BTC In Afghanistan? ... it's 100% ripe right now

[beetcoin]

I can see the headlines now: 'Bitcoin funds al qaeda'

I agree. Unfortunately it would do more harm than good to push Bitcoin in Afghan right now. The government is in talks with the Taliban who may soon be power-sharing.

Sub Saharan Africa and small independent States are better options if you are trying to encourage Bitcoin use as a major part of a country's economy.

The US government would probably love it to be able to publicly tie BTC and cryptos with funding Al Qaeda.  That would give them so much smear campaign potential that it isn't even funny...

well, if i were a lobbyist for mastercard or paypal, i'd try to plant this story and shit on bitcoin. it would make my argument much more effective.

[Provably Fair Directory]

Aren't they pretty much using USD cash in that country? Does anyone even know what their fiat is called? Besides, probably half their economy is illegal activity, and the other half tax money being pumped in from the U.S., E.U. and U.N.

[Ron~Popeil]

I can see the headlines now: 'Bitcoin funds al qaeda'

I agree. Unfortunately it would do more harm than good to push Bitcoin in Afghan right now. The government is in talks with the Taliban who may soon be power-sharing.

Sub Saharan Africa and small independent States are better options if you are trying to encourage Bitcoin use as a major part of a country's economy.

The US government would probably love it to be able to publicly tie BTC and cryptos with funding Al Qaeda.  That would give them so much smear campaign potential that it isn't even funny...

well, if i were a lobbyist for mastercard or paypal, i'd try to plant this story and shit on bitcoin. it would make my argument much more effective.

They have all ready tried to tie us to the drug trade and child pornography so it would not surprise at all. Of course the US dollar is far more tied to these activities than bit coin but it is an easy scare tactic.

[Elwar]

Aren't they pretty much using USD cash in that country? Does anyone even know what their fiat is called? Besides, probably half their economy is illegal activity, and the other half tax money being pumped in from the U.S., E.U. and U.N.

No they are not using much USD, the local currency is called Afghanis. When I go to the ATM here they only have Afghanis and the military encourages us to use the local currency for everything. Though on base the local nationals accept dollars as well. They also accept credit cards.

[Ron~Popeil]

Aren't they pretty much using USD cash in that country? Does anyone even know what their fiat is called? Besides, probably half their economy is illegal activity, and the other half tax money being pumped in from the U.S., E.U. and U.N.

No they are not using much USD, the local currency is called Afghanis. When I go to the ATM here they only have Afghanis and the military encourages us to use the local currency for everything. Though on base the local nationals accept dollars as well. They also accept credit cards.

As a person with some local knowledge do you think they have the infrastructure for something like bit coin?

[Honeypot]

oh man, we're going to see tunnel visioned miliary leaders speaking out against bitcoin. i can't stand those people; they are so narrow-minded and think the U.S. is always the good guy, and everyone else is bad.

LOL and you are an expert on military and national security affairs.

It's always the inexperienced and stupid ones that try to be clever.

[jeffersonairplane]

Bitcoin is perfect for Afghanistan. A plus money laundering methods and great for Black market purchases.

[Ron~Popeil]

oh man, we're going to see tunnel visioned miliary leaders speaking out against bitcoin. i can't stand those people; they are so narrow-minded and think the U.S. is always the good guy, and everyone else is bad.

LOL and you are an expert on military and national security affairs.

It's always the inexperienced and stupid ones that try to be clever.

There is some truth there as well though. People tend to think in binary ways. I tend to give my country the benefit of the doubt but we are occasionally on the wrong side of things.

[Elwar]

Aren't they pretty much using USD cash in that country? Does anyone even know what their fiat is called? Besides, probably half their economy is illegal activity, and the other half tax money being pumped in from the U.S., E.U. and U.N.

No they are not using much USD, the local currency is called Afghanis. When I go to the ATM here they only have Afghanis and the military encourages us to use the local currency for everything. Though on base the local nationals accept dollars as well. They also accept credit cards.

As a person with some local knowledge do you think they have the infrastructure for something like bit coin?

Definitely, they are in the midst of a huge change, I am sure many new business owners are learning a lot of processes from the US like credit cards and other western things. May as well teach them bitcoin while they are learning anyway.

Though my experience is limited to a military base. But we have a lot of shops run by locals selling local merchandise. As well as restaurants run by locals (Pizza Hut, Popeyes, Burger King, Subway and others...).

They have fast cell phone service in the major cities.

Though I would never travel outside the walls. I value my life too much.

[Ron~Popeil]

Aren't they pretty much using USD cash in that country? Does anyone even know what their fiat is called? Besides, probably half their economy is illegal activity, and the other half tax money being pumped in from the U.S., E.U. and U.N.

No they are not using much USD, the local currency is called Afghanis. When I go to the ATM here they only have Afghanis and the military encourages us to use the local currency for everything. Though on base the local nationals accept dollars as well. They also accept credit cards.

As a person with some local knowledge do you think they have the infrastructure for something like bit coin?

Definitely, they are in the midst of a huge change, I am sure many new business owners are learning a lot of processes from the US like credit cards and other western things. May as well teach them bitcoin while they are learning anyway.

Though my experience is limited to a military base. But we have a lot of shops run by locals selling local merchandise. As well as restaurants run by locals (Pizza Hut, Popeyes, Burger King, Subway and others...).

They have fast cell phone service in the major cities.

Though I would never travel outside the walls. I value my life too much.

Thanks for sharing. We don't get a lot of unfiltered information from places like that. 

[CoolBliss]

You can always try LocalBitcoins.com but I highly doubt there is a local dealer in Kabul yet. You could foster Afghanistan's economy by starting a local Bitcoin exchange yourself.

[Honeypot]

Crypto hasn't even gotten off the grounds in most developed nations. Realistically, this is not a good time for this kind of thinking. You can bet this kind of means will be used in less than savory ways, and will only kill crypto's future, regardless of your political inclinations. Being instrumental in movements of those that kidnap school girls and using drug money to fund some ignorance and bigotry masquerading as political movement is pretty damning.

Get your head out of the clouds.

[Elwar]

Here's an example of Bitcoin's unique properties being useful in Afghanistan:

http://www.coindesk.com/how-bitcoin-helps-afghan-girls-achieve-financial-freedom/

While our government complains about Bitcoin freeing people to do "bad things" like buy drugs, in Afghanistan it is freeing Afghan women to get paid for working (probably also considered "bad" by the government).

[BitCoinDream]

I was listening to NPR this morning heard the following story:
http://www.npr.org/2014/06/05/319030334/afghans-must-pass-anti-money-laundering-law-or-face-blacklist

The international community has told Afghans to fix their banks and pass anti-money laundering legislation by June 22. If officials fail to do so, the country will be badlisted for five years.

Currently Afghans are having major difficulties with international money transfers as the banking system tightens the screws in order to make sure that the country votes the way the banks wish.  [shame on them]   This has resulted in many businesses frantically running around trying to find ways to do international transfers in order to do their imports.   The established money transfer businesses are racking up, rates have climbed upwards of 80% over bank rates.   This is a MAJOR opportunity for BTC business to make a major move over there.

Anyone here know anyone over there?

IMO this idea is not viable, because...

i. Internet literacy among afghans is low.

ii. There should be buyer as well seller to complete the cycle of any local bitcoin economy. If the very little internet group in Afghanistan even earns some BTC by providing online services, then also they have to have a buyer of that coins in their local currency, which wont be readily available.

This way it is difficult for Bitcoin in their region.

[jc01480]

They'll probably sell you some poppy for BTC.  That's their biggest agricultural product and the US compromises on this in order to maintain some level of influence in the tribal regions.

[Swordsoffreedom]

I was listening to NPR this morning heard the following story:
http://www.npr.org/2014/06/05/319030334/afghans-must-pass-anti-money-laundering-law-or-face-blacklist

The international community has told Afghans to fix their banks and pass anti-money laundering legislation by June 22. If officials fail to do so, the country will be badlisted for five years.

Currently Afghans are having major difficulties with international money transfers as the banking system tightens the screws in order to make sure that the country votes the way the banks wish.  [shame on them]   This has resulted in many businesses frantically running around trying to find ways to do international transfers in order to do their imports.   The established money transfer businesses are racking up, rates have climbed upwards of 80% over bank rates.   This is a MAJOR opportunity for BTC business to make a major move over there.

Anyone here know anyone over there?

No I do not know anyone in Afghanistan

That said I do know that if a country is disconnected from Swift and the general financial system it becomes extremely difficult for citizens in that country to acquire and access money.

This is a real problem and it does seem forced from the Financial Action Task Force on currencies.

 He says, the blacklisting would not only starve the people of food, fuel and medicine; it would starve the government of a vitally needed source of revenue. And he would be entirely correct if you look at Iran you can see there are two markets for the rial the Central Bank rate and the actual rate, trading for goods and services are complicated and it would mean that alternative solutions to bypass these boycotts for normal citizens would need to be enacted.

Mobile Banking and Bitcoin would play a big role in economic stability over there and allow students to not need to worry about having their accounts shut down by Chase Bank or National Bank of America.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ryan-costello/why-is-bank-of-america-cl_b_5330851.html

It would need to be done through SMS though as their would be internet problems there. Example 37coins to throw an idea of how it could work.

[zimmah]

Bitcoin will take the power away from the US to blacklist countries that do not conform to their whims.

It may seem like a non-violent way to end a discussion, but an economic boycot is something very serious and is basically undercover war. The USA just doesn't want negative publicity for being in yet another war while at the same time destroy their enemies because they sell oil for something other  than dollars.

Economic restrictions will mean millions of people will die of starvation and sickness due to poor healthcare/lack of medicine. Also public unrest because of scarcity of vital needs. Etc. in most wars it's not the guns that kill most people, it's the famine and epidemics. And economic sanctions have pretty much the same effect. It only sounds less cruel than war, but the effects are largely the same.

[doof]

What load of BS. 80% of the Afghans are illiterate and you are expecting them to use Bitcoins? How they will store their coins safely? And how they will find the exchange rates?

Worst comment ever.

[doof]

I was listening to NPR this morning heard the following story:
http://www.npr.org/2014/06/05/319030334/afghans-must-pass-anti-money-laundering-law-or-face-blacklist

The international community has told Afghans to fix their banks and pass anti-money laundering legislation by June 22. If officials fail to do so, the country will be badlisted for five years.

Currently Afghans are having major difficulties with international money transfers as the banking system tightens the screws in order to make sure that the country votes the way the banks wish.  [shame on them]   This has resulted in many businesses frantically running around trying to find ways to do international transfers in order to do their imports.   The established money transfer businesses are racking up, rates have climbed upwards of 80% over bank rates.   This is a MAJOR opportunity for BTC business to make a major move over there.

Anyone here know anyone over there?

No I do not know anyone in Afghanistan

That said I do know that if a country is disconnected from Swift and the general financial system it becomes extremely difficult for citizens in that country to acquire and access money.

This is a real problem and it does seem forced from the Financial Action Task Force on currencies.

 He says, the blacklisting would not only starve the people of food, fuel and medicine; it would starve the government of a vitally needed source of revenue. And he would be entirely correct if you look at Iran you can see there are two markets for the rial the Central Bank rate and the actual rate, trading for goods and services are complicated and it would mean that alternative solutions to bypass these boycotts for normal citizens would need to be enacted.

Mobile Banking and Bitcoin would play a big role in economic stability over there and allow students to not need to worry about having their accounts shut down by Chase Bank or National Bank of America.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ryan-costello/why-is-bank-of-america-cl_b_5330851.html

It would need to be done through SMS though as their would be internet problems there. Example 37coins to throw an idea of how it could work.

Ive travelled along through the "stans".  There was a day where an Afgan market was opened on the boarder and we popped in for a few hours.  Great part of the world.

[jc01480]

I got to walk the streets of Babylon on my tour but never Afghanistan.  Looks like a truly beautiful country.  Strangely, the Russians aren't as impressed.  Lol...

I wish we could gather a group and hold a technology business summit for those interested there.  I'm all for bringing them the tools to get into the market.  Hell, I'd teach them all about computing, networking, etc.  Wonder if there is a Peace Corps mission there at all?