The organization is turning to bitcoin and digital assets to overcome delays in traditional banking channels during crises.
Save the Children has announced the launch of a dedicated Bitcoin fund, aimed at speeding up the distribution of humanitarian aid during global emergencies. The fund represents a strategic solution to bypass the inefficiencies of the traditional banking system, which can be particularly critical during natural disasters and armed conflicts.
Developed in collaboration with Fortris, a digital asset specialist, the initiative allows the nonprofit to receive and hold donations in bitcoin, stablecoins, and other cryptocurrencies for up to four years. This flexibility enables donors to choose the optimal time to convert into fiat currency, potentially maximizing the impact of their contributions.
“Many nonprofits accept Bitcoin today, but few hold these donations or leverage the asset’s underlying peer-to-peer technology in their operations,” Antonia Roupell, Save the Children’s innovation and partnerships lead, said. “Our Bitcoin donors asked for the flexibility to choose when to convert to maximize the impact of their generosity, and this fund delivers exactly that.”
Save the Children has been accepting bitcoin since 2013, and through its Hodl Hope initiative, it has raised millions in digital assets for children affected by conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan.
However, some operational questions remain open. The fund’s governance structure has not yet been clarified, nor have the criteria for determining the optimal timing to convert digital assets into fiat currency. Strategies to manage price volatility have also not been detailed.
“Out-of-the-box solutions are essential to ensure we continue to be there for children when they need us most, especially when traditional foreign aid funding falters,” Janti Soeripto, president and CEO of Save the Children U.S., said.
Save the Children’s initiative is part of a broader trend of growing adoption of bitcoin and cryptocurrencies by charitable organizations. Several international entities, including the American Red Cross, United Way, and GiveDirectly, already accept donations in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. According to The Giving Block’s 2025 annual report, digital assets worth over $1 billion were donated in 2024.
