Alcohol oxidation reactions (AORs) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are central to electrochemical energy conversion technologies. However, their practical implementation remains limited by sluggish kinetics, surface poisoning, and catalyst instability. In recent years, electrochemical activation has emerged as an effective strategy to enhance catalytic performance by inducing dynamic interfacial transformations under operating conditions. Rather than acting as a simple pretreatment, electrochemical activation generates operando-stabilized surface states characterized by altered adsorption behavior and increased availability of oxygenated intermediates. This mini-review summarizes the fundamental principles governing AOR and HER, with particular emphasis on interfacial reaction pathways and shared surface intermediates. The mechanistic role of electrochemical activation is critically examined as a bridge between AOR and HER, highlighting the contribution of HER-assisted water activation and hydroxyl species formation to the oxidative removal of poisoning intermediates. In addition, catalyst-dependent manifestations of activation, protocol sensitivity, and implications for stability are discussed. Finally, key challenges and emerging opportunities are outlined, underscoring the need for operando characterization and activation-aware catalyst design to enable predictive control of electrochemical reactivity.