Following the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, the nation has faced severe economic instability, forced conscription, and ongoing conflict. Many citizens have fled to neighboring countries, such as Thailand, to escape these conditions. Because the official banking system in Myanmar is heavily controlled by the military junta, those living abroad are increasingly relying on shadow banking networks to send money to their relatives.

These informal financial channels allow exiles to transfer hard currency into the country without the funds being intercepted or taxed by the military government. For the families remaining in Myanmar, these remittances serve as a critical lifeline, helping them cope with a broken economy and rising costs of living. While the military regime has attempted to tighten its grip on the economy, these decentralized, peer-to-peer financial systems have proven difficult for authorities to track or regulate. The reliance on these methods highlights the disconnect between the military-led state apparatus and the civilian population, who are actively seeking ways to sustain their households while minimizing their financial contribution to the current regime.