UBI Taiwan, the Bitcoin and Virtual Asset Development Association, recently had the distinct privilege of being invited by Legislator Dr. Ko Ju-Chun to participate in an in-depth dialogue at the Legislative Yuan. The event featured a discussion with one of the world’s most renowned advocates for Universal Basic Income (UBI), Dr. Sarath Davala, Chairman of the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN). This pivotal meeting not only explored the urgent necessity of UBI in the age of Artificial Intelligence but also sparked innovative ideas about integrating UBI with blockchain technology.
As AI technology advances at an exponential rate, a scenario once confined to science fiction is rapidly becoming our reality: vast numbers of jobs are being automated, fundamentally disrupting traditional employment markets and economic models. In the face of this transformative wave, how can we construct a social safety net robust enough to meet the challenges of the future? This question was at the heart of our gathering, which brought together legislators, blockchain enthusiasts, our association, UBI Taiwan, and the Chairman of BIEN. The core focus was not merely on the philosophy of UBI, but on its revolutionary potential when combined with cutting-edge technologies like blockchain and cryptocurrency, as we seek a viable path forward for Taiwan.
The Clarion Call of the AI Era
In the past, technological revolutions primarily replaced repetitive manual labor. The impact of AI, however, is comprehensive. From blue-collar workers to professionals such as accountants, lawyers, and even business strategists, all are beginning to feel the pressure of AI-driven change. The data presented by UBI Taiwan at the meeting was stark: over the past two decades, real wages in Taiwan have remained largely stagnant, while the stock market index has surged fivefold and housing prices have more than tripled. The wealth gap between the richest and poorest segments of society is at a historic high.
Wealth is concentrating in the hands of a few technology giants and capitalists at an unprecedented pace, while the vast majority of the population, particularly the younger generation lacking accumulated assets, is mired in a state of “financial vulnerability.” UBI is proposed as a direct response to this systemic crisis. It is no longer a utopian fantasy but a necessary instrument for maintaining social stability and individual dignity. The philosophy underpinning UBI is to “unleash human potential,” enabling individuals to pursue self-actualization rather than being trapped in a struggle for mere survival.
How Blockchain Empowers UBI
Traditional welfare distribution systems are often plagued by high administrative costs and operational inefficiencies. Blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies, however, offer an unprecedentedly efficient, transparent, and low-cost pathway for implementing UBI.
Efficient, Low-Fee Global Payments: Many international charities have already begun leveraging cryptocurrencies, such as stablecoins, for cross-border donations. A recent Bloomberg report highlighted a non-profit organization in New York that uses the Coinbase exchange to distribute UBI in the form of stablecoins to low-income households.
Bitcoin as a Universal Store of Value: Consider the potential of integrating UBI with a “Universal Bitcoin Strategic Reserve.” Through the design of smart contracts, these funds could be locked and made accessible only at a specific time, such as upon reaching adulthood or retirement. This would serve as a foundational nest egg or pension for every citizen, allowing all to share in the value appreciation of the digital age.
Precision and Flexibility through Smart Contracts: Blockchain-based smart contracts can execute complex distribution rules. For instance, a “smart clawback mechanism” could be designed to automatically reclaim a portion of the basic income from high-earners upon tax filing, ensuring that resources are directed where they are most needed and significantly enhancing fiscal flexibility and sustainability.
From African Precedents to Taiwanese Potential: Dr. Sarath Davala shared his experiences in Africa, which has become a testing ground for UBI combined with cryptocurrency. He noted that even in regions with relatively underdeveloped infrastructure, mobile phone SIM cards can function as simple digital wallets, enabling the direct and successful delivery of assets to tribal communities. This experience powerfully underscores Taiwan’s immense potential. As a “Tech Island,” Taiwan boasts exceptionally high smartphone penetration, low device costs, and world-class internet coverage, with an estimated eighty percent of the population being almost constantly online. We are in an excellent position to realize a fully digitized UBI framework.
The Convergence of Philanthropy and Blockchain’s Decentralized Ethos
A noteworthy trend is the growing synergy between philanthropic organizations and the blockchain community. At the Asia Blockchain Summit (ABS), Taiwan’s largest blockchain conference, the organizers invited Master Cheng Yen of the Tzu Chi Foundation to deliver an opening address. Her speech, which drew parallels between the decentralized philosophy of blockchain and the values of equality and charity, resonated widely with attendees.
The underlying logic is shared: whether for UBI or charitable aid, the objective is to deliver resources directly and effectively to those in need. The core attributes of blockchain—decentralization, transparency, and immutability—directly address the long-standing challenges of trust and efficiency in traditional philanthropy. When the implementation of UBI incorporates blockchain technology, it transcends the scope of a mere government program and has the potential to evolve into a social innovation movement, propelled by the joint efforts of civil society, industry associations, and non-profit organizations.
A Crossroads in Defining Our Future
This meeting illuminated a profound shift: scenarios once considered futuristic are fast becoming our present reality. The social contract that has held for millennia—that human beings must labor to earn their means of survival—is being fundamentally challenged by the rise of AI. As more and more work can be easily automated, we must confront a foundational question: if a future society no longer requires as much human labor, on what will we base our value and our right to a dignified existence?
From this perspective, time is on UBI’s side. With every leap forward in AI technology, the arguments supporting UBI gain a firmer footing in reality. The discourse is gradually shifting from a philosophical debate of “whether we should” to a pragmatic planning process of “how we can.” This is precisely where blockchain technology can deliver its greatest value. UBI, as a potential global and borderless social safety net, has found its ideal technological counterpart in blockchain, a tool engineered for the frictionless, borderless transfer of value. Its decentralized, transparent, and efficient nature makes it the most suitable medium for realizing the vision of UBI.
The conversation has evolved. We are not merely discussing resource allocation; we are co-designing the new rules for an era of human-AI coexistence.
Founded in 2017, UBI Taiwan is a non-profit policy advocacy organization dedicated to exploring and implementing UBI solutions. It promotes the idea that the state should provide everyone with a regular, unconditional cash grant to secure basic livelihood and economic dignity, addressing social and economic challenges through research, experiments, and public campaigns for a fairer and more sustainable future.
UBI Taiwan 與台灣本土科幻出版社海穹文化（SciFaSaurus）共同推出《島嶼新日常：無條件基本收入制的台灣想像》，並於今年 8 月 28 日在巴西舉辦的 BIEN（基本收入全球網絡）大會首次向國際社群發表。此書以無條件基本收入（UBI）為核心設定，集結 8 篇短篇小說與 1 則短篇漫畫，透過近未來與遠未來的敘事，探討 AI 與勞動再分配、性別與家庭關係、社會安全網與公民參與等議題，試圖以文學開啟政策想像。
跨界協作的一年，「從概念到付梓」的在地行動
本次出版由海穹文化負責徵集作者與編務製作，UBI Taiwan 提供 UBI 專業知識與政策脈絡諮詢，雙方以「出版 × 公共議題」的跨域合作推進專案，歷時約一年完成。UBI Taiwan 理事長蘇嘉冠在論壇表示：「這不是單向度的宣傳，而是一個創作與對話的場域。每篇作品呈現對 UBI 的不同想像，有樂觀，也有批判；我們不預設 UBI 是完美解答，而是邀請讀者思考它對個人與社會的意義。」
蘇嘉冠補充，團隊在書末安排了由 UBI Taiwan 成員撰寫的附錄，系統地整理 UBI 的理念、國際趨勢、可能的財源設計與漸進式推進路徑，供有興趣的讀者深入研讀；他說：「我們希望讀者在閱讀故事之後，能有管道接軌更嚴肅的資料與研究，而不是停在情緒或直覺判斷。」這樣的編排也讓許多首次接觸 UBI 的讀者，能在閱讀後進一步了解相關脈絡。
海穹文化創辦人李伍薰（南瓜社長）與 UBI Taiwan 理事長蘇嘉冠
海穹文化展開跨國合作構想，系列創作正啟動新篇章
海穹文化創辦人李伍薰（南瓜社長）表示，《島嶼新日常》目前以中文首發，但後續歡迎各國出版社與譯者洽談翻譯與海外出版合作，希望讓這本以台灣為起點的作品，能在不同文化語境中激盪出新的想像。除了現有的出版成果，海穹文化也正在規劃「島嶼新日常」系列的新書，延續以 UBI 為核心、結合奇幻與科幻的創作方向。未來將考慮邀請其他國家的作者與出版社共同參與，嘗試跨國合輯與多語版本出版，讓更多文化共同描繪 UBI 世界的可能樣貌。
從台灣出發，連結全球社群
UBI Taiwan 與海穹文化表示，目前書籍已於台灣通路上市，後續將與公民教育與藝文團體與合作，舉辦閱讀座談與跨界對談；同時與國際 UBI 社群連結，促成作家與研究者的線上交流，擴大與年輕世代的對話。團隊強調，此次專案不是單次出版行動，而是以文化與公共議題結合的長期計畫。
關於台灣無條件基本收入協會（UBI Taiwan） UBI Taiwan 是創立於 2017 年的政策倡議非營利組織，致力於探索和實施無條件基本收入（UBI）解決方案，主張由國家每月發放一筆現金，保障人們最基礎的生活需求與經濟安全，以解決社會和經濟挑戰。透過政策研究、實驗與倡議，促進更加公平和永續的未來。
10 月 3 日晚間，《島嶼新日常：無條件基本收入制的台灣想像》一書於台北 REEDS Bookstore 舉行國際新書發表會。這是台灣首部以無條件基本收入（UBI）為主題的小說合集，由 UBI Taiwan 與海穹文化（SciFaSaurus）出版社共同製作，集結八篇短篇小說與一則漫畫，透過近未來與遠未來的故事場景，探索 AI、勞動再分配、性別與家庭關係、社會安全網與公民參與等議題。
活動現場匯聚來自國內外的行動者、研究者與創作者，包括 BIEN（基本收入全球網絡）主席 Sarath Davala、UBI Taiwan 理事長蘇嘉冠、常務理事李品逸、海穹文化創辦人兼作家伍薰（南瓜社長）及多位參與創作的作家（靜川、馬立、曉由、戲雪、大鬣蜥），共同以故事為媒介，對話 UBI 制度與未來的可能。
Sarath Davala：從「讀書的自由」到「想像社會的自由」
本次發表會特別邀請 BIEN 主席 Sarath Davala 親臨現場。他以「圖書館的味道」作為隱喻，稱讚本書將「讀書的自由」化為「想像社會的自由」。Davala 在談話中濃縮介紹 UBI 的五項核心精神：現金、個人、定期、普遍性、無條件，並指出，UBI 不僅是一種現金轉移機制，更是一種「看待生命、社會與國家」的方式。
他同時分享近期赴韓國、馬來西亞等地推動亞洲 UBI 網絡的經驗，並以社會學者的觀點指出，台灣正面臨高齡化、孤獨與人口結構變遷等挑戰。他強調，政策辯論應同時兼顧經濟成長與社會福祉，讓「社會的健康」成為立法時不可忽視的衡量標準。談到青年，他鼓勵台灣創作者與行動者「在日常的秩序裡務實，但在關於人生與社會的夢想上要勇敢、甚至有點不顧一切」，因為公共想像需要被點燃。
活動最後，Davala 代表 BIEN 贈予 UBI Taiwan 一紙「In Honour of UBI Taiwan」的紀念證書，以表彰台灣十年來堅定而創新的倡議成果。
蘇嘉冠：以青年為主體，讓公共議題走入日常
UBI Taiwan 理事長蘇嘉冠延續國際視角，介紹協會以年輕世代為主體、以人為本的倡議方法。他指出，團隊一方面深耕政策研究，另一方面以創意行動貼近大眾，包括拍攝單親家庭實驗紀錄片、舉辦 UBI 遊行、參與 BIEN 國際會議，把台灣經驗帶到世界，也把國際間的對話帶回台灣。
他提到閱讀本書後的兩個感動：其一，多篇作品在近未來場景中對「人性選擇」進行細膩書寫；其二，創作者以溫柔卻銳利的筆觸處理性別、家庭與自由，顯示 UBI 如何觸及真實生活的縫隙。蘇嘉冠並談到青年政策構想與 AI 衝擊，指出當結構性失業來臨，無資產、少人脈的新鮮人最為脆弱，UBI 與相關配套應成為社會安全網的重要基礎。
李品逸：讓研究轉化為國會能理解的政策語言
UBI Taiwan 常務理事李品逸從公共溝通角度補充協會近年工作：走進媒體與 Podcast、與 NGO 連結、並拜訪多位立委，嘗試把「只存在學界與網路的討論」推進為「可被國會理解的政策選項」。他以「拋磚引玉」形容：先拋出能引發社會對話的大命題，再用論述與案例讓討論更深入。
On the evening of October 3, the international book launch of Island’s New Realities: Imagining UBI in Taiwan was held at REEDS Bookstore in Taipei. This is Taiwan’s first fiction anthology centered on the idea of Unconditional Basic Income (UBI), jointly produced by UBI Taiwan and SciFaSaurus Publishing.
The event gathered activists, researchers, and creators from Taiwan and abroad, including BIEN (Basic Income Earth Network) Chair Sarath Davala, UBI Taiwan Chair Jia-Kuan Su, Executive Director Pin-I Lee, SciFaSaurus Wu-Hsuan Lee (aka Pumpkin President), and several contributing authors (StillWater, Merlin Ma, Hsiao Yiou, Shirlina, and Iguana). Together, they used storytelling as a medium to engage in dialogue about the future of UBI and society.
Freedom to ‘imagine society’
The event featured a special address by BIEN Chair Sarath Davala, who used the metaphor of “the smell of a library” to praise the book for transforming the freedom to read into the freedom to imagine society. Davala summarized the five core principles of UBI: cash, individual, periodic, universal, and unconditional, emphasizing that UBI is not merely a mechanism for cash transfers but a way of “seeing life, society, and the state.”
He also shared his recent work establishing UBI networks in Asia, including Korea and Malaysia, and reflected on Taiwan’s challenges of aging, loneliness, and demographic transition, through a sociological lens. He stressed that policy debates should balance economic growth with social well-being, making “the health of society” an essential standard in legislation.
Speaking to the youth, Davala encouraged Taiwan’s creators and activists to “be pragmatic in everyday order, but bold, even reckless, when it comes to dreams about life and society,” because public imagination must be kindled.
At the close of his remarks, Davala presented UBI Taiwan with an “In Honour of UBI Taiwan” certificate on behalf of BIEN, recognizing a decade of steadfast and innovative advocacy.
People centered and youth-driven advocacy
UBI Taiwan Chair Jia-Kuan Su continued the international perspective by introducing the association’s people-centered, youth-driven advocacy approach. He explained that the team both deepens policy research and engages the public through creative actions, such as producing a documentary on a single-parent basic income pilot, organizing UBI parades, and participating in BIEN Congresses, bringing Taiwan’s experiences to the world and global conversations back to Taiwan.
Su shared two personal impressions from reading the book: First, many stories portray subtle reflections on human choice within near-future scenarios; second, the authors handle themes of gender, family, and freedom with both tenderness and sharpness, revealing how UBI touches the intimate seams of everyday life.
He also discussed youth policy ideas amid AI disruptions, noting that when structural unemployment arrives, young people without assets or networks are most vulnerable. Therefore, UBI and related policies should form a key part of the social safety net.
Turning research into policy
UBI Taiwan Executive Director Pin-Ii Lee elaborated on the organization’s recent public communication efforts: entering mainstream media and podcasts, connecting with NGOs, and engaging members of parliament, to move discussions from academia and the internet into policy options comprehensible to legislators.
He described this as a process of “getting the ball rolling”: first posing big questions to spark dialogue, then deepening them through arguments and real cases.
Lee also highlighted the book’s focus on women’s experiences, noting that when systems redirect resources, shifts in economic autonomy and household power dynamics become intertwined, an issue worth long-term social observation.
SciFaSaurus founder Wu-Hsuan Lee reflected on the collaboration between the publisher and UBI Taiwan. Since its founding in 2014, SciFaSaurus has sought to address contemporary issues through the creative power of fantasy and science fiction, treating literature not merely as entertainment but as a medium for policy dialogue.
He emphasized that Island’s New Realities represents an experiment cobining policy discussion with narrative creativity, showcasing the diversity of original Taiwanese storytelling. He also noted SciFaSaurus’s commitment to ESG transformation and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)-certified sustainable publishing, underscoring that cultural production itself should embody the values of sustainability and responsibility.
Authors and public reflect on basic income
The creative sharing segment featured multiple authors presenting their stories from unique perspectives: StillWater, in 808, set in a rehearsal room, contrasts two musicians’ diverging lives, describing UBI as an “amplifier” that magnifies the self-discipline and passion of some, but not necessarily the achievements of those prone to procrastination.
Merlin Ma, in Uncaged Brain Initiative, follows a freelancer who gradually changes his view of UBI through interactions with an AI assistant, revealing his renewed commitment to writing. The author shared that he even discussed the title and plot details with AI during creation, forming a dialogue within and beyond the text.
Hsiao Yiou, through The Discard Mother and Heartfelt Words, examines family dynamics from both wife and husband perspectives, depicting how UBI reshapes relationships and personal dignity within the household. Shirlina, in Bi-Lian, centers on a woman in a patriarchal family who awakens and rebuilds herself under a UBI system. She noted that UBI is not a cure-all but a starting point for recognizing opportunities for change.
Hsiao Yiou, through The Discard Mother and Heartfelt Words, examines family dynamics from both wife and husband perspectives, depicting how UBI reshapes relationships and personal dignity within the household. Shirlina, in Bi-Lian, centers on a woman in a patriarchal family who awakens and rebuilds herself under a UBI system. She noted that UBI is not a cure-all but a starting point for recognizing opportunities for change.
Iguana, in The Fatal Document, uses a journalistic narrative pace inspired by his media background. He observed that many around him oppose UBI, believing “human worth must be measured,” and he turned this tension into a suspenseful thriller.
Wu Hsaun Lee, also a contributing author, wrote The Coming-of-Age Ceremony, set in the far future, exploring how humanity can still mature and grow in a society where everyone’s livelihood is guaranteed.
During the discussion, audience members raised questions on topics such as eligibility age and migrant workers’ rights. The authors collectively emphasized that fiction’s purpose is not to provide answers but to offer extreme scenarios and ethical dilemmas that invite reflection. One participant with a disability shared personal employment struggles, to which author Hsiao Yiou responded: “The real test of UBI lies not in grand numbers, but in personal dignity and the recognition of one’s value.”
The event concluded with book-signing and group photos. The combination of international recognition, local creative perspectives, and the advocates’ effort to translate research into public language made Island’s New Realities not merely a literary publication but an act of reconnecting culture with policy, inviting society to rethink how we live together.
Sarath Davala’s presence and his commemorative gift symbolized Taiwan’s growing role in the global UBI conversation. UBI Taiwan and SciFaSaurus announced plans for continued activities to keep the dialogue alive, hoping this book will become a starting point for broader discussion and imagination of our shared future.
Founded in 2017, UBI Taiwan is a non-profit policy advocacy organization dedicated to exploring and implementing UBI solutions. It promotes the idea that the state should provide everyone with a regular, unconditional cash grant to secure basic livelihood and economic dignity, addressing social and economic challenges through research, experiments, and public campaigns for a fairer and more sustainable future.
Founded in 2014, SciFaSaurus is a Taiwan-based publisher specializing in fantasy and science-fiction novels, comics, and games. It cultivates original Taiwanese creators and has developed over 35 intellectual properties (IPs). SciFaSaurus is also the first small-scale publisher in Taiwan to complete an ESG transformation, with all its publications certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).
參照海外的 UBI 實驗都有企業與政府的協力支持，對於UBI Taiwan 而言不論是拍攝紀錄片、支持受試者甚至進行實驗的訪談與分析，都仰賴資源的投入，因此借鑑海外經驗，透過 Ascent Academy 思躍軟實力培訓所合作，進一步希望擴大與企業端合作，爭取擴大實驗規模，涵蓋更多族群，讓實驗成果更為客觀與全面。
UBI Taiwan 表示，今年除了加強政策論述，希望引起更多社會良性對話，也積極拜訪產官學界，廣納各方意見，搭配推動立法討論，期望 UBI 成為台灣社會安全網的一部分。
