Key Takeaways
- • Save the Children launched a first-of-its-kind Bitcoin Fund in partnership with digital asset firm Fortris, enabling the organization to securely hold Bitcoin donations for up to four years to maximize contribution value during crises.
- • The fund introduces a new operational model for humanitarian assistance, allowing Save the Children to test and scale cash and voucher delivery mechanisms using Bitcoin, stablecoins, and digital wallets to reduce costs and accelerate fund disbursement to families.
- • Save the Children US President and CEO Janti Soeripto positioned the initiative as a response to volatility in traditional foreign aid funding, emphasizing that blockchain-based tools enhance emergency response speed and cost-efficiency for both domestic and international programs.
- • The Bitcoin Fund represents a strategic continuation of Save the Children's cryptocurrency engagement history, building on its 2013 milestone as the first international NGO to accept Bitcoin donations.
- • The initiative addresses dual objectives: accepting and holding cryptocurrency donations as an alternative funding stream while simultaneously piloting blockchain infrastructure for direct cash assistance delivery at lower cost and greater transparency.
Summary
Save the Children announced the launch of a Bitcoin Fund on December 11, 2026, marking what the organization describes as the first humanitarian solution of its kind powered by cryptocurrency. The fund was developed in partnership with Fortris, a digital asset management firm, and represents a significant expansion of the nonprofit's approach to both fundraising and emergency aid delivery.
The Bitcoin Fund operates on a holding model that allows Save the Children to retain Bitcoin donations for up to four years, a structure designed to maximize the value of cryptocurrency contributions over time. This approach addresses a persistent challenge in humanitarian finance: the need to deploy resources rapidly during crises while capturing potential asset appreciation. The fund also serves as a testing ground for blockchain-based delivery mechanisms, enabling the organization to pilot cash and voucher assistance programs using Bitcoin, stablecoins, and digital wallets.
According to Save the Children US President and CEO Janti Soeripto, the initiative reflects a broader strategic shift toward diversified funding sources. Soeripto stated that "out-of-the-box solutions are essential to ensure we continue to be there for children when they need us most—especially when traditional foreign aid funding falters." The executive emphasized that the Bitcoin Fund integrates blockchain speed, cost-efficiency, and financial inclusion capabilities to strengthen both emergency response and long-term development programs in the United States and internationally.
The Bitcoin Fund builds on Save the Children's established track record in cryptocurrency adoption. The organization became the first international NGO to accept Bitcoin donations in 2013, signaling early recognition of digital assets as a viable funding mechanism. The new fund represents an institutional deepening of this commitment, moving from passive acceptance of crypto donations to active management and deployment of digital assets as both a financial reserve and operational tool for aid delivery.
The fund's emphasis on cost reduction and transparency aligns with broader institutional investor interest in blockchain technology for humanitarian and development finance. By enabling direct fund transfer to beneficiaries through digital wallets, Save the Children seeks to reduce intermediary costs and increase accountability in aid distribution during emergencies.
The Bitcoin Fund operates on a holding model that allows Save the Children to retain Bitcoin donations for up to four years, a structure designed to maximize the value of cryptocurrency contributions over time. This approach addresses a persistent challenge in humanitarian finance: the need to deploy resources rapidly during crises while capturing potential asset appreciation. The fund also serves as a testing ground for blockchain-based delivery mechanisms, enabling the organization to pilot cash and voucher assistance programs using Bitcoin, stablecoins, and digital wallets.
According to Save the Children US President and CEO Janti Soeripto, the initiative reflects a broader strategic shift toward diversified funding sources. Soeripto stated that "out-of-the-box solutions are essential to ensure we continue to be there for children when they need us most—especially when traditional foreign aid funding falters." The executive emphasized that the Bitcoin Fund integrates blockchain speed, cost-efficiency, and financial inclusion capabilities to strengthen both emergency response and long-term development programs in the United States and internationally.
The Bitcoin Fund builds on Save the Children's established track record in cryptocurrency adoption. The organization became the first international NGO to accept Bitcoin donations in 2013, signaling early recognition of digital assets as a viable funding mechanism. The new fund represents an institutional deepening of this commitment, moving from passive acceptance of crypto donations to active management and deployment of digital assets as both a financial reserve and operational tool for aid delivery.
The fund's emphasis on cost reduction and transparency aligns with broader institutional investor interest in blockchain technology for humanitarian and development finance. By enabling direct fund transfer to beneficiaries through digital wallets, Save the Children seeks to reduce intermediary costs and increase accountability in aid distribution during emergencies.
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