Ukraine Has Received $150 Million in Crypto. Here’s How It Is Being Used - Ep.332

Illia Polosukhin, co-founder NEAR Protocol, and George Kikvadze, executive vice chairman at BitFury Group, both of whom have called Ukraine “home” at one point in their lives, discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the role crypto is playing in the war, and the various avenues crypto users can donate to. Show topics:

• George and Illia’s background in crypto
• George and Ilia’s connection to Ukraine
• why crypto is so popular in Ukraine
• what supplies are being purchased with donated crypto
• how to donate crypto to Ukraine
• why Patreon blocked donations to Come Back Alive, a Ukrainian NGO
• George and Illia’s estimation of the amount of crypto donations received by Ukraine
• what department of Ukraine’s government spearheaded its adoption of crypto
• what happened with the canceled airdrop 
• the different organizations accepting crypto donations in Ukraine

Upcoming Book Events

Friday, March 25: I’ll be on the Harvard campus at HBS Aldrich 011 from 4 pm ET - 5 pm ET. This is *not* open to the general public, but we have a few spots we can give away, first come, first serve. Email hello@unchainedpodcast.com, subject line "Harvard reading."

Wednesday, March 30: I’ll be speaking (remotely) with Six Senses about The Cryptopians at 2 pm ET. Be sure to save your spot soon – space is limited!

Tuesday, April 5: I will be doing a reading and signing hosted by the City of Miami Beach and Future Perfect Ventures at Sky Yard from 6-8 pm. Jalak Jobanputra, CEO of Future Perfect Ventures will be interviewing me. You need to RSVP by April 1 to dianafontani@miamibeachfl.gov.  

Saturday, April 9: I will be on a panel at the Annapolis Book Festival at 11 am. 

Tuesday, April 12: I will be at StartupGrind’s global event in Redwood City, which is focused this year on Web3 (time → TBD). 

May 4-7: I will be at the PBS Seattle Crosscut Festival, which takes place from May 4-7. 

May 23-25: I will be at the Oslo Freedom Forum which takes place from May 23 to 25. Details on these events are TBD. 

Thank you to our sponsors!

Crypto.com: https://crypto.onelink.me/J9Lg/unconfirmedcardearnfeb2021           

Beefy Finance: https://beefy.finance    

Cross River Bank: https://crossriver.com/crypto

Episode Links

George Kikvadze, executive vice chairman at BitFury Group

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/BitfuryGeorge
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-kikvadze-6256175/

Illia Polosukhin, co-founder NEAR Protocol

• Twitter: ​https://twitter.com/ilblackdragon 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/illia-polosukhin-77b6538/ 
• Raising $ for Ukraine via Unchain Fund
• • https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-09/ukraine-s-crypto-community-sends-donation-support-after-russia-invasion 
  • https://www.coindesk.com/layer2/2022/03/01/absolutely-surreal-inside-a-fund-raising-millions-in-crypto-for-besieged-ukraine/ 
  • https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/26/22952357/ukraine-bitcoin-ethereum-donation-vitalik-buterin
  • https://thedefiant.io/ukraine-blockchain-development-teams/ 

Unchain Fund: https://unchain.fund/ 

Come Back Alive: https://www.comebackalive.in.ua/

Government Website for Crypto Donations: ​​https://donate.thedigital.gov.ua/ 

Ukraine x Crypto

• Ukraine purchasing supplies
• • https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2022/03/07/ukraine-is-buying-bulletproof-vests-and-night-vision-goggles-using-crypto/ 
  • https://twitter.com/abornyakov/status/1502231351273172992?s=21
• Live update from on Ukrainian crypto funds received
• • https://www.elliptic.co/blog/live-updates-millions-in-crypto-crowdfunded-for-the-ukrainian-military 
• Ukraine accepting crypto: https://twitter.com/Ukraine/status/1497594592438497282 
• Ukraine NFT launch to reflect history
• • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/13/ukraine-nft-history-of-russian-invasion-war

Unchained Coverage

• https://unchainedpodcast.com/how-ukraine-is-leveraging-crypto-in-its-fight-against-russia/
• https://unchainedpodcast.com/the-chopping-block-in-the-first-crypto-war-how-should-the-money-be-spent/ 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices