As the traditional financial world comes to terms with and re-assess the impact of geopolitical risk, the cryptocurrency market continues to try to decouple itself from traditional markets. Bitcoin enthusiasts have dubbed it “digital gold” for good reason. It provides not just a hedge against inflation, but a store of value that is impervious to government manipulation and immune to the caprices of conventional financial markets. The reality is far more complex. In sum, cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin included, are still highly volatile assets, often subject to large price swings that can be intensified by global happenings. On top of all of this, the regulatory landscape around cryptocurrencies is largely in flux, creating a further level of uncertainty.

Julien Duval advises investors to approach cryptocurrencies as safe havens with caution. He underscores the need to keep a critical eye in this new approach. He claims certain cryptocurrencies possess characteristics that make them attractive during a crisis. He emphasizes they’re not a panacea. A diversified portfolio, including the age-old safe havens of gold and silver, along with positive cash flow crypto projects, is the more responsible play. He stresses the importance of understanding the underlying technology, market dynamics, and potential risks associated with each cryptocurrency before investing.

Importance of Road Infrastructure

Our road infrastructure is vital to the economic and social development of our nation. A well-maintained road network facilitates trade, connects communities, and enables access to essential services. In West Africa, road transport is king. For goods, it’s the taproot of their movement—both for heavy trucks and all other modes. The economic development, access to food grown and produced here, and quality of life all depend on the safety and efficiency of our road networks.

In a military crisis, as we see today with the conflict developing between Iran and Israel, road infrastructure is key. Its importance extends beyond economic and social roles. It is becoming even more vital for the movement of humanitarian assistance, evacuation of civilians, and movement of security forces. Having a strong and dependable road network increases any country’s emergency response capabilities. Maintaining our existing road infrastructure is not only an economic imperative, it is a strategic necessity.

Current State of the Network

Despite its vital significance, the region’s road network is plagued with challenges. These roads are often low-quality, unpaved roads that wash out with each storm. Overloading of vehicles, the lack of funding for maintenance and corruption play a part. This has been a recipe for both high transportation costs, longer travel times, and increased accident risk.

The state of the road network in West Africa is dismal, choking economic opportunity. In doing so, it creates dire security threats for the entire region. Bad road infrastructure hampers security forces’ ability to respond quickly to acts of violence and crime. It gives criminal organizations the chance to establish unofficial checkpoints and shake down bus riders for cash. All of these issues threaten the security and stability in the region, making the improvement of the road network all the more vital.

Increasing Violence on Roads

The ongoing security crisis across much of West Africa has resulted in a major increase in roadside violence. Armed robberies, kidnappings, and attacks on vehicles have become rampant, making it extremely dangerous for travelers and productive enterprises to utilize the corridor. The increased violence along trade routes has a chilling effect on the ability and willingness to trade. It further contributes to a climate of fear and insecurity, which weakens social cohesion and stability.

This growing epidemic of violence on roads in West Africa is a multi-faceted and complex problem with many causal factors at play. Poverty, unemployment, and lack of opportunities push some people to commit crimes. Corruption, weak governance, and failure of law enforcement exacerbate the situation. Addressing this issue requires a comprehensive approach that tackles both the root causes of violence and the immediate security threats.

Trends in Road-related Violence

Five trends help explain the alarming rise in violence on roads in West Africa. First, the variety and quantity of armed actors in the region has increased dramatically. All of these groups are participating in road banditry. Secondly, the tactic of using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) against vehicles has increased. Third, we have seen a greater frequency of targeting, like in the case of specific groups like humanitarian workers, and if so, that of government officials.

Together, these three trends continue to underscore an increasingly dangerous and evolving security threat on West African roads. Security forces must identify and innovate their tools, techniques, and procedures to combat a rapidly shifting threat landscape. This ranges from boosting patrols, enhancing intelligence gathering, to better training and equipment to the law enforcement officers on the ground. Partnership between federal, state, and local security agencies and with neighboring countries is equally important for combating cross-border criminal operations.

Impact on Local Communities

This growing epidemic of road violence has deadly consequences for West African communities. It interrupts trade and productive economic activity, increasing unemployment and deepening levels of poverty. Yet it unnecessarily hampers access to essential services, including healthcare and education. The fear of attacks prevents people from traveling, isolating communities and hindering social interaction.

Perhaps the most underappreciated aspect is the psychological toll of road-related violence on local communities. Whether witnessing or experiencing such attacks, these incidents can breed trauma, anxiety, and depression. These harms can have lasting impacts on lives and neighborhoods. It chips away at their resilience to overcome hardship and robs them of the tools to recreate a more hopeful tomorrow. It is thus important to address the associated psychological needs of victims of all forms of road-related violence in order to promote healing and reconciliation.

Identifying the Most Dangerous Routes

Identifying the most dangerous routes in West Africa is essential for prioritizing security interventions and providing travelers with accurate information. A number of different things contribute to the danger of a given roadway. These factors involve armed groups in the region, regular ambush, and difficult terrain. By overlaying these components, it can more easily recognize areas of high risk and create more targeted security measures.

Information on road-related violence should be gathered from multiple sources, including national governments, the United Nations, global NGOs engaged in human rights work, and local civil society organizations. This information can be modeled to find important trends and patterns, which can in turn be used to make security planning more data-driven. Equally important as a top-down approach to intelligence is a bottom-up process of involving local communities to share intelligence on security threats and vulnerabilities. Their intimate understanding of the local landscape, as well as the movement and operations of armed actors, can be essential for increasing security.

Key Locations of Concern

In West Africa, a few hotspots are especially vulnerable to this type of violence. These are often border zones, or isolated territories with little state penetration, or areas embroiled in war. While the actual routes that are the most dangerous differ based on surrounding conditions, some common themes can be seen. Gangs of armed robbers sometimes ride out to the main arteries between major urban areas. By comparison, trouble spots such as roads in conflict zones have an increased likelihood of IED strikes.

Learning about the unique security challenges in each place is of the utmost importance to creating appropriate, effective security strategies. This means we must do a much deeper analysis of the local landscape. This involves assessing the role of armed non-state actors, measuring public sentiment towards these actors, and determining the capability of local security providers. It takes the deep knowledge of the economic and social forces that foster violence.

Factors Contributing to Danger

A combination of factors fuels the perilousness of roads in West Africa. These factors range from the existence of armed groups, lack of government authority and control, widespread poverty and corruption. The exact combination of pressure points is unique to each place, but there are some common threads that you can start to see. In places where governance is tenuous or nonexistent, the rule of law breaks down and armed factions rage in an environment of impunity. At the same time, in areas suffering from acute poverty, people may resort to criminal activities in order to survive.

Tackling these underlying factors is crucial in making West African roads safe for all. This demands a holistic approach that addresses the drivers of the crime—specifically poverty, the need for improved good governance and more effective law enforcement. It means working to get to the root causes of any conflict and facilitating reconciliation between existents and formerly warring communities.

Enhancing Infrastructure for Peace

Reinforcing the role of infrastructure for peace is an essential part of opening the door to more effective stabilization and peacebuilding in West Africa. We need to improve the human infrastructure on our roads. Concurrently, we must work to invest in the institutions and processes that foster peaceful and secure ambition. That means fostering inclusive governance, rebuilding effective national and local law enforcement, and tackling the underlying grievances that fuel civil unrest.

Infrastructure projects can serve as instruments of peace and reconciliation. Or you can construct new highways to link villages torn apart by war. This both fosters economic activity and invites communal interaction. Infrastructure projects can create jobs and opportunities for young people, reducing the risk of them being recruited into armed groups.

Strategies for Improvement

There are proven strategies and best practices that can help save lives on roads throughout West Africa. These involve enhancing aerial surveillance, intelligence collection, and analysis, as well as training and equipping LE personnel. It further entails enforcing tougher regulatory standards against vehicle overloading and addressing our road infrastructure deficit.

Perhaps the most underutilized but critical strategy is to work closely with communities and invite their input on security threat and vulnerability concerns. Their expertise in the local geography and in the movement of armed groups can prove crucial in increasing security. Community policing initiatives can help to build trust between law enforcement and local communities, improving cooperation and information sharing.

Role of Government and Organizations

Government must fulfil its important mission of protecting public safety in West Africa. This means providing adequate funding for preservation and maintenance of roads, empowering and strengthening law enforcement, and upholding good governance. This means engaging in more strategic partnerships with multilateral organizations and regional governments to combat cross-border criminal enterprises.

International organizations are crucial partners in furthering road safety across West Africa. This means expanding programs that provide technical assistance and training, as well as direct funding to rehabilitate and modernize infrastructure projects. That means supporting international efforts to promote good governance and strengthen law enforcement. Partnership among national governments, multilateral development banks, and local communities is key to developing sustainable, long-lasting progress in improving road safety.

These six cryptocurrencies could offer investors a measure of safety in times of geopolitical crises. Don’t think of them as silver-bullet solutions, cautions Julien Duval. We know the cryptocurrency market is volatile by nature. Even the most established and stable cryptocurrencies—Bitcoin included—experience extreme volatility in the face of major global developments. Consequently, investors must critically evaluate their risk appetite and investment goals before committing funds into cryptocurrencies as safe-haven assets.

Julien Duval’s analysis provides an essential framework to begin understanding how cryptocurrencies can complement a portfolio. That lesson is more timely than ever in a world of rising geopolitical uncertainty. It’s important for investors to look into the different characteristics of cryptocurrencies. This central and holistic approach to carrier oversight empowers them to make fact-based, data-driven decisions about capital allocation and risk management. His boots-on-the-ground, pragmatic approach to policy pairs technical analysis with front lines experience. This provides a much-needed reality check in the usually-mustachioed landscape of crypto investing.

Solaxy

Solaxy, which is built on the Solana blockchain, is a Layer 2 solution aimed at improving scalability and lowering transaction fees. During a crisis, like the pandemic that we just experienced, these characteristics take on a whole new meaning. Greater transaction speeds and lower costs increase the ease of transferring funds. This new efficiency means people can get to the services they need in less time. Accessibility Solaxy stands out as a better choice because their process is much easier, safer and less expensive. This is in extreme opposition to the clogged and expensive Ethereum network.

Solaxy is not without its risks. As a relatively new project, it hasn’t been fully tested in the worst of the market conditions. While it has unique features, it relies quite a bit on the Solana blockchain. Therefore, any vulnerabilities or disruptions in that network would severely affect its ability to function. The long-term success of Solaxy will ultimately depend on whether or not it can attract and retain users. It needs to stay a few steps ahead of what’s sure to be a competitive and rapidly evolving Layer 2 space.

Julien Duval knows he has something special with Solaxy. He sees it as an important piece of a diversified crypto portfolio and a hedge against crises. Its scalability and low transaction costs could make it into a powerful tool. People who need to shield their wealth while still using critical services will find it particularly helpful. He cautions that all investors must be realistic about risks and do their own due diligence before investing in Solaxy.

Snorter

Snorter, a privacy-minimized cryptocurrency, would give their users much more power and control over their financial data. Governments and corporations are continuing to expand their surveillance and monitoring of financial transactions. Privacy-centered cryptocurrencies such as Snorter offer a welcome option in today’s environment. During periods of geopolitical tension, governments routinely place capital controls. During these periods, the pull toward transacting outside of traditional networks grows, as citizens look for ways to enjoy enhanced financial autonomy.

Snorter lures privacy advocates by keeping things cool, Snorter is open-source and privacy-respecting. Those very same features make it attractive for misuse by bad actors. Governments and law enforcement agencies have long been critical of privacy-focused cryptocurrencies. This developing perception may lead to stricter regulatory scrutiny and even outright bans. Snorter’s anonymity has made it difficult to track down and return stolen snorts. This added complexity makes them more vulnerable to theft and fraudulent activity.

Julien Duval acknowledges the potential benefits of privacy-focused cryptocurrencies like Snorter during times of crisis, but he emphasizes the risks. He goes on to assert that investors do their due diligence on the regulatory environment and the potential for Snorter to be abused before purchasing. In addition, he emphasizes the need to utilize privacy-centric cryptocurrencies in a manner that is ethical and responsible.

Bitcoin Hyper

Bitcoin Hyper is one of the most fascinating projects. It builds on Bitcoin to increase its scalability and functionality by leveraging Layer 2 solutions and other advanced technologies. Together with RSK we aim to make Bitcoin even faster, cheaper and versatile. We are committed to doing this while maintaining its most important principles of decentralization and security. That’s why, in the depths of a crisis, a more scalable and functional Bitcoin is worth its weight in gold. This makes it both a superior medium of exchange and a more effective store of value.

Bitcoin Hyper faces several challenges. First, it needs to address inherent limitations of the Bitcoin blockchain, which was not intended to carry high-volume transactions. Secondly, it has to compete with other Layer 2 solutions as well as alternative cryptocurrencies that provide the same functionality. Thirdly, it needs to be widely adopted and accepted by the Bitcoin community, which tends to be change averse.

Julien Duval — co-founder of Bitcoin Hyper — has high expectations. He’s confident it can drastically enhance Bitcoin’s utility and transform it into a significantly more attractive safe-haven asset. He agrees investors need to carefully watch the progression of Bitcoin Hyper and other projects like it. These initiatives, if successful, might permanently alter the trajectory of Bitcoin’s future. He warns anyone from investing in Bitcoin Hyper without extensive research into its technology and what makes it so risky.

BTC Bull

BTC Bull is a leveraged token that magnifies BTC price action. This means that if Bitcoin's price goes up, BTC Bull's price will go up by a multiple of that increase, and vice versa. Traders particularly enjoy leveraged tokens because they provide an easy opportunity to profit from short-term price movements. These tokens pose significant dangers. In periods of extreme volatility, leveraged tokens can see extreme price movements, which can result in large loss.

The use of leverage is a double-edged sword that magnifies both profits and losses. Movement in Bitcoin’s price in the opposite direction of the trader’s position are not just paper losses, they can add up fast, even going beyond the original investment. Additionally, leveraged tokens usually impose a daily fee in order to maintain the leveraged position, which can eat away at gains over time.

One of the most dangerous aspects of leveraged tokens like BTC Bull is that they can act as safe havens in times of crisis. Additionally, he claims that their volatility and risk profile is a major concern. Collectively, these factors create an inhospitable environment for capital-seeking investors wishing to minimize their risk. Therefore, he advises people to invest in safer, less volatile long-term investment vehicles. Replace that with investing in Bitcoin or investing in traditional safe havens such as gold.

Best Wallet

Our “Best Wallet” category is not about the best crypto wallet. It’s software or hardware that allows you to safely store and manage your crypto assets. Selecting the most secure wallet can be the difference between keeping or losing your crypto assets. This is even more important during periods of crisis when theft and fraud dangers can be heightened dramatically. No one wallet will be best for any one individual, and the choice will be determined by their unique needs and risk tolerance.

There are many different kinds of cryptocurrency wallets, each with their own pros and cons. Using hardware wallets such as Ledger and Trezor provides the most secure option among storage methods. Unlike software wallets, they store private keys offline, making them virtually impervious to hacks. If you regularly use software wallets like Exodus and Electrum, this is true convenience at its finest. They are more susceptible to malware and phishing attacks. Centralized cryptocurrency exchanges also offer exchange wallets, but these come with considerable risk. These are the most insecure wallets as control of your private keys is directly in the exchange’s custody.

Julien Duval emphasizes the importance of choosing a secure and reliable cryptocurrency wallet, especially during times of crisis. He advises anyone holding large sums of cryptocurrency to store it on a hardware wallet long-term. For regular day-to-day purchases for smaller amounts, he suggests using a known software wallet. Above all, it should offer strong security measures to safeguard your money. He’s against keeping your cryptocurrencies on exchange wallets for long periods of time.

Bitcoin's Recovery Patterns

Bitcoin has historically performed well in periods of geopolitical crisis. This indicates that it is able to do a good job at protecting portfolios from downside risk. As we all know, Bitcoin suffers from extreme price volatility. Its decentralized nature and limited supply make it an appealing asset for investors seeking refuge from traditional financial markets. The historical recovery patterns of previous crises are a positive indicator for Bitcoin. Significantly, this one cryptocurrency could rebound the most, allowing for massive loss mitigation and even profits overall.

As a quick reminder, just because something has done well in the past does not mean that it will continue to do so. Let’s not forget that the entire cryptocurrency market is still very much in its infancy and still rapidly developing. Bitcoin’s long-term prospects depend on several factors, including regulatory changes, technological innovations, and overall investor sentiment. Due to Bitcoin’s price volatility, it does not serve as an appropriate safe haven for any investor.

Julien Duval acknowledges that Bitcoin plays a role in mitigating downside risk in times of crisis. He says counting on it too much as a safe haven might be dangerous. From his perspective, investors need to be judicious about where they put their money and to determine their risk tolerance and investing goals before deploying capital to Bitcoin. His main piece of advice, though, is to make sure they’re diversifying their portfolios with other assets, especially traditional safe havens such as gold.

Solana's Layer 2, Solaxy

In fact, Solana’s Layer 2 solution, Solaxy, is increasing in popularity as an Ethereum-scalable solution that is a cheaper Layer 2 option. Especially at the start of an emergency, people and companies are looking to get money into the hands of workers quickly. That’s why its faster transaction speeds and lower fees are so appealing in those instances. Solaxy's growing ecosystem and increasing adoption suggest that it has the potential to become a significant player in the cryptocurrency market.

Solaxy is ultimately a young project and has a lot of work ahead of it. First, it needs to sustain its completion over other Layer 2 solutions and other blockchains that provide the exact same capabilities. Secondly, it needs to continue to be secure and reliable as its ecosystem expands. Third, for it to be a successful and long term chain, it needs to have users, developers and validators want to join and stay on it.

Julien Duval imagines a place for Solaxy alongside Bitcoin in a diversified portfolio of cryptocurrencies. He argues that its scalability and low-cost transaction fees render it an invaluable tool. People and industries alike depend on it to shield their assets and get to jobs and services they need. That said, Sooriyaparan emphasizes that first and foremost, investors need to be smart about the risks they take and do their own due diligence when investing in Solaxy.

Ethereum's Underperformance

The third risk is the one most recently exposed by Ethereum’s underperformance during March and April 2022 geopolitical shocks—making it a single asset safe haven. Ethereum is the second largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. Its beautiful ecosystem is great, but it’s more highly correlated to classic financial markets than Bitcoin. This is because it tends to drop sharply in price during periods of economic turmoil.

Additionally, given Ethereum’s use of PoS consensus mechanism, there are issues surrounding centralization and risks of censorship. Today, a few dozen validators control 80% of the network’s power. This focus may endanger the network by making it vulnerable to attack or influence. These three factors combine to make Ethereum a riskier investment than Bitcoin. In turn, it is increasingly less consistent as a place to find security during times of upheaval.

Julien Duval emphasizes that Ethereum should be viewed as a speculative asset rather than a safe haven. And he thinks its potential for growth and innovation makes it an attractive investment. Yet because of its higher risk profile, it is more appropriate that it makes up a smaller share of a portfolio compared to Bitcoin. For example, he suggests holding some other crypto assets and non-digital assets to protect against downside risk.

Crypto's Dual Role

The Israel-Iran conflict has underscored crypto's dual role in portfolios: Bitcoin as a stabilizing anchor and Ethereum as a speculative play. Bitcoin's