It’s a common misconception that new bitcoin users are usually western traders preoccupied with the bitcoin price. In contrast, the bitcoin adoption rate in Africa has been growing faster than any other region globally, over the past few years. Bitcoin is becoming especially popular in countries like Nigeria and Kenya while African refugees are also turning to bitcoin when other cross-border tools fall short. Such is the case with refugees fleeing Eritrea, a nation in East Africa that is often referred to as the North Korea of Africa. Eritrean journalist and human rights activist Meron Estefanos told me that bitcoin has become a useful tool in her efforts to rescue refugees who fall on hard times while fleeing Eritrea.