As cancer research advances through cutting-edge technologies like data science and immunotherapy, the way we fund this work must keep pace. At the Cancer Research Institute (CRI), we’ve always relied on bold, forward-thinking donors to drive progress—and today, that includes those embracing new tools like cryptocurrency.
Just as science is evolving, so too are the ways people can support it. That’s why CRI is proud to be part of a growing movement to make giving more accessible, efficient, and aligned with the future.
Benefits of Cryptocurrency Donations Over Traditional Mediums
For many years, charitable donations have been limited to traditional currencies and methods, such as checks, credit cards, or bank transfers. While these systems have served, and still serve CRI well, they come with limitations that ultimately prevent entire cohorts of donors and nonprofits alike from sending and receiving donations to important causes.
What is crypto?
Cryptocurrency is decentralized and operates on a global scale. This means that anyone, anywhere, can make a donation regardless of geographic borders.
Certain financial institutions or mediums may not be available in certain places. While this certainly applies to various countries around the world, it can also be true of digital nomads, people without a current permanent address, or people in rural areas that lack access to a wealth of financial institutions.
Cryptocurrency enables a donor-nonprofit relationship that isn’t beholden to specific geographic locations.
What will it cost me?
One of the key benefits of accepting cryptocurrency is the significantly lower transaction fees compared to traditional payment processors. Credit card companies and banks often charge high fees that can eat into donations, sometimes up to 3-5%. With cryptocurrency transactions, fees can be as low as a fraction of a percent, which means that more of each donation goes directly toward the cause we support.
Are my donations private?
Cryptocurrency donations provide a level of anonymity for donors who prefer to keep their contributions private. At the same time, the blockchain technology that underpins most cryptocurrencies offers a transparent, immutable record of all transactions, which enhances accountability for both donors and nonprofits.
Embracing the Technology
Cryptocurrency, whether or not it will ever supplant traditional finance, is here to stay, and the wheel of mass adoption is turning.
The fundamental tech behind it is exciting, and leaning into this new frontier of finance ultimately allows us to push the boundaries of philanthropic giving in exciting new ways.
The State of Crypto and Philanthropy
Billions of dollars in crypto donations have been made over the years, with trends pointing to this figure continuing to rise drastically as it achieves more and more mainstream adoption alongside traditional finance.
According to The Giving Block, 70% of Forbes’ Top 100 Charities are now accepting crypto donations, which average in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
This doesn’t just signify a shift in nonprofits, but a shift in donor behavior; after all, this is largely about capturing market demand for an option, rather than purely creating it.
This should come as no surprise, given that all the benefits of philanthropic giving, such as the associated tax benefits, still apply, with more security and anonymity when done with crypto.
Additionally, if you’re an avid investor, strategically using crypto for your donations may offer further benefits, including reducing taxable capital gains.
Ultimately, this goes beyond offering an option of convenience for donors. This represents a massive growth opportunity for nonprofits and philanthropic giving as a whole, which has had unique struggles in turbulent macroeconomic times. Crypto may be one of a few significant catalysts to growth for the industry as a whole.
How to Donate Crypto to CRI
Making a donation with your crypto is quick and easy! Simply go to our regular donation form and select “Crypto” when you reach the various donation options:
From there, just follow the prompts from our Giving Block widget on your screen. You’ll be able to choose which assets to use and your donation amount, and securely connect your wallet on the donation page.
