It has been reported lately in the news about how the country of Iran has been using bitcoin to get around sanctions imposed by the United States and how the population is using it as a hedge for inflation. To get a better understanding on the situation, I spoke to Salman Sadeghi (@salman_sadeghi), a Masters student at GCAS studying cryptoeconomics based in Iran.

During the interview we discuss what is the experience on the ground for Iranians that are suffering under these sanctions, how he was personally effected by these sanctions, and his favorite left philosophers for understanding cryptocurrency. He also gives very interesting insight as to why the government recently banned bitcoin mining in the country purportedly because of the strain on the energy grid (hint: that wasn't the reason).

These sanctions are economic terrorism against innocent people and a form of imperialism by the United States and as Lenin once said, imperialism is the highest form of capitalism.

More Sources
My interview with  the founder of GCAS, Creston Davis
Cryptocurrency Update from GCAS by Salman Sadeghi

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ICYMI I've written a book about, no surprise, blockchains through a left political framework! The title is Blockchain Radicals: How Capitalism Ruined Crypto and How to Fix It and is being published through Repeater Books, the publishing house started by Mark Fisher who’s work influenced me a lot in my thinking.

The book is officially published and you use this linktree to find where you can purchase the book based on your region / country.