Polygon and Mercy Corps bring blockchain to underserved communities
Blockchain technology continues to enter mainstream view, as many companies adopt the technology as part of their business. In the push to adopt this technology comes the simultaneous need for more education about the technology.
A new partnership announced March 2 between the Polygon blockchain network and Mercy Corps Ventures, the investment arm of the humanitarian organization Mercy Corps, focuses on bringing blockchain education and opportunity to underserved communities.
According to the announcement, the new partnership has three main goals in its effort to bring blockchain and Web3 solutions to “traditionally excluded and underserved communities.”
These goals include funding blockchain pilots that enable access to the financial system, blockchain hackathons with developers serving users in emerging markets, and creating a blockchain bootcamp roadshow in areas of Mercy Corps presence.
The partners believe that this effort can help “provide educational and informational sessions for local educational institutions, NGOs and other organizations that want to improve their operations through blockchain technology.”
Last month, Mercy Corps Ventures launched its Crypto for Good Fund II, which aims to launch a series of pilots using blockchain technology to drive global financial inclusion and further climate resilience. The first iteration of the fund was launched in 2022 with almost 200 applicants.
Related: Crypto and blockchain education is prioritized at top universities
In light of the recent earthquake that devastated parts of Turkey and Syria, Mercy Corps was involved in a number of donations from the crypto community to deliver aid.
It reported receiving a 50/50 split of funds donated by cryptocurrency exchange Binance, which at the time totaled around $60,000.
In addition, Ripple tweeted that it would donate $1 million in (XRP) in light of the event and highlighted MercyCorps as one of the recipients of the funds.
In addition Ripple tweeted that it would donate $1 million in (XRP) in light of the event and highlighted MercyCorps as one of the recipients of the funds.
Mercy Corps answered to the donation in a tweet, thanking Ripple for supporting its teams on the ground in northwestern Syria. Cryptocurrency donations in times of crisis have recently been proven as a way to amplify both the speed and reach of needed funds.
