GiveCrypto.org
GiveCrypto.org was a San Francisco nonprofit founded by Brian Armstrong in 2018 that distributed cryptocurrency directly to individuals in need worldwide. The initiative, later absorbed by Coinbase, was wound down in December 2023 after failing to produce lasting recipient outcomes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What GiveCrypto.org does
GiveCrypto.org was a nonprofit charitable initiative founded in 2018 by Brian Armstrong, co-founder and CEO of Coinbase, and operated out of San Francisco. The organization distributed cryptocurrency directly to individuals in need globally as humanitarian assistance, making unconditional on-chain transfers that bypassed intermediaries and demonstrated crypto's capacity for low-friction cross-border small-amount remittances. After operating as an independent charity, GiveCrypto was subsequently absorbed by Coinbase and run as a controlled program within the parent's corporate-giving strategy.
The initiative's core offering was direct cryptocurrency distribution; no proprietary technology, product, API, SDK, or app was disclosed. Distribution relied on Coinbase's marketing and outreach infrastructure rather than a self-built go-to-market motion, consistent with a 1–10 employee headcount and a parent-subsidiary operating model. Scale commentary referenced thousands of individual recipients with measured short-term outcome improvements, though the initiative ultimately proved unable to produce lasting impact as recipients returned to baseline after transfers ceased.
The business model was that of a charitable fund rather than a commercial enterprise: GiveCrypto generated no pricing-based revenue and existed to channel donor-contributed cryptocurrency to recipients. On December 15, 2023, Coinbase announced the wind-down of the initiative, donating remaining funds to Brink (Bitcoin protocol development) and GiveDirectly (direct cash transfers with sustained recipient support), and the entity is no longer operating.
GiveCrypto.org firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GiveCrypto.org
- Legal name
- GiveCrypto
- Website
- https://givecrypto.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- GiveCrypto.org was a San Francisco nonprofit founded by Brian Armstrong in 2018 that distributed cryptocurrency directly to individuals in need worldwide. The initiative, later absorbed by Coinbase, was wound down in December 2023 after failing to produce lasting recipient outcomes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GiveCrypto.org industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cryptocurrency Philanthropy
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211)
- SIC
- Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Crypto Payments & Stablecoin Settlement Platforms (BPAMAFAL)
Keywords
Where GiveCrypto.org is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
GiveCrypto.org business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D
GiveCrypto.org product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GiveCrypto.org was a nonprofit charitable initiative that distributed cryptocurrency directly to individuals in need worldwide through unconditional cash transfers. The initiative leveraged cryptocurrency to send small amounts of money across borders without middlemen, enabling direct financial assistance to people in need. The program was founded in 2018 by Brian Armstrong and later absorbed by Coinbase, before being wound down in December 2023 with remaining funds donated to Brink and GiveDirectly.
Product overview
GiveCrypto was a single nonprofit product — a cryptocurrency-based philanthropy initiative founded by Brian Armstrong and subsequently absorbed by Coinbase. It provided unconditional cryptocurrency transfers directly to individuals in need, with the goal of increasing economic freedom worldwide. The initiative has been wound down as of December 2023, with remaining funds donated to Brink and GiveDirectly.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- GiveCrypto Direct Cryptocurrency Assistance A nonprofit charitable initiative that distributes cryptocurrency directly to individuals in need through unconditional cash transfers. Designed for people facing economic hardship, the program enables cross-border financial assistance without intermediaries. The initiative was wound down in December 2023.
Quantifiable outcome
- Short-term improvements in recipient outcomes measured, though lasting impact was not achieved as recipients returned to baseline after payment ceased
Companies that use GiveCrypto.org
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
GiveCrypto.org technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
GiveCrypto.org partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- BrinkminorGiveCrypto is donating remaining funds to Brink, which works to strengthen the Bitcoin software and protocol. This is part of GiveCrypto's wind-down process where remaining charitable funds are being distributed to organizations aligned with the mission.
- GiveDirectlyminorGiveCrypto is donating remaining funds to GiveDirectly, which is better equipped to ensure crypto donations reach those who need them most and will experience sustained benefits. This represents the wind-down of GiveCrypto's operations.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights1 record
GiveCrypto.org competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Binance Charity Foundation: Binance Charity (formerly Blockchain Charity Foundation) runs crypto-based philanthropy programs distributing digital assets to underserved populations. It is the largest exchange-affiliated crypto charity and addresses the same direct crypto-to-beneficiary use case GiveCrypto pioneered.
- The Giving Block: The Giving Block is a crypto-focused fundraising platform that helps nonprofits accept cryptocurrency donations. It overlaps with GiveCrypto's mission of routing crypto to charitable causes, but serves as infrastructure for other charities rather than distributing directly to individuals.
- BitGive Foundation: BitGive is a nonprofit that leverages Bitcoin and blockchain technology to improve transparency and efficiency in charitable giving for global health and economic development. It is one of the earliest crypto-native charities and shares GiveCrypto's direct-distribution philosophy.
- GiveDirectly: GiveDirectly operates unconditional cash transfer programs to people in extreme poverty. It was named as a recipient of GiveCrypto's remaining funds and is the most directly comparable mission peer — both deliver direct financial assistance to individuals in need, though GiveDirectly operates primarily in fiat.
Broad incumbents
- Fidelity Charitable: Fidelity Charitable is the largest U.S. donor-advised fund sponsor and accepts cryptocurrency donations. It is a broader incumbent in charitable giving that intersects with GiveCrypto's space through crypto philanthropy, though it does not specialize in direct crypto transfers to individuals in need.
Others
- Brink: Brink is a Bitcoin development nonprofit funded by donations to support Bitcoin protocol contributors. It received GiveCrypto's remaining funds during the wind-down. While not a direct competitor, it is a peer entity in the Bitcoin/crypto nonprofit ecosystem that absorbed GiveCrypto's residual capital.
Market position
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights3 records
Customer concentration
GiveCrypto.org social profiles
Digital presenceGiveCrypto.org financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GiveCrypto.org leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
GiveCrypto.org funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GiveCrypto.org M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GiveCrypto.org
What does GiveCrypto.org do?
GiveCrypto.org was a nonprofit charitable initiative that distributed cryptocurrency directly to individuals in need worldwide through unconditional cash transfers. The initiative leveraged cryptocurrency to send small amounts of money across borders without middlemen, enabling direct financial assistance to people in need. The program was founded in 2018 by Brian Armstrong and later absorbed by Coinbase, before being wound down in December 2023 with remaining funds donated to Brink and GiveDirectly.
Is GiveCrypto.org a public or private company?
GiveCrypto.org is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently closed.
When was GiveCrypto.org founded?
GiveCrypto.org was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is GiveCrypto.org based?
GiveCrypto.org is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
Who are GiveCrypto.org's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Binance Charity Foundation, The Giving Block, BitGive Foundation and GiveDirectly. Fidelity Charitable is listed as a broad incumbent. Brink is listed as an others.
Does GiveCrypto.org have an API?
No public API is recorded for GiveCrypto.org.
What industry is GiveCrypto.org in?
GiveCrypto.org's product category is Cryptocurrency Philanthropy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAFAL, Crypto Payments & Stablecoin Settlement Platforms. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 6199.