Cryptocurrency is becoming a bigger part of our daily lives. While it was initially seen as a tool for tech enthusiasts and investors, it is now widely accepted for purchases, investments, and even charitable donations. Donating cryptocurrency allows individuals to contribute to causes they care about without converting their digital assets into fiat currency.
Although many charitable organizations recognize the potential of cryptocurrency donations, they often face significant challenges in accepting them. Legal restrictions, compliance issues, and tax regulations vary by country, making it difficult for some charities to accept crypto. Additionally, technical challenges such as wallet security, transaction processing, and staff training require extra resources and effort.
To bridge this gap, several initiatives have emerged to make crypto donations more accessible. These projects aim to simplify the donation process for both donors and nonprofits, ensuring that more organizations can benefit from cryptocurrency contributions.
One of the most notable initiatives in this space isDonate Crypto (https://donate-crypto.online), launched in 2023. The project was created by David Dawson, a lead systems analyst at Google, who has a passion for using technology for good. In his spare time, he and a group of engineers work on nonprofit projects, and Donate Crypto is their most impactful initiative to date.
David and his colleagues were originally donating to charities through fundraising challenges and campaigns. However, they realized that many organizations struggled to accept cryptocurrency donations.
“I once tried to donate 12 Monero (XMR) to a charity, but I couldn’t find a single organization that accepted it. That’s when I knew we needed to fix this,”
-David Dawson
In response to this issue, they created Donate Crypto, a platform that simplifies crypto donations by connecting donors with vetted charities. The platform allows users to select the causes they want to support, such as environmental conservation, racial justice, or healthcare initiatives. Once a donor chooses a cause, they can contribute using one of over 50 supported cryptocurrencies. Donate Crypto then automatically distributes the funds to trusted organizations that align with the selected cause.
One of the core principles of Donate Crypto is transparency. The platform partners only with well-established, highly reputable charities that meet strict accountability standards. Additionally, Donate Crypto remains politically neutral.
“We are completely apolitical. Right now, we don’t work with any political organizations. Our only goal is to make the world a better place,” says David.
Another unique aspect of Donate Crypto is its funding model. Unlike many donation platforms that charge transaction fees, Donate Crypto operates without taking a commission. The project is fully funded by David’s personal contributions and a few private donors. “We have minimal operational costs, and we don’t intend to profit from this,” he explains. Every single crypto donation goes directly to charity.
Since its launch, Donate Crypto has seen remarkable success. In 2023, the platform raised $469,901 in cryptocurrency donations, and in 2024, that amount grew to $781,390. The team has ambitious plans for the future, setting a goal to surpass $1 million in donations by the end of 2025.
“We love being efficient,” David shares. “We have strong connections in the crypto community, and we want to make an impact in the nonprofit sector.”
As cryptocurrency continues to gain mainstream adoption, platforms like Donate Crypto demonstrate how digital assets can be used for good. By making it easier for charities to accept crypto donations, these initiatives empower donors to support causes they care about in a modern and efficient way. If you’re looking for a way to contribute using cryptocurrency, Donate Crypto is a great place to start.
