最新报道：Yesterday, at the Concordia Summit, an annual event held during UN General Assembly week, Paystand CEO and co-founder Jeremy Almond explained why Bitcoin is important for people living outside of highly developed countries and how it can help achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the event, which brings together governments, businesses, and nonprofits to address some of the world's most pressing issues, Almond participated in a panel discussion titled "Frictionless Finance: Unlocking Capital through Digital Assets," where he highlighted the role Bitcoin's circular economy plays in the Global South. "Whether it's an indigenous village in Peru or a town in El Salvador, these are bottom-up, community-driven, grassroots efforts," Almond told the audience at the Sheraton Hotel north of Times Square in New York City, referring to the efforts of Motiv Perú and those involved in Bitcoin Beach, the original Bitcoin circular economy initiative. He added that Bitcoin's adoption is accelerating faster than the internet's and that it "is transforming the lives of millions of people around the world." Despite the potential for Bitcoin to accelerate progress toward the UN's SDGs, Almond noted, such rhetoric is rarely heard at the UN or UN-related events. You might read here and there that the UN is considering the potential benefits of "digital assets," "stablecoins," and even CBDCs, but more often than not, the institution either barely acknowledges Bitcoin or views it in a negative light. However, Almond believes that Bitcoin—which he calls "free money" on stage and a powerful driver of savings for people around the world, many of whom lack access to traditional financial services—can help people achieve the UN's SDGs faster. And he's an excellent candidate to deliver such a message, as his company, Paystand, the largest business-to-business (B2B) blockchain-based payments company in the United States, donates 10% of its profits to Paystand.org, a nonprofit organization aimed at furthering financial inclusion globally through Bitcoin—one of SDG 3's goals. "We believe the Bitcoin circular economy is a major catalyst for advancing many of the UN's goals," Almond told Bitcoin Magazine. "But they're not doing it through philanthropy; they're creating mobilization." Almond believes that Bitcoin can not only help achieve certain outcomes, but also accelerate the process of achieving them. "What does the UN believe? Access to education, access to technology, access to jobs, and access to financial literacy are drivers of better outcomes for people," he said. "When you look at the Bitcoin circular economy, you see that Bitcoin is a catalyst for accelerating these outcomes." Almond shared what's happening at Bitcoin Beach, a community supported by Paystand.org, citing its educational center, Hope House, as an example. "Hope House originally provided Bitcoin education, general literacy, and tours," Almond explained. "Now that the children are a little older, we have a new program teaching them about technology and computers," he added. "Now they're interning at Bitcoin mining companies." Almond also cited the work of Bitcoin Dada, which not only introduces African women to Bitcoin but also helps them find jobs in the industry. During his time at the UN General Assembly week, Almond plans to meet with global leaders and policymakers to help them understand the impact of Bitcoin on their constituents, especially the most vulnerable. "Nation-state leaders are more actively engaged in Bitcoin now than at any time in at least the decade that I've been doing this," Almond said. "Ultimately, leaders follow the needs of their constituents," he added, suggesting that those at the bottom of the economic ladder in most countries are simply seeking the opportunities that Bitcoin and its surrounding industries can offer. "Bitcoin provides their constituents with access to jobs, technology, and financial literacy." Almond also explained why policymakers struggle to address the needs of those at the bottom of the economic pyramid, particularly since this group doesn't have a significant economic impact on GDP. However, when he demonstrated to these leaders and policymakers the impact of Bitcoin's circular economy on its community members, few could deny its impact, and they quickly became believers. He was excited to make even more believers during his time in New York. "Any time you can engage leaders from governments and the UN to talk about how Bitcoin is being used in the real world, it's a good thing because we're telling the story of why Satoshi created Bitcoin in the first place," Almond said.