On one hand I don't want to ruin this thread with what is a common topic of disagreement; at the same time your kind offer provides a unique opportunity.
There is a fairly, if not pervasive let's call it vocal technical sentiment that blockchain and related crypto technologies, in some form, are government/oppression-proof; that it provides financial and communication paths and channels that are so firm they withstand attempts by government to shut them down and infiltrate. And that therefore they would "solve a lot of problems" in an oppressive / troubled society.
I come from a country that suffered a civil war, and I've always felt that was naive... Blockchain feels like a complex stack with myriad potential points of failure and accidental reveal for a normal citizen. More to the point, I feel many people are underestimating just how totalitarian and ruthless a government CAN get - a) in locking down through technological means by owning and monitoring infra and coming down immediately to anybody downloading/using/sending software/hardware/protocol/tokens/packets/dns/whatever that is even remotely suspicious, and b) their ability and willingness to apply violence quickly and mercilessly on mere suspicion, happily just as an example and upon a potentially innocent person, and therefore its quick and chilling effect on populace. Or to put it other way - there are places on this Earth where I would not personally dare install some software or send some data, and I'm reasonably technically competent; the risk and impact are just too high.
What's your and your friends' perspective? Are there bullet-proof / safe technological means? What's the risk ratio and success for subverting government whether via blockchain or VPN or Signal etc?
Thx for any thoughts you might contribute :)