GIVING UNCHAINED - PHILANTHROPY AND THE BLOCKCHAIN

The blockchain is a shared public ledger which makes cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, possible by providing a record of all transactions and a way of determining who owns what at any given time.

With the rise of the cryptocurrency - forms of digital money which aren’t regulated and verified by a single organisation - there’s a push to make more of blockchain technology as a way of representing assets, providing donors with a new way of giving and charities a new fundraising channel.
   

Read Giving Unchained

THIS PAPER ASKS:

  • Can we use coloured coins to represent assets within the digital space, opening up the possibility of making donations of intangible assets such as intellectual property?
  • Could self-governing ‘smart contracts’ offer new opportunities for business to embed philanthropy at their core, and new ways for charities to raise money and address social problems?
  • Can blockchain technology offer a form of ‘radical transparency’ that can overcome public scepticism and a lack of trust?
  • Will an Internet of Things, underpinned by blockchain technology lead to a world in which smart machines emerge as a new, hyper-rational donor class?

Policy and campaigns

We work to build a stronger charitable sector in the UK and across the world by running campaigns, influencing government and encouraging people to give to good causes.

Explore our work ► 

Giving Thought blog

Our blog includes details about key issues affecting civil society, philanthropy, social investment and using new technologies for social good.

Read the blog ► 

Bitcoin and Blockchain Technology

Here you can find all of our publications on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, together with some extra video content

Explore Bitcoin and Blockchain ►