My name is Joe Waltman and I a recently started working with GiveCrypto.org (<a href="https://www.givecrypto.org/" rel="nofollow">https://www.givecrypto.org/</a>), a non-profit that was started by Brian Armstrong. I somewhat stumbled into this job after my previous company (VetPronto) went out of business. I am far from an expert on cryptocurrency and have zero experience working with non-profits.<p>GiveCrypto.org aims to help by making direct transfers of cryptocurrency. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that the best way to help poor people is to give them cash, rather than traditional support like food, medicine or training.<p>One of the big challenges for GiveCrypto.org is finding people that are both in need and can use cryptocurrency. I've done some experimentation (<a href="https://medium.com/givecrypto/givecrypto-work-trial-a-new-financial-system-a-new-opportunity-7f564b65aff5" rel="nofollow">https://medium.com/givecrypto/givecrypto-work-trial-a-new-fi...</a>) and it is a quite a brain teaser. There is a sad irony wrapped around this problem; the poorer you are, the more 'expensive' it is for you to make use of cryptocurrency. I'd love to tap into the HN network to help brainstorm clever ways to get cryptocurrency into the hands of people that need it.<p>Thanks in advance.
I can't think of a situation where a donating cryptocurrency would be better than a donation of fiat cash to the same groups. Honestly, I can only see negatives from going down that route (lack of accountability for fund usage is a major one) and very few, if any, positives. If the concern is volatility of the local fiat currency, make the donation in another more stable currency. Cryptocurrency will only add to that instability.<p>>There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that the best way to help poor people is to give them cash, rather than traditional support like food, medicine or training.<p>I've not seen this (but have seen the inverse often); do you have any references or examples?
One group of people desperately in need is Venezuelans. You could circumvent the government restrictions and install a form of Exchange in neighboring towns of Colombia e.g Cúcuta. This would be more helpful than cash because 1. They can’t receive/withdraw money in Venezuela at this point reliably 2. They will know they have money saved for their journey out of Venezuela in Colombia and will take the decision to leave the country now.<p>Source: I live in Colombia and talk with Venezuelans all the time about their situation.
No offense, but "let's give the poor people cryptocurrency" reads a lot like the start of a satire piece, a lampoon of out-of-touch Bay Area tech culture denizens.
1. Target specific towns and villages in need; perhaps anywhere M-Pesa is used is a good place to start??<p>2. Hire mobile money agents in those places to facilitate crypto to fiat exchange (when necessary)<p>3. Monitor progress extensively.<p>4. Incentivize merchants in the selected towns and villages to accept crypto for payment (granted, easier said then done, but I have some ideas there as well)
Focus on places that already have good cell network/free wifi penetration and smartphones.<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_smartphone_penetration" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_smartphon...</a><p>People aren't going to care much unless they can spend it though. Maybe find places that have a higher concentration of places that accept cryptocurrency and focus on those? Maybe Ghana, China or Nigeria?<p><a href="https://coin.dance/volume/localbitcoins" rel="nofollow">https://coin.dance/volume/localbitcoins</a>
Hi Joe.<p>This answer is a bit rambly, but I think my subconscious has a point to make, and I'm trying to tease it out.<p>This may come across the wrong way, but: which poor people? Your town, your country, or your whole planet?<p>I'm not an expert, but my hunch is if you start with a very local project (depending on where you live, it shouldn't be hard to find your local poverty), you'll get the answers you need - and I think if you're going to make a big impact, it will grow from that.<p>When I lived in L.A., young-me sat down with someone I thought was homeless - a panhandling gent sitting on some steps in Hollywood - we talked, about a bunch of things, he told me about his routine. Said he made about 30 bucks at night at that spot - also turned out he had a home, so I'd made an incorrect assumption.<p>A lot of my friends thought it was pretty weird that I would engage with the guy. Guess they had bad experiences with similar situations? I don't know. I doubt it; I suspect people were afraid. But what do you have to lose?<p>Talk to some of the people you're looking to help. A few small things will stand out in your mind - scale those.<p>I'm jumping the gun here, but if your mind's reaction is that that's not 'global' enough - I don't think anything grows to be a global force without a solid kernel, and that should be able to succeed at a small scale.<p>For what it's worth, that's my take.<p>Best of luck.
The Steemit community seems to be giving crypto (steem)directly to Venezuelans in need. <a href="https://steemit.com/venezuela/@drutter/mission-agua-possible-week-2-update-the-pump-is-2-paid-for" rel="nofollow">https://steemit.com/venezuela/@drutter/mission-agua-possible...</a>
Are y'all going to do work in the US? Maybe not long term, but potentially as a test case? Are you looking for part time or volunteer staff in those areas?