The past two years have seen significant growth in crypto philanthropy, with Fidelity Charitable receiving over $330 million in donations and The Giving Block reporting a total donation volume of $69 million. Covid-19 has pushed many nonprofits to create digital presences, making them open to new strategies like accepting crypto donations. With their higher incomes and larger amounts, donors are now turning to cryptocurrencies as an avenue for giving back — allowing charities to access funds quickly without issues of volatility.
Cryptocurrency offers a more efficient way for people to donate money than traditional methods. It allows for immediate transactions between donors and nonprofits, eliminating the need for waiting days or weeks for money transfers. Bitcoin also cuts out third-party fees that would otherwise be taken from donations, meaning that more money is available for charitable work instead. Additionally, cryptocurrency offers donors greater control over how their funds are used. They can be programmed so that royalties go directly towards a charity when they are resold, allowing donors to make sure their contributions are going towards the cause they care about most.
Ukraine is just one example of how crypto donations can help those in need during times of crisis — as Alex Pritzker used bitcoin during the early days of the war in Ukraine as it allowed funds from dollars into Ukrainian currency quickly and without volatility issues. Within just two weeks after sharing details of their initiative on social media platforms, Ukraine received close to $100 million worth of aid through cryptocurrency transactions. This kind of quick response time is invaluable during disasters and humanitarian crises when speed is essential.
Crypto donations are still a relatively new concept but could soon become the standard form of giving — particularly among younger generations who tend to be more comfortable using cutting-edge technologies like cryptocurrency compared with older generations who may not understand it as well yet. Donations made through cryptocurrencies also allow for greater transparency since every transaction is recorded on an immutable blockchain ledger which means there’s no risk of fraud or corruption related to these types of gifts.
Overall, crypto donations offer immense potential for charities and nonprofits around the world — both during times of stability and crisis alike — thanks to their speed, efficiency, security, and controllability compared with other forms of donation methods currently available today. As technology continues to advance and more people become comfortable with using cryptocurrencies for various purposes including giving back financially, we will likely see even greater growth in this area over the next few years — putting crypto philanthropy at the forefront in terms of supporting those who need it most all around the world today.