In November 2023, Jill Ford — a rising e-commerce entrepreneur — discovered herself buying and selling spreadsheets for sentencing hearings, convicted of financial institution fraud and cash laundering tied to a Principal Avenue Lending Program mortgage.
Ford’s 20-month stint in federal jail wasn’t only a punishment; it was an training — one which uncovered her firsthand to the stark inequities of the monetary system and deepened her perception in Bitcoin (BTC) as a software for financial justice.
Rising from incarceration with greater than only a second probability, Ford reentered the crypto world with a mission. She based BitFord Digital, a Dallas-based firm dedicated to sustainable and moral Bitcoin mining — as a result of, as she places it, “Sustainability and ethics are non-negotiable.”
Now, she’s not simply mining Bitcoin; she’s advocating for monetary literacy, pushing for variety in blockchain, and proving that decentralized finance could be a lifeline for these the normal system leaves behind.
Learn on for our dialog with Ford and learn the way her journey is greater than a comeback story.
How did jail reshape your perspective on conventional monetary methods?
Actually, my time in jail was eye-opening. I met so many ladies who have been there due to monetary offenses tied to the fiat banking system, and it actually highlighted how flawed and unfair these methods could be. That’s once I realized simply how highly effective Bitcoin might be. It’s decentralized, clear, and gives individuals a method to take management of their funds with out counting on outdated, damaged methods by eradicating limitations and offering entry to monetary freedom with out dependence on intermediaries.
What went fallacious with the mortgage from the Principal Avenue Lending Program?
I made some errors—plain and easy. On the time, I didn’t absolutely perceive the principles and necessities, and I made choices that violated this system’s phrases. It’s one thing I deeply remorse, however it additionally taught me the worth of accountability, which has change into a cornerstone of how I method all the things now. It’s additionally fueled my renewed dedication to moral enterprise practices in all the things I do.
How does Bitford Digital’s mission align along with your journey?
Bitford Digital is principally the subsequent chapter of my life. After all the things I went via, I needed to create one thing that not solely aligned with my experience but additionally addressed the inequities I noticed firsthand. It’s all about moral and sustainable Bitcoin mining whereas making monetary instruments extra accessible to individuals who want them essentially the most. It additionally aligns with my perception in second probabilities and the transformative energy of information and alternative.
Why does moral and sustainable Bitcoin mining matter to you?
Sustainability and ethics are non-negotiable for me. At Bitford Digital, we’re investing in renewable power and state-of-the-art gear to reduce our environmental footprint. It’s not nearly doing the correct factor—it’s about proving that Bitcoin mining could be a drive for good on this planet.
Does Bitford Digital assist marginalized communities? What initiatives have you ever launched to empower them?
Completely. Supporting marginalized communities is a large a part of our mission. In partnership with the Bitcoin Transformation Group and its founder, Justin Rhedrick, we’re making a Bitcoin mining restore workshop particularly for ladies who’ve lately been launched from jail. This initiative builds on their earlier courses, which primarily served males, and goals to open new pathways for ladies to construct monetary independence and abilities within the crypto and tech area. Moreover, we’ve launched applications that train monetary literacy to incarcerated people and underrepresented teams, specializing in how Bitcoin can empower them to realize financial freedom.
What are the important thing limitations to monetary literacy you’ve recognized, and the way do you’re employed to beat them?
An enormous barrier is accessibility—so many individuals don’t have the assets or information to navigate monetary instruments. Then there’s belief—conventional methods have let a number of people down. Actually, I get it. I didn’t absolutely perceive issues like fiat forex and loans myself, and that lack of awareness led me to make errors that ended up hurting others, which I actually remorse. That’s why I’m so keen about training initiatives, workshops, and mentorship applications—to assist individuals construct the information and confidence they should take management of their monetary futures and keep away from those self same sorts of missteps.
What was essentially the most vital lesson you discovered throughout your authorized challenges, and the way has it formed the best way you lead and innovate as we speak?
The most important lesson? Integrity issues in each determination you make. I discovered the exhausting method that slicing corners isn’t price it. I additionally discovered how highly effective cash is—how corrupting it may be and the way debt can enslave you and steal your time. Enterprise house owners typically aren’t educated concerning the implications of taking up loans, whereas banks have the assets to rent groups of attorneys. How is that this honest? Now, I lead with transparency, make knowledgeable monetary choices, and guarantee Bitford Digital is an organization individuals can belief.
The blockchain and cryptocurrency area typically wrestle with variety. Why do you suppose inclusive alternatives are so necessary?
Range brings recent views, which result in higher options. If crypto and blockchain are imagined to be for everybody, then we want everybody on the desk. By making the trade extra inclusive, we be sure that it serves individuals from all walks of life—not only a choose few. Plus, variety drives innovation. When extra voices and views are concerned, the options we create are extra sturdy and inclusive. In a decentralized system like blockchain, inclusivity ensures the expertise actually serves everybody, not only a choose few. Fostering variety in crypto is essential to attaining its full potential.
Wanting again, what was the turning level, and the way did it set you on the trail to founding Bitford Digital?
Actually, the turning level was my time in jail. It pressured me to replicate on my errors and take into consideration what I might do otherwise shifting ahead. That’s once I realized I needed to dedicate my work to constructing one thing optimistic and impactful, which led to Bitford Digital. It’s my method of turning a troublesome chapter into one thing significant.
