This page compiles crypto fundraising info for nonprofits, explaining what it is, how to choose a suitable platform, the main benefits and hazards, key regulatory pointers, and further reading. The material is structured so it can double as a practical toolkit and a template policy for your organization.
Crypto Fundraising Platforms
Specialist services that accept digital asset gifts for charities are still few, but they can unlock new capital for good causes. With relatively few nonprofits currently taking crypto gifts through these services, early adopters may find meaningful upside.
In other contexts, “crypto fundraising” also refers to raising capital for blockchain startups and networks. Rounds commonly progress from seed to private rounds (often with lockups and vesting), then public distribution through exchanges or on-chain mechanisms, and sometimes community rounds designed to widen ownership.
Common fundraising formats include Ico-style token sales, exchange-led offerings, security-token offerings, decentralized exchange launches, NFT sales, and airdrops that reward early users or contributors. Each format differs in how tokens are priced, who can participate, and what compliance burden it creates.
Active investors in these rounds often include specialist venture funds and corporate venture arms such as Andreessen Horowitz (a16z Crypto), Paradigm, Sequoia Capital, Polychain Capital, Pantera Capital, Digital Currency Group, Coinbase Ventures, and Binance Labs, alongside angel investors and institutions that back teams early.
To verify a funding round’s authenticity, start with the project’s primary channels and confirm the exact token and smart-contract address; compare it against addresses published in official announcements and reputable explorers, and look for independent security audits. Where applicable, review offering documents, jurisdiction-specific registrations or exemptions, and clear disclosures on token allocation, vesting, and insider wallets.
Some record-setting raises frequently cited in the sector include EOS (about $4 billion via an Ico-style sale), Telegram’s TON offering (about $1.7 billion in private sales), Filecoin (about $257 million), and large equity rounds such as FTX (about $900 million). Amounts and labels vary by source and structure, so treat these figures as directional.
For teams seeking funding, practical tactics include publishing a clear white paper and token model, demonstrating a working product, building an engaged community, lining up credible partners, and planning compliance early (including sanctions screening, fraud controls, and transparent communications for prospective participants).
Recognized Platforms for Charity Donations
Digital giving via cryptocurrencies remains early-stage, so only a handful of providers are widely cited. Examples include:
| Platform Name | Asset Handling | Fiat Conversion | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Giving Block | Receives crypto gifts on a nonprofit’s behalf | Typically converts and remits proceeds | Charity onboarding and crypto donation tooling |
| Engiven | Receives and processes crypto donations for nonprofits | Typically converts and remits proceeds | Donation processing with nonprofit-focused workflows |
| Fundraise Up | Supports crypto giving as part of broader fundraising flows | Typically converts and remits proceeds | Fundraising integrations and donor experience features |
| BitPay | Processes crypto payments that can be used for donations | Typically converts and settles in fiat | Payment processing and settlement options |
| Coinbase | Exchange account that can custody or transfer received assets | Conversion options depend on account setup | Exchange-based custody and conversion capabilities |
Most providers receive the asset, immediately exchange it for fiat, and remit the proceeds to the nonprofit. Some organizations instead manage their own wallet and retain assets directly. Inclusion here is informational only and does not imply endorsement or first-hand testing.
Donation Trends and Examples
According to the Financial Conduct Authority, around 2.3 million people in the United Kingdom hold crypto assets, and NatWest has suggested that roughly one in five of its 19 million customers own them.
In 2021, The Giving Block reported an average gift exceeding $10,000 and stated that crypto gifts were, on average, 82 times larger than typical online cash contributions. A notable case involved a Scottish animal charity receiving approximately £90,000 in a single crypto gift.
High-profile campaigns have shown what is possible at scale. The Pineapple Fund distributed roughly $55 million in BTC to a range of charitable causes, and UkraineDao raised about $7 million through an NFT sale to support humanitarian relief.
Causes supported mirror mainstream philanthropy. Motivations are comparable, but the donor profile skews different: estimated United States per‑capita income among crypto investors is about $111,000, and the median age skews younger than traditional givers (about 38 versus 64).
Beyond one-off gifts, charities are also experimenting with NFT-based fundraising (for example, limited digital collectibles tied to campaigns), donor-advised giving groups organized as Daos, and stablecoin donations that aim to reduce volatility while keeping settlement fast and borderless.
These indicators suggest that digital asset gifts are not merely channel shifts by existing supporters but also represent fresh wealth entering the charitable space.
Benefits and Risks Overview
Use this summary to evaluate whether accepting digital assets aligns with your mission, resources, and risk appetite.
In crypto fundraising, strong due diligence and clear compliance ownership matter as much as the technology, because the biggest failures are usually process failures, not software failures.
Benefits of Accepting Digital Asset Donations
This route is not universal, but for suitable charities it can broaden support and diversify revenue.
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| New Revenue Stream | In a challenging funding climate, crypto giving offers a potentially expanding source of contributions. |
| Access to Different Donors | Holders of digital assets often have higher average incomes despite being younger than typical donors. |
| Operational Efficiency | Processing digital transactions can be cheaper than traditional payments, and cross‑border gifts avoid currency conversion costs. |
| Built‑In Transparency | Public blockchains allow transaction tracing, helping contributors verify flows and strengthening trust. |
| Reduced Reliance on Intermediaries | Routing aid without conventional finance rails can help reach locations that are otherwise hard to serve. |
Key Risks When Taking Crypto Gifts
Nonprofits must identify and mitigate material threats before proceeding.
| Risk | Description |
|---|---|
| Price Volatility | Asset values can swing rapidly. |
| Data Protection Compliance | Specific privacy risks arise in blockchain systems. |
| Fraud and Theft | Attackers may target wallets and exchanges. |
| Hot Versus Cold Storage | Online wallets face higher exposure to hacks. Offline storage reduces that risk. |
| Hardware Wallet Handling | Physical devices are hard to hack but can be lost or damaged. |
| Limited Consumer Protections | Compared with regulated products, recourse is minimal. Consumer compensation and regulator protections are unlikely to apply. |
| Jurisdictional Differences | Laws vary widely, with outright bans in some countries and complex regimes in others. |
| Donor Traceability | Anonymous transfers can make it difficult to verify the source of funds. |
Tax Considerations for Crypto Gifts
- Crypto assets are not eligible for Gift Aid as donations in kind under Gift Aid Chapter 3.4.1, because HM Revenue and Customs does not treat crypto assets as money.
- Fiat proceeds may qualify for Gift Aid if conditions are met once the asset is converted to cash.
- Donors should consider Capital Gains Tax when liquidating assets before donating.
How to Set Up Crypto Giving
- Evaluate donation volume vs. costs and risks.
- Compare service providers and accepted assets, including fees, supported tokens, security controls, donor user experience, and integration options.
- Ensure legal and regulatory compliance.
- Decide on asset holding vs. fiat conversion.
- Use Financial Conduct Authority-registered services for direct receipt where anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing registration is required.
- Follow HM Revenue and Customs guidance and inform donors.
- Provide clear donor information and privacy notice coverage.
- Maintain accurate records and fair value assessments at each year-end.
Regulatory Landscape
Below are reference materials from UK regulators and sector bodies that address digital assets and fundraising.
Rules also vary significantly outside the United Kingdom. In the United States, token fundraising can trigger money-transmission, tax, and securities considerations depending on how a token is marketed and used. In the European Union, crypto-asset service providers and token issuers may face licensing, disclosure, and anti-money-laundering obligations, with national regulators enforcing local requirements.
Across parts of Asia, approaches range from licensing regimes for exchanges and payment providers to restrictions on public token sales or crypto marketing, and charities may need to ensure that any partners they use are permitted to operate locally. For charities specifically, common compliance expectations include clear internal governance for accepting and converting assets, documented financial controls for custody and approvals, screening for sanctioned persons and high-risk sources of funds, and accurate valuation and reporting for financial statements.
Guidance and Official Resources
Published material is still limited, but these sources provide useful direction.
- Charity Commission: Cc8 Internal Financial Controls.
- Charity Commission: Know Your Donor and End‑Use Monitoring.
- HM Revenue and Customs: Cryptoasset Taxation Guidance.
- Financial Conduct Authority and Financial Services Compensation Scheme: Consumer Warnings on Cryptoasset Risks.
Data Protection Challenges for Charities
Decentralized, append‑only ledgers can complicate privacy compliance and the exercise of individual rights. Proceed only if you can meet data protection duties, or refrain from using such systems.
- Pseudonymization Limits. Additional data can re‑identify parties involved in blockchain transactions.
- Immutability Versus Rights. Permanent records may conflict with rights such as rectification and erasure when personal data is present.
- Accountability in Daos. When decision‑making is distributed across token holders, responsibility for processing personal data can be unclear.
Further Reading for Nonprofits
- Information Commissioner’s Office: Written Evidence to Parliament.
- Fundraising Regulator: Cryptocurrencies, NFT Tokens, and Future Fundraising.
- Charities Aid Foundation: Giving a Bit(Coin) — Cryptocurrency and Philanthropy.
- The Giving Block: Crypto Donor Personas (United States).
- The Giving Block: Crypto Fundraising 101.
Charity Crypto Fundraising and Donation Faqs
- What Is Crypto Fundraising? It is a way for charities to receive donations in digital assets, often through a specialist processor. It carries advantages and risks, so seek appropriate advice before launching.
- What Is a Crypto Fundraising Platform? It is a service that accepts digital assets on a charity’s behalf, converts them to fiat, and remits the proceeds. Some organizations instead use their own wallet to hold assets.
- What Is Blockchain? A shared digital ledger that records ownership and transfers of assets.
- What Are Crypto Assets? Digital representations of value or rights secured by blockchain technology, including cryptocurrencies and NFT tokens.
- What Is Cryptocurrency? A digital medium of exchange used for payments and trading, recorded on a blockchain.
- What Is Crypto Philanthropy? Donating cryptocurrencies to support charitable work instead of giving cash.
- What Is a Crypto Wallet? A tool that stores private keys and enables sending, receiving, and spending digital assets.
- What Is a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (Dao)? An entity with no central authority in which token holders vote on decisions using blockchain.
- What Is Fiat Currency? Government‑issued money such as United States dollars or United Kingdom pounds.
- What Are Non‑Fungible Tokens (NFT)? Unique digital tokens that represent ownership of specific items like art, music, or real estate, stored on a blockchain.
- What Is a Stablecoin? A cryptocurrency designed to track the value of a reference asset, such as the United States dollar or gold, to reduce volatility.
