Native Americans Seek Economic Freedom With Own Digital CurrencyKevin Samson The concept has drawn the attention of a 7-tribe cooperative of the Traditional Lakota Nation. The currency is called MazaCoin, a product of an anonymous developer, and now being championed by programmer and Native American activist, Payu Harris. The new currency took a prominent place during the latest meeting at The Bitcoin Center in New York City. Payu Harris explained the uniqueness of the cryptocurrency, as well as the unique position in which Native Americans find themselves, and why they might have the upper hand when taking on a federal government, which has given a lukewarm reception to cryptocurrencies as they aim to define them and potentially tax and control their evolution. MazaCoin is an outcropping of Bitcoin, which has become the official currency of the Lakota Nation. While adopting an alternative currency to the one currently peddled by the morally (and literally) bankrupt U.S. government makes a bold statement, it is the creation of a proprietary currency like MazaCoin that symbolizes independence. The Verge explains: However, it is the questionably legal part which is again rearing its head with MazaCoins statement of economic independence. Allegedly, the proposal has already drawn the attention of the FBI who issued a reminder that it would be illegal. (Source) However, as it stands, Native Americans have a special legal status that, as Payu Harris asserts, means that they on sovereign soil, which enables them to mandate currencies that can be used within their borders. But as with all things legal, and especially monetary, a convoluted structure presents potential issues that might ultimately impact the success of the MazaCoin concept. A couple of additional practical concerns must also be resolved: In the end, the legal and practical issues that are being addressed within the Lakota nation are not altogether dissimilar to those faced by U.S. society at large. I dont wish to denigrate the enslavement experienced by our nations original inhabitants, but the following quote from Iron Eyes also applies to the vast majority of us who have had their country usurped over the last 100 years by the private criminal organization called the Federal Reserve: It is a sentiment shared by those of us who are proponents of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Can we really do worse than the Federal Reserve? To critics of the cryptocurrency movement, perhaps it would be wise to remember that in this case the journey itself is of paramount importance even if the destination is later proven to have been misdirected. This is what Payu Harris ultimately wishes to capture for his Nation: that spirit of leadership and the journey to true independence: Related: Sources: Find out more about MazaCoin and the technical details from their website: Recently by Kevin Samson: 