According to Buterin, COVID-19 poses a "large risk in the 21st century."
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, alongside Polygon's co-founder Sandeep Nailwal, has stepped up to mobilize $100 million for COVID-19 research and the advancement of India's medical infrastructure.
The funds are being sourced from Crypto Relief, an India-focused cryptocurrency fund, as well as a personal contribution from Buterin himself.
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Crypto Relief has committed to transferring $90 million in USD Coin (USDC) for the effort, complemented by Buterin's individual contribution of $10 million. Both Nailwal and Buterin will oversee the distribution of these funds to ensure they reach their intended targets effectively.
To ensure absolute legal compliance in India, the funds from Crypto Relief will be channeled to Buterin. This strategy allows for the optimal use of these resources in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in India, with a particular focus on "emergency humanitarian relief."
On June 8th, Buterin took to Twitter to emphasize the ongoing risk of COVID-19 and "future pandemics," calling them a "large risk in the 21st century." In his view, the fight against these global health threats calls for a "global solution" that fuses cutting-edge scientific innovation with practical, on-the-ground deployment.
The primary research focus will be on COVID-19's airborne transmission, looking into ways to improve medical equipment. Buterin highlighted advancements in "ventilation, HEPA filtering, and experimental tech such as UVC irradiation."
Buterin also mentioned the need to focus on "Long COVID" research, noting the high number of people experiencing prolonged symptoms and emphasizing this area as a primary focus for their funding.
The most salient risks from Covid today are the very high number of people experiencing very-long-term symptoms (aka #LongCovid), and so Long Covid research continues to be a primary focus.
For transparency, Buterin detailed that the $100 million donation would be sent to a Gnosis Safe wallet, sharing the contract address for reference.
This philanthropic endeavor is not a first for Buterin. In February 2023, an Ethereum co-founder directed $227,000 in Ether (ETH) to Turkish earthquake relief organizations.
The latest effort underscores the critical role that leading figures in the cryptocurrency industry can play in global health crises, showcasing the power of digital assets in providing swift, impactful humanitarian relief.
