Kraken to Distribute USD 10M to Ukrainian Clients, Total Donations 'Close to USD 100M'
United States-based crypto exchange Kraken has announced an "ambitious aid package" aiming to distribute USD 10m in bitcoin (BTC) to its Ukrainian clients.
Ukrainian users who created a Kraken account prior to March 9 will be eligible to receive USD 1,000 worth of bitcoin starting March 10 and running till the end of the month, the exchange said in a statement on Wednesday.
“We hope to continue being able to provide critical financial services in a time of need to both our clients in Ukraine and in Russia,” Jesse Powell, CEO of Kraken, was quoted as saying.
“Cryptocurrency remains an important humanitarian tool, especially at a time when many around the world can no longer rely on traditional banks and custodians, Powell said”
The exchange added that received funds can be immediately withdrawn, and that it will cover fees of up to USD 1,000.
Moreover, Kraken pledged to donate an amount equivalent to the total trading fees paid by its Russia-based user in the first half of 2022, noting that it might announce additional aid should the need arise.
Prior to this, Binance, the largest crypto exchange in terms of market capitalization, launched a USD 10m fund to help the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
Likewise, Bahamian-based crypto exchange FTX distributed USD 25 to each Ukrainian on its platform.
Meanwhile, the donation by Kraken comes as Alex Bornyakov, Ukraine’s deputy minister at the Ministry of Digital Transformation, claimed that crypto donations are approaching USD 100m.
Speaking in an emergency online briefing entitled "Digital Resistance: How Ukraine Is Leveraging Technology to Fight for Freedom,"
Bornyakov said that country has raised "close to USD 100 million" in crypto donations, 60% of which was received in the main
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