Leveraging Bitcoin to Rebuild Economies and Strengthen Justice After Conflict

Abstract

This paper proposes a novel addition to the established transitional justice framework by introducing a fifth pillar: economic sovereignty and infrastructure stability. Drawing from personal experiences in post-civil war El Salvador and extensive academic research, it argues that the four traditional pillars of transitional justice-truth-telling, criminal prosecutions, reparations, and institutional reforms-can be significantly undermined by economic instability, persistent poverty, and dependency on external financial institutions. Grounded in emerging empirical data viewed through a multidisciplinary lens, the paper explores how by incorporating Bitcoin and Bitcoin mining, transitional societies can establish transparent, resilient economic foundations capable of supporting accountability, reconciliation, and sustainable development. At both national and regional levels, strategic public-private partnerships involving Bitcoin mining are relevant. Equally essential are community-based and individual mining initiatives, which empower local populations and persons, aligning economic incentives with crucial infrastructure and energy projects. Such approaches could foster economic stability, enhance community resilience, and reduce vulnerability to future conflicts. Case studies from Africa, Latin America, and emerging U.S. state policy provide real-world evidence for how this enhanced framework can empower postconflict societies to reclaim agency, stabilize governance, and rebuild legitimacy from the ground up. The paper advances a pragmatic, forward-looking strategy for policymakers, private-sector actors, and communities seeking lasting justice and sovereignty in the 21 st century.

Keywords: transitional justice, Bitcoin, post-conflict development, economic sovereignty, energy infrastructure, truth commissions, decentralization, reparations, institutional reform, transparency, poverty reduction, public-private partnerships, nation-building, inflation, peacebuilding, policy frameworks, Bitcoin mining