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Venezuelan Bitcoiner Receives Nobel Peace Prize
Maria Corina Machado, a Venezuelan opposition politician, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, beating a pool of undisclosed nominees. According to a report, the Nobel Committee disclosed that it opted to give the award to Machado for her work in promoting the democratic rights of Venezuelans.
Jorgen Watne Frydnes, Chair of the Nobel Committee, noted that Machado had met all the criteria as stipulated by Alfred Nobel for the prize back in 1895. At the time, he disclosed that the Peace Prize should go to “the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition of standing armies, and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”
The 58-year-old opposition leader has been at the forefront of the campaign for transparent democracy while championing liberal economic reforms in Venezuela. After facing stiff opposition from authorities, Machado turned to Bitcoin as a key tool in her arsenal to drive change in the South American country.
In an interview, Machado revealed that a key movement advocating for social and political change in Venezuela is accepting donations in Bitcoin. At the time, Machado disclosed that the government is cracking down on donations made via traditional payment rails to stifle opposition attempts.
 
“Fortunately, unlike bank wires, which the regime usually blocks, Bitcoin donations cannot be seized,” said Machado. “Let’s use this technology to bring about the change Venezuela desperately needs.”
Apart from donations, Machado unveiled long-term plans for Bitcoin, planning to include the cryptocurrency as part of a national reserve in the event of a peaceful regime change.
Venezuelan Citizens Embrace Bitcoin
Driven by years of financial repression and currency devaluation, thousands of Venezuelans have turned to Bitcoin as a lifeline. According to Machado, citizens are leaning on the technology to hedge their wealth from a dire case of hyperinflation.
Machado disclosed that the largest cryptocurrency bypasses government-imposed exchange rates while offering a low-cost alternative for cross-border transactions. Apart from Bitcoin, stablecoins make up a significant amount of daily transactions in Venezuela, given the inflation and volatility of the local fiat currency.
“Bitcoin allows me to help my mom with all she needs in a disaster like Venezuela,” said Forbes Contributor Javier Bastardo in an X post. “I can support her because of Satoshi Nakamoto. You can’t understand how important this tech is to me and my family.”
Meanwhile, the government has revealed a plan to rely on cryptocurrencies, particularly stablecoins, for oil sales to sidestep a new wave of US sanctions.