Relief efforts are still ongoing in Maui, Hawaii, following a devastating series of wildfires. All Hands and Hearts, a disaster relief organization, is collecting donations in cryptocurrency and fiat to assist local Maui residents. Over $125 million has already been raised through The Giving Block, a platform which facilitates digital asset donations in Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), and other tokens.
Olga Ruggiero, the chief of organizational integration and events at All Hands and Hearts, reported that the organization had received more than $125 million in crypto and the Giving Block had matched more than $68,000 in crypto and fiat donations to raise more than $136,000 for the Maui project.
Ruggiero said, “The crypto industry continues to band together with communities around the world in need.” According to reports, the fires may have been caused by downed power lines on Aug. 8 and have taken the lives of more than 100 people and destroyed homes and businesses. Government officials have reported the cost to rebuild may be more than $5.5 billion.
In addition to donations through All Hands and Hearts, the governments of Japan and South Korea each pledged $2 million in aid to support relief efforts. Furthermore, in Ukraine, where residents have faced Russian military attacks since 2022, the government received more than $70 million in crypto for military equipment and humanitarian assistance as of February.
Organizations have embraced technology and utilized different types of digital platforms to improve fundraising efficiency and effectiveness, enabling them to provide crucial aid during disasters. The crypto industry is showing its commitment to communities in need all around the world.
