Wikimedia Foundation stops accepting cryptocurrency donations

The Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that runs the free encyclopedia Wikipedia, has decided to stop accepting cryptocurrency donations. The decision followed a three-month discussion with the community.

The Wikimedia Foundation has decided to stop accepting cryptocurrency donations. The decision was made based on a community request that the WMF no longer accept crypto donations, which came out of a three-month-long discussion that wrapped up earlier this month. pic.twitter.com/RHAD0FRA5W

— Molly White (@molly0xFFF) May 1, 2022

«[…] In particular, we will close the BitPay account, which will deprive us of the ability to directly accept cryptocurrency as a donation method», — wrote Lisa Zeitz-Gruwell, the organization’s Chief Development Officer.

“Wikipedia has accepted donations in Bitcoin since 2014. Bitcoin Cash and Ethereum transfers are also possible — all received digital assets are immediately converted into fiat.”

«[…] In particular, we will close the BitPay account, which will deprive us of the ability to directly accept cryptocurrency as a donation method», — wrote Lisa Zeitz-Gruwell, the organization’s Chief Development Officer.

Earlier, a group of American congressmen expressed concern about the Proof-of-Work consensus algorithm. They urged the Environmental Protection Agency to examine the mining industry for environmental risks and compliance with relevant laws.

In February 2022, New York gubernatorial candidate Jumaane Williams urged state authorities to ban Bitcoin mining and other cryptocurrencies using the Proof-of-Work algorithm.

In January, the Mozilla Foundation announced the suspension of accepting cryptocurrency donations after a discussion about their environmental impact.

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