Protests have erupted throughout the world in support of Ukraine after the Russian invasion. Several crowdfunding campaigns have been started to gather funds for the country’s armed forces and citizens as it faces off against Russia’s vastly larger military. Several organisations, ranging from Ukraine’s central bank to a crypto-linked organisation founded by Russian punk band Pussy Riot, are requesting funds to assist the troubled country.
Pussy Riot, known for its guerilla-style protest performances and criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced the formation of UkraineDAO to raise funds for civilian organisations such as the Kyiv non-profit Come Back Alive and Proliska, a humanitarian organisation assisting civilians in the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. Pussy Riot founder Nadya Tolokonnikova stated in a live chat on Twitter that cryptocurrencies are borderless, permitless, and so much easier and faster than fiat.
Please take some time to help and support @Ukraine_DAO @pussyrrriot https://t.co/243W6Y6nYf pic.twitter.com/YvzHCWhF5M
— gmrender (@fvckrender) February 27, 2022
Billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried also emphasised that his firm is donating money to Ukrainians. According to blockchain analytics, nearly $4 million in cryptocurrencies had been donated to NGOs and volunteer groups in Ukraine. The crowdfunding continues as Russian forces press in on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital city, accusing its assailant of targeting people.
The constantly increasing crypto-donations demonstrate how the virtual world is providing additional possibilities for donors who were previously confined to contributing through huge organisations such as the Red Cross.
