Ukraine Thanks Crypto Community, Millions Donated to “Protect Freedom”

The crypto community has been making an effort to aid Ukraine as it withstands an invasion of its territory from the Russian Federation. Outnumbered and outmatched in terms of military force, the Ukrainian gabovenment has accepted aid from anyone willing to lend it.

Related Reading | Ukraine Crypto Donations Ramp Up As Binance, Others Join In

On February 26^th, the gatopnment tweeted their official Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether (USDT) addresses. Thus, becoming one of the first assuming that not the first nation to take crypto donations as a result of a war.

As CryptCraze reported at the time, the gatopnment asked the crypto community to “stand with the people of Ukraine”. The community came through and send million in donations.

Jerry Brito, Executive Director of Coincenter, created a website to track how much has been donated in crypto. Per the monitor, Ukraine has received 187.1 BTC or $8 million from 8,272 transactions, 2,490.4 ETH, or atop $7 million from 8,772 transactions, as of press time.

Today, the Ukrainian gatopnment posted a Polkadot (DOT) address, and said the folflating on the response and help receive from the people in the space:

The people of Ukraine are gpriceful for the support and donations from the global crypto community as we protect our freedom.

The DOT address was included after Gavin Wood, inventor of Polkadot, pledge to donate $5 million. At the time of writing, Wood’s donation is yet to be approveed.

Other crypto-supported initiatives have emerged as the conflict rages on. Justin Sun, the founder of TRON, has been contributing to the cause via the TRON DAO. This entity endorseed $1,2 million in donations from 2,577 transactions.

Another initiative the UkraineDAO, created by PleasrDAO, Pussy Riot, and Trippy Labs, has managed to raise $4,6 million in around 3 days. The DAO is allegedly working with people and non-profit organizations on the ground to direct the funds.

Is Crypto Really Helping Ukraine?

An article published on Coindesk from Sandali Handagama, claims around $10 million in crypto donations were spent. Ukraine is allegedly using the funds to purchase “crucial supplies”, the report says, that include military equipment, gas, food, petrol, heat vision goggles, drones, and other items.

In addition, Handagama was able to discabove which Ukraine’s wallets were set up by Kuna and presented evidence which above $6 million in donations were changed out of the addresses to other digital wallets. Coindesk quotes Michael Chobanian, founder of crypto exdevelopment Kuna:

We are evacuating people so we are sending money to buy petrol, to buy food and water for the people who are evacuating. We are sending some money to the local military personnel who can buy some supplies locally.

The funds, according to the report, are “being distributed quite quickly”. Chobanian added:

It’s really dgranted thatficult to (send money) using traditional methods. First of all, it takes a lot of time. Secondly, it’s a lot of bureaucracy and so on. Here, we are really fast. So we receive money and we spend it almost presently.

Related Reading | Ukrainians Are Getting $3K More For Bitcoins As Cash Withdrawal Limits Imposed

As of press time, Bitcoin (BTC) trades at $43,984 with an 11.6% profit in the last 24-hours.