Vitalik Buterin, one of the brains behind Ethereum, and Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder of Polygon, have joined forces to provide a donation of $100 million to support COVID-19 research and improve medical infrastructure in India.
Crypto Relief, a crypto fund based in India, will transfer $90 million in the form of USD Coin to Buterin and Nailwal. Buterin will additionally contribute $10 million from his personal wealth. Both will then assist in the distribution of the funds.
The first payment will be used to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in India and serves as “Emergency Humanitarian Aid.” Crypto Relief defines itself as a community-led fund providing financial support for India during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a Twitter post dated June 8, Buterin stated that COVID-19 and “future pandemics” will continue to pose a “major risk in the 21st century.” According to Buterin, we need a “global solution” that combines “scientific innovation at the forefront” and “implementation on the ground.”
Covid Research Focus
A significant portion of the COVID-19 research will focus on airborne transmission of COVID-19 by developing better medical devices. “This includes improving ventilation, HEPA filtration, and experimental technologies such as UVC irradiation,” he said. The other main area of research will focus on “Long COVID,” Buterin added.
Philanthropic Activities
This is not the first time Buterin has engaged in philanthropy. In April 2022, Buterin donated $5 million in Ether (ETH) to “Aid for Ukraine” to assist in the defense against the Russian invasion in February 2022.
