Max Keiser, a well-known Bitcoin enthusiast, has publicly expressed regret that Palestine didn’t embrace Bitcoin as its official currency back in 2013. He asserts that such a move could have significantly benefited the nation’s economy. Keiser’s statement arrives in the midst of ongoing discussions concerning allegations that Binance, a major cryptocurrency exchange, froze all accounts belonging to Palestinian citizens.
Keiser, taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), shared his thoughts on the Binance-Palestine controversy. He reminisced about his 2013 proposal, urging Palestine to transition from the Israeli shekel to Bitcoin. “I wish Palestine had taken my advice in 2013, they could have bought Israel by now,” Keiser boldly remarked.
He further explained that he had approached Islamic clergy with this proposition, emphasizing Bitcoin’s lack of “Riba,” an Arabic term referring to interest, which is forbidden under Islamic law. However, he claims his proposal was met with skepticism.
In 2013, Keiser had authored an opinion piece for Russia Today, championing Bitcoin as the solution to Palestine’s economic woes. He argued that Bitcoin could enable the free flow of funds in and out of Palestine, bypassing international banks whom he accused of conspiring with Israel to restrict Palestinian financial activities.
Keiser’s recent comments come amidst accusations that Binance, at the behest of Israel, seized all Palestinian cryptocurrency holdings. However, Binance vehemently denies these claims, stating that only a limited number of accounts linked to illicit activities were restricted.
It’s important to note that Binance has previously aided Israel in confiscating cryptocurrency accounts linked to Hamas, a Palestinian militant organization. This action contradicts Keiser’s earlier statements about Bitcoin facilitating unrestricted financial movement for Palestinians.
At the time of this writing, Bitcoin is trading at $58,869.84, experiencing a 6.43% decline in the past 24 hours according to Benzinga Pro data.
