that wants to feel more freedom and fewer borders in this world, to be active participants in the changes that can already happen here and now on our shared planet.