The Wikipedia community has indicated, after long months of debate, that it is in favor of stopping cryptocurrency donations. The Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organization behind the online encyclopedia, had offered to support them with this payment method since August 2014.
The community votes to abandon cryptocurrency donations
It will be no. Wikipedia volunteers have voted 71.17% against crypto donations and are calling on the Wikimedia Foundation to drop this method of payment.
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The suggestion was authored in January by GorillaWarfare, a longtime contributor to the online encyclopedia. Real name Molly White, the user has become an anti-cryptocurrency activist over the years. She maintains the Twitter account “web3 is going just great” which highlights the setbacks of the world of crypto, DeFi, NFTs, and web 3.0 in general.
It was in a lengthy 60,000+ word community opinion request titled “Stop Accepting Cryptocurrency Donations” that the voices of pros and cons were answered.
The request for advice from the community extends over 60,000 words in order to best contextualize the issues of the proposal. Screenshot: Wikimedia
On the one hand, the 232 users who voted to stop crypto donations highlight the pollution linked to the creation of these digital currencies. They also believe that allowing such practices would mean condoning the issues that arise from crypto, namely its volatility, scam cases, and money laundering cases. According to them, this would risk tarnishing the reputation of Wikipedia.
On the other hand, the 94 supporters of cryptocurrency donations advance the idea that this means of payment allows people who do not have the possibility of obtaining a bank account or a credit card. Paying by crypto offers residents of certain repressive countries a safe way to engage financially in the life of the site. Against the ecological argument, they mention the presence of so-called “proof of stake” cryptocurrencies, which consume less energy, such as ether.
A weak source of income
No longer receiving cryptocurrency donations will not greatly disrupt the habits of the online encyclopedia. ” Last year, cryptocurrency accounted for around 0.08% of our revenue and remains one of our smallest revenue channels says Julia Brungs, senior community relations specialist for the Wikimedia Foundation. She adds, in a response to Molly White, “ During the last fiscal year, we received the equivalent of $130,100.94 in cryptocurrency donations. »
A total of 347 donors chose to donate to the site with crypto, mostly with bitcoins. The foundation clarifies that it has never kept cryptocurrency and converts such donations into fiat currency on a daily basis.
Rethinking the way to pay in cryptocurrencies
Wikimedia is not the only web institution to question cryptocurrency donations. Some foundations like Mozilla have instead decided to rethink this payment method.
The foundation that created the famous Firefox web browser, which has also been offering financial support via cryptocurrency since 2014, decided at the start of the year to put this payment method on hold.
” In January, following feedback from staff and supporters, we decided to pause the ability to donate cryptocurrency and announced that we would be conducting a review. We wanted to increase our understanding of the impact of cryptocurrencies on the environment to determine if and when Mozilla should accept cryptocurrency donations explains Mozilla on his blog.
On April 7, the foundation indicated that crypto donations would soon be available again, but that it would only accept “proof of stake” cryptos.
Although the majority of voters are in favor of stopping this method of payment, the Wikimedia Foundation remains in control of the final decision.
The Wikimedia Foundation responded toARS-Technica on this subject. ” We are aware that the community is asking that the Foundation consider no longer accepting cryptocurrency donations. Our fundraising team is reviewing this request and related discussions. We will provide you with further information as soon as she has completed this process. »