Surge in Crypto Donations Transforms Thanksgiving Philanthropy in 2025

Thanksgiving marks a significant time for charitable giving in the United States, kicking off a season of generosity that typically peaks from late November through the end of the year. However, in 2025, a noteworthy trend is emerging in holiday philanthropy: a dramatic rise in cryptocurrency donations.

Key Takeaways

2025 has seen a significant rise in crypto donations, with nearly $100 million processed by The Giving Block.
Bitcoin remains the most popular asset for donations, followed by stablecoins like USDT, USDC, and RLUSD.
December sees a spike in donations, coinciding with 'Crypto Giving Tuesday'.
Various nonprofits have embraced crypto donations, leading to tangible impacts, such as feeding millions and providing clean water.
Challenges such as volatility and regulatory complexities exist but do not hinder the rising trend of crypto philanthropy.

Benjamin Pousty, the Chief Operating Officer of the donation platform The Giving Block, shared with Cryptonews that nearly $100 million in crypto donations have been processed this year alone for thousands of nonprofit organizations.

“This has been our strongest year to date,” Pousty noted. “We are nearing $300 million in crypto donations collected since our inception in 2018, marking a pivotal milestone for the crypto philanthropy movement.”

A Breakout Year for Crypto Giving

Despite the downturn in the current cryptocurrency market, Pousty asserts that recent peaks in asset values have inspired charitable giving this year.

“Cryptocurrency markets have seen multi-year highs, and traditionally, we observe an increase in charitable giving that coincides with asset value growth,” he explained.

For example, Bitcoin (BTC) reached an all-time high of over $126,000 on October 6, 2025. Pousty revealed that Bitcoin remains the most donated asset through The Giving Block in 2025, followed by prominent stablecoins such as Tether’s USDT, Circle’s USDC, and Ripple’s RLUSD.

“Strong giving in ETH, XRP, and SOL also persists,” he added.

Even as cryptocurrency prices fluctuate, Pousty observed that donations spike during the holiday season, a trend consistent over the years. He mentioned that nearly 30% of all crypto contributions occur in December, reflecting the broader trend of increased generosity during the holidays. Pousty anticipates a surge in crypto donations on December 2, which is recognized as “Crypto Giving Tuesday.”

“This day serves as the crypto community’s equivalent of ‘Giving Tuesday.’ For The Giving Block, it marks the launch of our major fundraising campaign, Crypto for Impact. This initiative unites donors, nonprofits, and partner organizations across Web3 to champion generosity and promote charitable contributions using digital assets,” he said.

Impact of Crypto Donations This Year

An increasing number of nonprofits are beginning to accept and support cryptocurrency donations, demonstrating the impact of these efforts.

For instance, Keith Grossman—president of the crypto technology company Moonpay—told Cryptonews that he assisted the nonprofit New York Cares in initiating crypto donations back in 2021. As a board member, he emphasized the positive impact this year has had on New York City's largest volunteer network.

“This year, 16 crypto firms collectively donated over $400,000 to an initiative named ‘Crypto for Good,’ aimed at supporting Title I schools in New York City,” Grossman shared.

This effort is part of New York Cares’ wider acceptance of digital innovation. “From our perspective at MoonPay, we integrated Helio (now MoonPay Commerce) into the New York Cares website to facilitate these donations,” Grossman explained.

Moreover, The Giving Block’s “Crypto For Impact” report highlights measurable outcomes linked to crypto giving. As of late 2025, findings reveal that crypto donations have helped feed 28.5 million children, provided clean water to 357,000 people, and rescued and rehabilitated 22,160 animals.

Support Through Donor-Advised Funds

While crypto donations are aiding traditional nonprofits, funds are also promoting the growth of the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

Joe Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Unchained Capital, informed Cryptonews that they launched the “Bitcoin Legacy Project” in April as a philanthropic initiative designed to enhance Bitcoin’s infrastructure.

“The initiative started with a one million dollar commitment and aims to expand funding in the years ahead. It provides direct support to the developers, educators, and advocates crucial for Bitcoin's future,” Kelly said.

He elaborated that the Bitcoin Legacy Project is the first-ever Bitcoin-native donor-advised fund (DAF) platform, which allows donors to provide structured, tax-efficient support to Bitcoin-aligned nonprofits.

To further bolster giving, Kelly mentioned that Unchained will match grants donated through its DAF platform to partner organizations at a 1:1 ratio. Institutions like the MIT Media Lab’s Digital Currency Initiative, the Human Rights Foundation, Open Sats, and Brink are eligible to receive up to 1 BTC through this initiative.

“The DAF offers high-net-worth individuals and organizations an effective, tax-efficient manner to give back. Donors can contribute Bitcoin or alternative assets, receive immediate tax deductions, and retain their donation in BTC within the fund,” Kelley stated.

Donors can later recommend grants to any 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the U.S., with recipients having the option to receive donations in Bitcoin.

Kelly affirmed that Unchained is dedicated to funding collaborative spaces where Bitcoin enthusiasts can innovate and research to shape the future of Bitcoin globally.

Advantages of Crypto Donations

Donors passionate about supporting their causes may find various tax advantages associated with making crypto donations.

According to Pousty, donating cryptocurrency can be far more tax-efficient than selling appreciated assets. Donors can completely eliminate capital gains taxes while deducting the total fair market value.

For instance, by donating cryptocurrency that has appreciated, donors avoid capital gains tax if it has been held for more than one year. This often serves as a primary motivation for opting to donate cryptocurrency rather than cash.

In addition, cryptocurrencies can be transferred instantaneously across international borders, allowing nonprofits to receive funds more quickly during emergencies.

An illustration of this can be seen after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, when the Ukrainian government established public crypto wallet addresses to accept donations of various cryptocurrencies, successfully raising millions to support efforts in affected regions.

Furthermore, it has been observed that crypto donations tend to attract a younger demographic, as Millennials and Gen Z represent a majority of crypto users.

Challenges to Consider

Despite the several benefits associated with crypto donations, some organizations and donors may encounter specific challenges.

Crypto's inherent volatility can pose issues; if an asset's value declines without being converted to its dollar equivalent at that moment, the donation's worth diminishes. Additionally, crypto donations can be subject to different regulatory frameworks compared to cash, creating confusion around tax deductions, reporting, and compliance.

Moreover, the proper infrastructure is necessary for facilitating and processing crypto donations. Platforms like The Giving Block work closely with nonprofits to ensure that crypto donations are accurately received and reported for tax purposes.

The Future of Crypto Donations

Despite the challenges, crypto donations are expected to continue their upward trajectory.

Pousty perceives a clear trend indicating that crypto donations are becoming an accepted alternative to cash donations. He anticipates increased contributions from high-net-worth individuals and a steady rise in the percentage of charitable giving facilitated through crypto assets as adoption grows.

“Each cycle reveals evolving donor behaviors, proactive nonprofits, and industry partners stepping up to support mission-driven causes. We’re progressing toward a future where crypto donations are viewed alongside stocks, DAFs, and other non-cash assets as a routine component of modern philanthropy,” Pousty concluded.