With the elections in sight, Newsbit investigates what political parties think about Bitcoin (BTC) and crypto. This time Newsbit spoke with Vrede voor Dieren (VvD), a new party that emerged from a split from the Party for the Animals. The party takes a strong position. According to VvD, the digitization of money, whether via crypto or the digital euro, poses a threat to freedom, privacy and sustainability.
Peace for Animals opposes digital money
Peace for Animals is critical of any form of digital money. The party states that both cryptocurrencies and the digital euro of the European Central Bank (ECB) lead to an unwanted concentration of power and data in one institution. According to the party, this makes citizens dependent on a system that can limit their financial freedom.
“We are against the digitization of money transactions, in any way,” writes VvD. The party wants the option to pay with physical money, such as coins and banknotes, to be laid down in law. According to the party, this is essential for the protection of autonomy and privacy.
In addition, Vrede voor Dieren emphasizes that digital money transactions are not sustainable. The party refers to studies showing that crypto transactions annually consume as much electricity as all residents of Poland. In VvD’s view, this energy can be better used for social goals, such as the electrification of public transport. “We prefer to use that energy to make public transport more sustainable,” the party said.
Criticism of ECB and monetary union
Peace for Animals also opposes the power of international institutions such as the ECB and monetary unions in general. The party’s election manifesto (list 16) states that financial control should not be concentrated in supranational organizations.
According to VvD, the Netherlands must retain more monetary sovereignty, so that citizens do not become dependent on a central digital system. The party sees this as part of its broader mission to decentralize power and return control to people and communities.
Sustainability and peace more important than technology
In its program, Vrede voor Dieren emphasizes that digital innovations are often accompanied by high energy consumption and dependence on large technology companies. The party states that technology should serve the earth instead of exhaust it.
Instead of investing in digital currencies, the party wants the government to prioritize nature restoration, sustainable energy and peace. According to VvD, policy should focus on protecting life and preventing dependence on technological or financial power structures.
Background: split from the Party for the Animals
Peace for Animals was founded in 2025 by former members of the Party for the Animals, including Pascale Plusquin, Ewald Engelen and Ruud van der Velden. The new party wants to return to a pacifist course in which animal welfare, the environment and sustainability are central.
The split arose after disagreement within the Party for the Animals about the direction regarding defense expenditure. While the PvdD saw room for rearmament within Europe, the VvD emphatically opts for disarmament and peace policy. The party views militarization, including in economic and digital form, as a threat to people and nature.
Source: https://newsbit.nl/newsbit-spreekt-met-vrede-voor-dieren-zo-kijkt-de-partij-naar-bitcoin-en-crypto/
