The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) unveiled the Finney Freedom Prize on the fourth semi-annual Bitcoin Day to celebrate the flagship cryptocurrency for enabling greater financial freedom for the world.
The award is designed to recognize significant global achievements in Bitcoin and human rights, reflecting Finney's vision of using technology as a tool for liberation.
The inaugural Finney Freedom Prize was awarded posthumously to Hal Finney, recognizing his pioneering work during the first Bitcoin halving era between 2009 and 2012. Finney's widow, Fran Finney, who accepted the award on his behalf, decided to donate the prize to charity, saying:
“We believe this award will ensure that Hal's legacy lives on and inspires future generations to explore and expand the use of Bitcoin as a tool to achieve personal and collective freedom.”
Finney, who succumbed to ALS in 2014, was a staunch advocate for civil liberties and a key figure in the early development of bitcoin. He was the first person, after the pseudonymous Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto, to operate the software and participate in Bitcoin transactions.
110 years of heritage
The Finney Freedom Prize will be awarded every four years on the following bitcoin halving days, with a total of 28 awards planned over the next 110 years. The initiative is supported by a 33 BTC fund established by HRF.
Laureates will be recognized for their contributions to Bitcoin and human rights within specific halving periods and will receive a monetary reward of 1 Bitcoin (BTC) along with a physical reward.
The nominations and selection of future laureates will be managed by the Genesis Committee, made up of prominent figures in the Bitcoin community, including Farida Nabourema, Lisa Neigut and Obi Nwosu.
The committee will evaluate nominees based on their educational efforts about Bitcoin, contributions to its technology, support for decentralization, and efforts to improve the accessibility of Bitcoin, especially in repressive regimes.
, with 1 BTC allocated to each reward during the remaining halving events. Hal Finney's Bitcoin will be donated to charity as directed by his widow, Fran Finney, who said:
