#BITCOIN LEGEND: FARIDA NABOUREMA Exiled from her country Used BTC...
The Bitcoin Historian@pete_rizzo_
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Mar 23, 2025
~3 min read
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#BITCOIN LEGEND: FARIDA NABOUREMA
Exiled from her country
Used BTC to fight dictators
Still working for freedom in Africa
A thread 🔥
Exiled from her country
Used BTC to fight dictators
Still working for freedom in Africa
A thread 🔥
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1/ Farida was born in Togo, a former French colony, in 1990.
She grew up under the regime of President Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who imprisoned and tortured her father
Every day, he demanded citizens gather and give him applause 😡
She grew up under the regime of President Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who imprisoned and tortured her father
Every day, he demanded citizens gather and give him applause 😡
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2/ Eyadéma died in 2005.
But his son Faure soon became president in a military coup.
Farida, then 15 years old, joined the opposition party and started attending protest rallies 👏
But his son Faure soon became president in a military coup.
Farida, then 15 years old, joined the opposition party and started attending protest rallies 👏
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3/ In 2008, Farida moved to the U.S.
There, she co-founded @Fauremustgo
She started denouncing the Faure regime’s violent acts and injustices on social media ✊
There, she co-founded @Fauremustgo
She started denouncing the Faure regime’s violent acts and injustices on social media ✊
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@Fauremustgo 4/ Faure remained in power by winning disputed elections
But Farida didn't give up. She demanded Togo’s members of parliament reinstate presidential term limits
When she called the majority leader to complain, he hung up on her! 🤯
But Farida didn't give up. She demanded Togo’s members of parliament reinstate presidential term limits
When she called the majority leader to complain, he hung up on her! 🤯
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@Fauremustgo 5/ Farida recorded the call and posted it to social media.
It went viral. Thousands followed her lead and did the same
The government responded by threatening her 😡
It went viral. Thousands followed her lead and did the same
The government responded by threatening her 😡
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@Fauremustgo 6/ Farida went into exile abroad.
By then, the Faure regime was arresting anyone who sent money to the resistance movement
That’s when she started using #Bitcoin to transact – and to avoid working with corrupt banks 🔥
By then, the Faure regime was arresting anyone who sent money to the resistance movement
That’s when she started using #Bitcoin to transact – and to avoid working with corrupt banks 🔥
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@Fauremustgo 7/ Farida saw #Bitcoin an alternative to the CFA Franc
A colonial currency forced on African countries via “mass executions, militarization and corruption.”
One massively devalued over decades... 😡
A colonial currency forced on African countries via “mass executions, militarization and corruption.”
One massively devalued over decades... 😡
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@Fauremustgo 8/ Farida called #Bitcoin a "lifesaver."
It wasn’t a "fantasy" for people living under hostile regimes.
She decided she needed to do more to promote the currency – and its impact on global freedom 🧡
It wasn’t a "fantasy" for people living under hostile regimes.
She decided she needed to do more to promote the currency – and its impact on global freedom 🧡
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@Fauremustgo 9/ Farida’s love for Bitcoin led her to start an event...
The #AfricaBitcoinConference
The 1st was hosted in Ghana at $20,000 in 2022 👏
The #AfricaBitcoinConference
The 1st was hosted in Ghana at $20,000 in 2022 👏
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@Fauremustgo 10/ The first year was a challenge for Farida.
A developer who was supposed to register her event company vanished with the money.
Members of Ghana’s government promised to attend… but went to the World Cup instead 🤬
A developer who was supposed to register her event company vanished with the money.
Members of Ghana’s government promised to attend… but went to the World Cup instead 🤬
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@Fauremustgo 11/ But Farida got help from volunteers new to #Bitcoin.
ABC 2022 was a success, hosting 60+ speakers.
This included @Jack Dorsey – the billionaire founder of X and Square 😍
ABC 2022 was a success, hosting 60+ speakers.
This included @Jack Dorsey – the billionaire founder of X and Square 😍
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@Fauremustgo @jack 12/ Farida tried to raise funds for a 2nd African #Bitcoin Conference in 2023.
She even sold her car to earn the money, but it wasn’t enough. She became stressed, suffered asthma attacks, and wound up in hospital.
Fortunately, she produced the event 🧡
She even sold her car to earn the money, but it wasn’t enough. She became stressed, suffered asthma attacks, and wound up in hospital.
Fortunately, she produced the event 🧡
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@Fauremustgo @jack 13/ That wasn’t the end of Farida’s difficulties.
The operations director — one of Farida’s most trusted friends — took the conference’s money – again!
She still doesn’t know why he did it 😡
The operations director — one of Farida’s most trusted friends — took the conference’s money – again!
She still doesn’t know why he did it 😡
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@Fauremustgo @jack 14/ Through it all, Farida persevered.
In 2024, Farida held ABC in Kenya, and it attracted companies and sponsors from the EU and US.
Once again, the event was a success 🏆
In 2024, Farida held ABC in Kenya, and it attracted companies and sponsors from the EU and US.
Once again, the event was a success 🏆
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@Fauremustgo @jack 15/ Today, Farida operates a training program for students.
It’s given 3,000+ children education and training on BTC.
Here they are celebrating #Bitcoin Pizza Day 🍕
It’s given 3,000+ children education and training on BTC.
Here they are celebrating #Bitcoin Pizza Day 🍕
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@Fauremustgo @jack 16/ Farida remains a driving force for #Bitcoin adoption and advocacy — not just in Africa, but around the world.
She’s regularly a guest speaker at global conferences.
Here she is at Norway’s parliament in 2022 👇
She’s regularly a guest speaker at global conferences.
Here she is at Norway’s parliament in 2022 👇
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@Fauremustgo @jack 17/ In 2024, Farida was named to the Genesis Committee for the Finney Freedom Prize, dedicated to the late Hal Finney.
She helps honor #Bitcoin's greatest advocates.
🧡
She helps honor #Bitcoin's greatest advocates.
🧡