JustGiving, an established fundraising platform based in the UK, has recently expanded its donation capabilities by allowing users to make contributions using cryptocurrencies. The move significantly increases the range of donation methods available on the platform, which has seen a resurgence of retail interest in cryptocurrencies. Users can now donate using over 60 different cryptocurrencies, including well-known digital currencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, and Dogecoin.
The infrastructure necessary for accepting cryptocurrency donations is being provided by The Giving Block, a digital asset payments company. The Giving Block’s co-founder, Alex Wilson, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership in a statement released on Monday. “Our goal is to make accepting cryptocurrency donations just as easy as taking any other online donations,” Wilson said. “Charities need to tap into this new donor demographic.”
In its 24-year history, JustGiving has facilitated nearly $9 billion in donations. With this new opportunity for donors to contribute using cryptocurrency, the platform looks set to potentially increase its fundraising capabilities significantly. Recently, cryptocurrency donations have contributed billions to charity, suggesting that this form of donation could be a lucrative avenue for JustGiving to explore.
According to The Giving Block’s 2024 Annual Report, more than $2 billion in cryptocurrency has been donated over the past five years. This upward trend in cryptocurrency donations is also reflected in the average size of the donations being made. JustGiving reported that the average cryptocurrency donation is approximately 40 times larger than donations made using traditional fiat currencies.
The integration of cryptocurrencies into mainstream fundraising platforms like JustGiving represents a significant shift in the charitable donation landscape. It reflects the growing acceptance and normalization of cryptocurrencies and could potentially unlock a new demographic of generous donors. As cryptocurrencies continue to gain traction and acceptance, it will be interesting to see how other fundraising platforms respond to this emerging trend.
By incorporating cryptocurrency donations, JustGiving is positioning itself at the forefront of digital innovation in the charitable sector. This move could potentially inspire other platforms to follow suit, leading to a broader acceptance of cryptocurrency donations across the sector.
