ROOT
The role of crypto during times of crisis and conflict
Real-world use cases for crypto are being demonstrated in countries such as Ukraine and Afghanistan.
The role of crypto during times of crisis and conflict
Real-world use cases for crypto are being demonstrated in countries such as Ukraine and Afghanistan.
The price of major cryptocurrencies including bitcoin has recovered in the past week while the war between Russia and Ukraine continues.
“Broadly, the market has gained a mildly bullish momentum on the back of massive outflows occurring across exchanges for bitcoin,” said ETF Securities head of distribution Kanish Chugh.
Alongside the crypto market recovery, Mr Chugh noted that there had been “opportunistic inflows” into commodities such as palladium and gold that had reached all-time highs amid the Russia-Ukraine war, with capital likely flowing out of equities.
“Bitcoin's dominant use case in the past couple of weeks has been to serve as a neutral and non-sovereign payment alternative to support the Ukrainian government,” said Mr Chugh.
“It's clearly time for bitcoin to shine as a non-state, non-sovereign, and emerging store of value — and this decade has clearly been battle-testing this thesis.”
Experts such as deVere Group’s Nigel Green have previously identified geopolitical tensions as a driving force for crypto growth, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine leading to significant financial upheaval and greater interest in alternatives to traditional systems.
Afghanistan is another nation where crypto is being put to use in the real world.
After the Taliban took over the country in August last year and sanctions were introduced by the United States, Afghanistan’s war-devastated economy has remained on the verge of collapse.
With bank transfers next to impossible and limits in place on cash withdrawals, use of crypto has increased significantly.
One example highlighted by Mr Chugh is an initiative by the NGO Code to Inspire that provides financial security to students in the city of Herat through crypto donations.
“We have always reiterated that crypto’s multiple use cases echo louder in times of conflict and despair,” said Mr Chugh.
“As the world opens its arms to crypto adoption, governments are less likely to use cryptocurrencies to evade sanctions... However, the real beneficiaries are and will always be the unarmed civilians living in war-stricken nations who have always paid the price.”
Concerns have previously been raised that Russia may utilise crypto to sidestep sanctions.
RELATED ARTICLES
Earn
Australia’s entrepreneur boom: August 2025 breaks records with over 100,000 new ABNs
Australia is witnessing an unprecedented surge in entrepreneurship, with the latest figures revealing a record-breaking number of new business registrations in August 2025. According to the newly ...Read more
Earn
Beyond the cash rate: How affordability reshaped Australia’s property playbook in 2025
Australian buyers are less fixated on interest rates and more constrained by affordability, a pivot that is quietly rewriting strategies for banks, developers and institutional investorsRead more
Earn
Australia’s rate cut revealed: What it means for property, profits and the months ahead
The RBA’s 25-basis-point cut to 3.6% extends the easing cycle and resets the calculus for households, lenders and property operators. Expect a faster spring selling season and a sharper rate war, but ...Read more
Earn
Beyond the sticker price: decoding a property’s real value in a volatile market
As prices in several Australian cities keep defying slower growth and higher rates, the question isn’t what a property costs—it’s what it’s truly worth. Value today is a stack: cash flows, replacement ...Read more
Earn
Cohorts, credits and competition: decoding Australia’s retirement reform consultation
Can a $3.9 trillion super system finally crack the ‘last mile’ of retirement? Canberra’s consultation on cohort-based retirement solutions aims to move beyond accumulation-era thinking, with ...Read more
Earn
Australian employment data shows mixed signals as full-time jobs rise despite overall decline
Australia's employment landscape presented mixed signals in May, with overall employment declining despite a strong rise in full-time positions, according to analysis of the latest Labour Force dataRead more
Earn
Millennials face 'generational squeeze' as most vulnerable group in retirement
Millennials will be the most vulnerable demographic to face the "generational squeeze" in retirement, caught between supporting elderly parents and adult children while funding their own later years, ...Read more
Earn
Top workplaces for women in 2025 highlight progress in gender equity and inclusive leadership
Australia’s top workplaces for women in 2025 have been announced, recognising companies that are leading the way in gender equity, flexible work arrangements and inclusive leadership development. Read more
Earn
Australia’s entrepreneur boom: August 2025 breaks records with over 100,000 new ABNs
Australia is witnessing an unprecedented surge in entrepreneurship, with the latest figures revealing a record-breaking number of new business registrations in August 2025. According to the newly ...Read more
Earn
Beyond the cash rate: How affordability reshaped Australia’s property playbook in 2025
Australian buyers are less fixated on interest rates and more constrained by affordability, a pivot that is quietly rewriting strategies for banks, developers and institutional investorsRead more
Earn
Australia’s rate cut revealed: What it means for property, profits and the months ahead
The RBA’s 25-basis-point cut to 3.6% extends the easing cycle and resets the calculus for households, lenders and property operators. Expect a faster spring selling season and a sharper rate war, but ...Read more
Earn
Beyond the sticker price: decoding a property’s real value in a volatile market
As prices in several Australian cities keep defying slower growth and higher rates, the question isn’t what a property costs—it’s what it’s truly worth. Value today is a stack: cash flows, replacement ...Read more
Earn
Cohorts, credits and competition: decoding Australia’s retirement reform consultation
Can a $3.9 trillion super system finally crack the ‘last mile’ of retirement? Canberra’s consultation on cohort-based retirement solutions aims to move beyond accumulation-era thinking, with ...Read more
Earn
Australian employment data shows mixed signals as full-time jobs rise despite overall decline
Australia's employment landscape presented mixed signals in May, with overall employment declining despite a strong rise in full-time positions, according to analysis of the latest Labour Force dataRead more
Earn
Millennials face 'generational squeeze' as most vulnerable group in retirement
Millennials will be the most vulnerable demographic to face the "generational squeeze" in retirement, caught between supporting elderly parents and adult children while funding their own later years, ...Read more
Earn
Top workplaces for women in 2025 highlight progress in gender equity and inclusive leadership
Australia’s top workplaces for women in 2025 have been announced, recognising companies that are leading the way in gender equity, flexible work arrangements and inclusive leadership development. Read more
