Blockchain-based transparency for cryptocurrency donations
Sector: Tertiary sector · Industry: Religious and charitable organisations · Organisation: Bank Frick in Kooperation mit europäischen NGOs · Maturity level: Production
Bank Frick processes cryptocurrency donations for non-profit organizations like Amnesty International Switzerland, utilizing blockchain technology for transparent tracking of fund allocation. The system enables NGOs to receive donations in over 50 different cryptocurrencies while providing complete documentation of their usage. Comparable projects have already shown measurable success, such as the World Food Programme, which processed 555 million USD through blockchain-based systems while saving 3.5 million USD in banking fees.
Documentation status
- Project status: Production
- Evidence: Evidence high
- Editorial review: Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026
Description
Bank Frick (Vaduz, Liechtenstein) is one of the world’s leading regulated banks for crypto financial services. The institution is among the first regulated banks to offer crypto donation processing for NGOs and humanitarian organisations: crypto donations are received, converted and forwarded.
Traditional donation organisations face several problems with international donations: high transaction fees for bank transfers to developing countries (5-10%); slow settlement times (3-5 days); bank account requirements exclude parts of the population. Blockchain-based crypto donations solve these problems: donations can be transferred worldwide within seconds, at minimal cost, without bank account requirements on the recipient side. Bank Frick, as a regulated Liechtenstein financial intermediary, creates the bridge: the bank accepts BTC, ETH and other cryptocurrencies as donations, converts them into CHF, EUR or USD and transfers them to the beneficiary organisation. Blockchain donation flow transparency: every transaction is documented on-chain — donors can track whether their donation has arrived. NGOs can transparently document the use of donations. Liechtenstein has created one of the most advanced regulatory frameworks for token-based assets worldwide with the TVTG (Token and VT Service Provider Act, 2020).
Perspectives
B2B — organisations perspective
NGOs and humanitarian organisations can receive crypto donations from the global Web3 community via Bank Frick, have them regularly converted, and transparently document the use of donations based on blockchain technology.
B2C — consumers perspective
Crypto holders can donate directly from their wallet, without conversion to fiat currency, without bank fees, with immediate transaction confirmation and transparency about whether the donation has reached the organisation.
Employees perspective
Employees in NGOs need to familiarise themselves with new technologies but at the same time receive tools that significantly simplify their daily work in donation management. Automated transparency reduces the effort required for manual reporting and documentation.
Benefits
General
- Blockchain technology enables seamless and immutable documentation of all donation transactions.
- Administrative costs are significantly reduced through process automation, as demonstrated by the World Food Programme’s example with savings of 3.5 million USD.
- Trust between donors and NGOs is strengthened through complete transparency.
B2B — organisations
- NGOs can allocate more funds directly to their charitable purposes through increased transparency and reduced administrative costs.
B2C — consumers
- Donors receive complete transparency over the use of their contributions for the first time and can track them in real time.
Employees
- Employees are relieved of manual documentation tasks and can focus on their core responsibilities.
Challenges
General
- Implementation requires technical expertise and training of staff in handling cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.
- Regulatory uncertainties in the area of cryptocurrencies can hinder adoption.
B2B — organisations
- NGOs must invest in new technologies and partnerships with blockchain-enabled financial service providers.
Employees
- Employees need to develop new skills in blockchain and cryptocurrencies.
Technology foundation
The system uses blockchain technology for the immutable recording of all donation transactions and their use. The blockchain acts as a transparent ledger that allows donors and the public to trace every movement of donated funds without a central authority being able to manipulate this information.
Implementation examples
Cryptocurrency donations at Amnesty International Switzerland
Amnesty International wanted to reach new donor groups while ensuring full transparency regarding the use of donated funds. The organisation recognised the potential of cryptocurrency donations to diversify its funding sources.
Amnesty International Switzerland uses Bank Frick to process cryptocurrency donations and has already raised nearly 8 million USD via The Giving Block.
Amnesty International Switzerland has established a partnership with Bank Frick to receive and manage donations in cryptocurrencies. Through The Giving Block platform, donors can contribute in over 50 different cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDC. By March 2024, Amnesty International had raised nearly 8 million USD through this initiative, co-financing aid projects in 116 countries.
The system solves the problem of lack of transparency in fund usage and enables Amnesty to tap into donations from the growing cryptocurrency sector. Blockchain technology ensures seamless traceability of all transactions.
Tags
Transparency, Cryptocurrency, Donations, NGO, Blockchain