FTX Launches Philanthropic Fund With Plans To Deploy at Least $100M

The cryptocurrency exchange plans to invest up to $1 billion this year

article-image

FTX’s Sam Bankman-Fried | Blockworks exclusive art by axel rangel

share

key takeaways

  • The fund will be a part of the FTX Foundation, a philanthropic organization funded primarily by FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried
  • “We’re particularly keen to launch massively scalable projects: projects that could grow to productively spend tens or hundreds of millions of dollars per year,” the company said

Cryptocurrency exchange FTX has launched its inaugural philanthropic fund in a bid to inject digital assets cash into charitable pursuits. 

The venture, Future Fund, will distribute at least $100 million — and perhaps as much as $1 billion — this year, “depending on how many outstanding opportunities we find,” the company said Monday. 

The fund falls under the umbrella of the FTX Foundation, a philanthropic organization funded primarily by FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. It also counts major contributions from Alameda Research’s Co-CEO Caroline Ellison, FTX Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Gary Wang, and FTX’s Head of Engineering Nishad Singh.

“There are billions of people alive today,” Bankman-Fried tweeted. “There are trillions of people who could live great lives if we leave behind a better world to our children.”

The team compiled a list of 38 potential projects, including artificial intelligence ethics, pathogen sterilization technology, alternative voting systems, a new university or publishing house and support for movies and documentaries. 

“We’re particularly keen to launch massively scalable projects: projects that could grow to productively spend tens or hundreds of millions of dollars per year,” the announcement said.

The move signifies the crypto exchange’s expansion beyond the digital asset world and into other real world industries. To date, FTX has set aside over $18 million for charity — including $8.7 million of user contributions and $9.5 million from user fees.

The company says its corporate lines and employees have made more than $10 million of charitable donations overall. 

Bankman-Fried, a 29-year-old worth $22.5 billion, last year donated $50 million and plans to donate $500 million next year, according to a video interview.

“I wanted to get rich not because I liked money, but because I wanted to give that money to charity,” Bankman-Fried said in the interview.

Last week, the company gave $25 to every Ukrainian registered on its platform after the country’s central bank temporarily suspended its currency market and limited withdrawals.


Don’t miss the next big story – join our free daily newsletter.

Tags

Upcoming Events

MON - WED, MARCH 18 - 20, 2024

Digital Asset Summit (DAS) is returning March 2024. What you can expect: And more! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be in the room when the future of crypto is decided. Join us and help shape the future of our […]

recent research

Research report - cover graphics-2.jpg

Research

Base has doubled-down on its commitment to the Superchain vision, has shown early signs of success with nearly $400M in TVL, and has become home to novel dapps such as friend.tech which has seen significant traction.

article-image

The bitcoin halving slated for April 2024 — an event expected to spur upward price action for BTC — could be a boon for Block’s stock price, analysts say

article-image

Seed Club founder Jess Sloss is excited to “open the doors and let other people see what we’ve been seeing for the last few months”

article-image

Blockchain is a “natural fit” in games based on open economies and user-generated content, says Wyatt

article-image

Their current stance is a half-baked attempt that could stifle innovation and burden an emerging industry

article-image

Maker’s DeFi-focused “subDAO” passed a proposal activating a lending market for DAI on the Gnosis Chain

article-image

Certain creditors could be repaid sooner, with one hedge fund exec telling Blockworks it expects a payout by the end of the year