En crypto: Charity: Water launches celebrity-funded Bitcoin Water Trust

Prominent non-profit gains support of cryptocurrencies celebs, Tony Hawk, and others to launch Bitcoin-based fund.

Global safe drinking water nonprofit, charity: water, announced the launch of its first crypto-native Bitcoin Water Trust initiative. The trust will allow charity: water to receive and “hodl” bitcoin donations to fund global water projects until 2025. In line with the values of the donors, the trust’s funds will be held in bitcoin and the intended execution of the water projects it funds and constructs will be conducted in bitcoin.

Since the organization received its first bitcoin donation from Tony Hawk in 2014, the price of that seminal cryptocurrency has exploded, increasing by more than 100 times. After learning more about bitcoin, watching its price ascend and, even more, becoming captivated by the vast untapped potential of the blockchain technology that powers it, charity: water opened up the Bitcoin Water Trust Initiative in hopes of sparking a paradigm shift in the charitable sector adopting this digital asset.

We believe in the generosity of this community, and the potential of bitcoin and blockchain as a force for good in the world

“We believe in the generosity of this community, and the potential of bitcoin and blockchain as a force for good in the world. We’ve been encouraged by the overwhelming support we have seen already for the Bitcoin Trust Initiative,” said Scott Harrison, Founder and CEO at charity: water. “By establishing this trust, we aim to harness the transformational power of this generational digital technology to make a lasting social impact, and in the process to provide a potential model for other charities who are working to do the same.”

A Mission to Bring Clean Drinking Water to People in Developing Nations

charity: water has been on a mission to bring clean drinking water to people in developing nations for 14 years and donates 100% of public donations to this effort. All staff and overhead costs are covered by a group of 125 donors, and it has raised over US$550 million and funded clean water projects for more than 12.7 million people across 29 countries. It seeks to utilize this new trust to scale its impact exponentially, with the end goal of providing clean water to every person on the planet.

I believe bitcoin has serious potential for charitable growth

Professional skateboarder, Tony Hawk, said “I’ve proudly supported the mission of charity: water for almost a decade, and traveled with them to Ethiopia to see their work first-hand. I’m honored to support the Bitcoin Water Trust, and I believe bitcoin has serious potential for charitable growth. I’m eager to see the fund thriving by 2025, helping millions more get clean water.”

The Bitcoin Water Trust has opened up the trust for 100 visionary individuals to give at least 1 BTC each in order to reach its goal of 100 or more bitcoin. The first 50 BTC in donations will be matched by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss of Gemini. Additional preliminary members of the “Founding 100” include: Mike Novogratz of Galaxy Investment Partners, Pete Briger from Fortress, Professional Skateboarder Tony Hawk, Meltem Demirors of CoinShares, Investor Anthony “Pomp” Pompliano, Cory Klipstein of Swan Bitcoin, Barry Silbert of Digital Currency Group, Ayesha Kiani of LedgerPrime, Yoni Assia of eToro, Investor Bill Miller, and David Marcus of Libra.

charity: water

charity: water uses 100% of public donations to directly fund sustainable water solutions in areas of greatest need and prove every project publicly on Google Maps. Since 2006, charity: water has raised more than $550 million from 1 million+ international donors, funding more than 60,000 water solutions across 29 countries for 12.7 million people.