Save the Children tests new bitcoin humanitarian fund model for crisis relief

As digital finance reshapes global giving, Save the Children is launching a new bitcoin humanitarian fund to rethink how emergency aid is financed and delivered.

Save the Children unveils on-chain fund for emergency aid

Global NGO Save the Children has introduced a dedicated Bitcoin fund for humanitarian response, positioning itself at the forefront of crypto-powered relief efforts. Developed with digital asset infrastructure provider Fortris, the vehicle is described as the first structured fund of its kind in the charity sector.

The initiative is designed to overhaul how financial support is held, managed, and deployed in crises. Moreover, by leveraging blockchain rails, the organization wants to accelerate the flow of money to the field while cutting transaction costs and intermediaries.

By integrating Bitcoin and public blockchain technology into its operations, the fund targets faster disbursement of aid, with greater traceability over where donations go. However, it also aims to make support more cost-effective and transparent for children and families in need across multiple regions.

New custody model for crypto donations

Traditionally, non-profits tend to convert crypto gifts immediately into local fiat currencies to avoid volatility risk. In contrast, Save the Children has structured its Bitcoin fund so that donations can be securely held on balance sheet for up to four years, subject to its internal policies.

This extended holding period gives donors more flexibility to decide when their Bitcoin should be converted into spendable funds. That said, it also opens the possibility that contributions could increase in value if market conditions improve over time, potentially amplifying the impact per donated unit.

Janti Soeripto, President and CEO of Save the Children US, stressed that such out-of-the-box approaches are becoming essential as traditional foreign aid budgets come under pressure. Moreover, she framed the model as a way to align donor intent with real-time needs on the ground, instead of forcing immediate liquidation.

Focus on financial inclusion and education

Beyond immediate relief, the Bitcoin fund is intended as a catalyst for broader financial inclusion in vulnerable communities. Partnerships with Bitcoin app developers such as Fedi will support education on using digital wallets, custody tools, and basic security practices.

Through these collaborations, families in recipient regions can learn to interact safely with digital assets while still relying on Save the Children as a trusted intermediary. However, the organization also emphasizes that education and safeguards are central, given the irreversible nature of on-chain transactions and persistent fraud risks.

This strategy aligns with a wider trend in 2025, as global non-profits experiment with crypto rails to improve efficiency, traceability, and speed. According to a 2024 report from the Blockchain for Social Impact Coalition, more than 70 non-profits worldwide already accept crypto donations, though only a small subset uses them in a structured way to manage volatility and maximize mission impact.

Donor demand reshapes digital asset philanthropy

Antonia Roupell, Save the Children's Innovation and Partnerships Lead, said the new fund is a direct response to donor demand for greater control and flexibility. Moreover, she argued that converting cryptocurrency into practical, life-changing support requires both product design and clear communication with contributors.

By combining over a century of humanitarian operations with modern financial technology, Save the Children aims to set a template for digital asset philanthropy that other NGOs can replicate. However, the organization will need to prove that holding Bitcoin over multiple years can translate into measurable outcomes on the ground, not just speculative upside.

In practice, the bitcoin humanitarian fund could become a reference case for how large aid organizations structure custody, risk management, and conversion policies around crypto donations, while still complying with regulation and internal governance rules.

Macro backdrop: Bitcoin as emerging macro asset

The launch comes as macro narratives around Bitcoin continue to evolve. Twenty One Capital CEO Jack Mallers recently stated that the asset could eventually reach a market size of $200 trillion and emerge as the next global reserve asset if adoption trends accelerate.

Mallers argued that as more institutions and sovereigns recognize Bitcoin's programmed scarcity and censorship-resistant design, its role could shift from speculative trade to a core pillar of the international monetary architecture. That said, such projections remain controversial and depend heavily on regulatory, technological, and macroeconomic developments over the coming decade.

This perspective reflects a broader 2025 trend in which banks, asset managers, and public institutions explore digital assets as part of long-term planning. Moreover, rising institutional interest may indirectly support initiatives such as Save the Children's fund by normalizing crypto exposure within mainstream finance.

Overall, Save the Children's new structure signals how established humanitarian actors are testing crypto-native tools to boost speed, transparency, and financial inclusion, potentially reshaping how aid is raised and deployed in the digital era.