Just last week, Mozilla stopped donations involving cryptocurrency. Now, the Wikimedia Foundation is facing pressure from its users over the acceptance of cryptocurrency donations due to environmental concerns.
The Wikimedia Foundation began accepting bitcoin donations through BitPay in 2019, but three years later, contributors are pressuring the nonprofit organization behind Wikipedia to shut the option.
Some users reaction to the crypto donations
Molly White (GorillaWarfare) has proposed that the organization discontinue taking cryptocurrency. Accepting cryptocurrency, according to White, is incompatible with Wikimedia’s aspirations to enhance environmental sustainability.
White stated that Wikimedia and its members’ support of crypto is an “endorsement of the cryptocurrency field,” but added that there is a risk of the organization’s reputation being harmed as a result of its prolonged acceptance of crypto.
Discussions erupted almost quickly. Gamaliel, a Wiki user, agreed with the proposal. “It’s been a long time coming. “The WMF’s commitment to environmental sustainability is made a farce by accepting cryptocurrencies,” they stated.
Wiki user ATDT, on the other hand, questioned whether “continuing to accept bitcoin donations in 2022 is a particularly meaningful signal.” Following that line of reasoning, “accepting USD signals endorsement of the systems of labour exploitation and environmental despoliation that underpin global capitalism,” the user wrote.
Many people are opposed to blocking cryptocurrency donations, but they are outnumbered at the moment. The page does state, however, that a decision will not be made based on the will of the majority. Rather, a decision will be reached based on the merits of the arguments offered.
The decision by Mozilla to halt crypto donations was also mentioned throughout the conversation. Jamie Zawinski, a co-founder of Mozilla, spoke out against the Mozilla Foundation’s continued acceptance of bitcoin payments to fund its browser last week.
Zawinski encouraged the corporation to end its involvement with “planet-incinerating Ponzi grifters” after viewing a tweet that reminded users that the site accepts crypto.
