Vitalik Buterin Makes Low-key USD 5M ETH Donations in Support of Ukraine

 

The Ethereum (ETH) co-founder Vitalik Buterin has made some USD 5 million worth of crypto donations – in ETH – with half going to the Ukrainian government and the remainder going to a charity that is providing humanitarian aid to Ukrainian citizens.

Per a tweet from the Ukrainian government-run incentive Aid For Ukraine, which was co-established by the Kyiv-based crypto trading platform Kuna, Buterin “donated almost USD 2.5m in ETH two days ago, and didn’t say a word.”

The Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation, a key figure in setting up the initiative, also expressed his gratitude, writing:

“I couldn’t be more grateful for every crypto donation to our lifesaving initiative. It really helps to strength our country and protect democratic values. Special thanks to Vitalik Buterin for standing with Ukraine.”

The incentive wrote that Buterin “also donated USD 2.5m to Unchain Fund” – a charity group founded by blockchain activists in support of Ukrainian victims of the conflict.

It also praised the Ethereum community and wrote:

“Thanks for your enormous help, Vitalik, and thank you for creating ethereum.”

In the past, Buterin has also put ETH into the Ukraine DAO, a decentralized autonomous organization that was formed by a member of the outspoken Vladimir Putin critics and pop group Pussy Riot. The decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), which has sold non-fungible tokens (NFTs), has pledged that “100%” of its “proceeds go to support Ukrainians suffering” as a result of the conflict.

Buterin, a Russia-born Canadian, once met with Putin, but has come out as a fierce critic of the President’s actions in Ukraine. He has previously accused Putin of committing “a crime against the Ukrainian and Russian people” by launching an invasion. He has also hit back at a Chinese critic on Twitter who had accused him of “treachery.”

Furthermore, he has hit back at individuals on Twitter who have suggested that the plight of other victims of war is currently being neglected in favor of a focus on events in Ukraine.

Ukrainians are far from the only ones suffering from war. Also people in Yemen, Ethiopia… just as human as Ukrainians and you are.

This is NOT a valid excuse to not care about Ukrainians today. But it does mean we should self-reflect and extend our compassion to others too.

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) March 9, 2022

Meanwhile, Buterin’s main ETH wallet currently contains some USD 173,000 worth of the coin, while another of his ether accounts holds some USD 36,000.

Buterin has previously stated that he also holds smaller positions in “non-ethereum-ecosystem tokens” such as bitcoin cash (BCH), bitcoin (BTC), dogecoin (DOGE), zcash (ZEC), and omisego (OMG).

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Learn more:
– Ethereum’s Buterin Reiterates Support for Ukraine, Educates Chinese on Patriotism
– Ethereum is Halfway Towards its ‘Grand Vision’ – Vitalik Buterin

– Crypto Helps Ukraine Defend Itself Against Russia’s Invasion, Here’s How You Can Contribute
– Ukraine Now Accepts Donations in 14 Cryptoassets 
– How to Responsibly Donate to Ukrainian Causes

– As More Russians Support Massacre in Ukraine, Here’s How Some Big Crypto Companies Respond
– Ukraine Deputy Minister Praises Crypto Efficiency; Donations Spent on Military Necessities