Wiki contributors want to drop cryptocurrency donations to environmental concerns

Back in 2019, the Wikimedia Foundation began accepting Crypto Donations via Bitpay, but three years later, the nonprofit behind Wikipedia is facing pressure from contributors to disable the option due to environmental concerns.

One proposal Submitted by Molly White (GorillaWarfare) urging the foundation to stop accepting cryptocurrencies. According to White, the acceptance of cryptocurrencies is at odds with Wikimedia’s commitment to actively working to improve environmental sustainability.

White suggested that Wikimedia and its members accept Crypto Echo as “an endorsement of the crypto space,” while noting that there is a risk of damaging the organization’s reputation as it continues to embrace crypto.

The discussion then unfolded. Wiki user Gamaliel supports the proposal. “Long overdue. Accepting cryptocurrencies is a joke on WMF’s commitment to environmental sustainability,” they wrote.

On the other hand, wiki user ATDT stated that it is hard to believe that “the continued acceptance of cryptocurrency donations in 2022 is a particularly meaningful signal.” The user noted that, along this line of thinking, “accepting the dollar would mean recognition as the foundation of global capitalism. the exploitation of labor and the plundering of the natural environment.”

While there are many people opposed to banning cryptocurrency donations, they are outnumbered at the time of writing. However, the page states that decisions will not be made based on the wishes of the majority. Instead, an agreement will be reached on the merits of the arguments presented.

related: Dogecoin creator slams Mozilla for suspending cryptocurrency donations

Mozilla’s decision to suspend cryptocurrency donations also mentioned in the discussion. Last week, Mozilla co-founder Jamie Zawinski spoke out against the Mozilla Foundation continuing to accept cryptocurrency donations to support their browser. After seeing a tweet reminding users that the platform was accepting cryptocurrencies, Zawinski urged the company to stop its ties to the “planet-burning Ponzi scheme.”