Bitcoin is often misunderstood as just a speculative asset or a drain on energy resources. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a very different story. One of personal agency, uncensored access, and survival against all odds. For millions of people worldwide, Bitcoin is not a tech trend. It is a way out. And Bitcoin mining plays a far more pivotal role in that story than many realize.

Mining is what breathes life into Bitcoin. It secures the network, processes transactions, and distributes new coins. But beyond the infrastructure, it creates opportunity, especially for people shut out of traditional finance. It offers a way to earn, to save, and to transact freely. It gives people a stake in a monetary system that can’t be censored, inflated, or seized.

Alex Gladstein, Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation, has spent years documenting how Bitcoin empowers those living under authoritarian regimes and broken economies. His writings, interviews, and travels, especially across Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, have brought attention to a side of Bitcoin often ignored in Western media. Throughout this article, we’ll explore his findings and connect them directly to how mining makes Bitcoin more accessible, sustainable, and liberating.

Mining Where Banks Don’t Reach

Banking infrastructure is far from universal. Roughly 1.4 billion adults globally remain unbanked, according to the World Bank. Even more lack access to reliable local currencies or inflation-resistant savings tools. In countries like Venezuela, Lebanon, or Zimbabwe, the banking system isn’t just dysfunctional, it’s a trap.

In these environments, people face withdrawal limits, currency devaluation, and outright confiscation. Trust in financial institutions is gone. Gladstein has consistently emphasized that for people in these regions, Bitcoin isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.

And for many, mining is the most practical way to obtain Bitcoin. In places where exchanges are banned, KYC requirements are dangerous, or liquidity is low, mining becomes the only option. All it takes is electricity, internet, and hardware. Once you’re plugged in, you’re participating in a global financial system, one that doesn’t ask for your ID or judge your political beliefs.

Read: Alex Gladstein - Financial Freedom in the Digital Age

From Stranded Energy to Economic Opportunity

In his 2024 article Stranded, Gladstein profiles several African communities using Bitcoin mining to turn wasted energy into economic growth. He visits places like Malawi and Kenya, where local hydropower or geothermal plants generate more electricity than the communities can consume. That surplus would normally be wasted.

Instead, it’s used to mine Bitcoin.

This isn’t theory, it’s happening right now. A small hydro plant powers a local water pump by day. At night, that same electricity runs Bitcoin miners. Gladstein explains:

“The Bitcoin network is buying 100% of the electricity that the water pump is not using.” - Alex Gladstein, Stranded

By monetizing unused energy, these communities gain revenue they can reinvest in infrastructure, schools, or public health. And they do so without relying on NGOs, government aid, or extractive corporations.

Sazmining follows a similar model: sourcing renewable hydropower to run mining equipment cleanly and affordably. With rates as low as $0.047/kWh, Sazmining’s facilities in Paraguay and Wisconsin give individuals access to sustainable mining. No technical expertise needed.

Censorship Resistance Isn’t a Bonus. It’s the Point.

Bitcoin is borderless, permissionless, and censorship-resistant. No government can stop someone from receiving or sending Bitcoin if they control their keys. But this resistance depends on miners.

Mining validates transactions and secures the ledger. The more distributed the mining network, the harder it is to censor or manipulate. This is not a hypothetical risk. Gladstein has documented how regimes like China, Russia, and Iran actively restrict bank access and monitor financial activity to suppress dissent.

In an interview with BTC Sessions, he described how Bitcoin provides a financial shield for journalists, opposition leaders, and activists. Mining adds another layer. It lets people earn Bitcoin without exposing themselves to surveillance-heavy platforms.

And because mining rewards are paid directly to a wallet you control, there’s no need to trust a bank, an app, or a third party. That’s real independence.

Property Rights You Can’t Fake

In many countries, property rights are conditional. Corrupt officials can seize assets. Courts can be politicized. Inflation can wipe out savings. For people living under such conditions, Bitcoin represents a form of property that can’t be taken away.

Gladstein calls this “the best property rights technology ever invented.” Your Bitcoin is secured by cryptographic keys. No paperwork. No bureaucracy. No risk of expropriation through policy or theft.

Mining is a direct way to acquire this property. Unlike buying Bitcoin with fiat, mining doesn’t rely on permissioned exchanges or fragile banking rails. You control the operation. You control the income.

Even small-scale mining operations, run from a shed or basement, offer the ability to turn electricity into a censorship-resistant, seizure-proof asset.

Watch: Bitcoin as a Human Rights Tool - Alex Gladstein @ Bitcoin 2021

Financial Inclusion That Actually Works

Much has been said about “financial inclusion,” but most solutions require trust in centralized institutions. Whether it’s microfinance loans, digital wallets, or mobile banking, these tools still rely on national currencies, regulated intermediaries, and state-controlled infrastructure.

Bitcoin breaks that mold. And mining breaks it even further.

Mining gives people access to global liquidity without gatekeepers. A farmer in rural Ghana, a dissident in Belarus, or a displaced family in Syria can all plug into the same financial system. One that doesn’t discriminate, inflate, or surveil.

Gladstein explains in Check Your Financial Privilege:

“For the billions who live under authoritarianism, who suffer from inflation or financial exclusion, Bitcoin is a powerful tool for freedom.”

He argues that critics in stable democracies often fail to grasp this because they’ve never had to worry about their bank stealing their money or their government blocking a donation. For most of the planet, financial freedom isn’t just a slogan. It’s a daily struggle.

Mining creates a way to opt out.

Mining Isn’t the Problem. It’s Part of the Solution.

One of the most common attacks on Bitcoin is its energy use. But Gladstein and others have argued that this criticism is often exaggerated and misplaced. Instead of being a threat to sustainability, Bitcoin mining can help green energy projects scale.

In areas with surplus hydro, solar, or wind energy, mining provides a consistent buyer of last resort. It stabilizes revenues, encourages new investment, and reduces waste. Some initiatives are even using mining heat to warm public buildings or greenhouses.

Sazmining takes this seriously. All of its operations run on renewables. There’s no offsetting, no fossil fuels, just clean energy powering an open monetary system.

Why It Matters and How You Can Join

Bitcoin mining isn’t just about earning Bitcoin. It’s about participating in a financial system that doesn’t require permission. It’s about supporting infrastructure that protects free speech, property rights, and access to money.

For those living in safety and comfort, mining can be a way to decentralize the network, reduce reliance on centralized platforms, and promote sustainability. For those living under authoritarian rule or economic collapse, it’s something more. It’s a lifeline.

By enabling individuals to mine without owning hardware, managing maintenance, or dealing with power providers, we make this opportunity accessible to anyone.

Ready to Start Mining with Purpose?

Sazmining combines ethical energy use, transparent management, and user-friendly service to help you join the Bitcoin network on your terms. Whether you’re looking to support financial freedom, earn passive income, or be part of something bigger, mining with us connects you to the people and principles that make Bitcoin matter.

Get started today and mine Bitcoin with clean energy and a clear conscience.

→ www.sazmining.com