Thursday the Washington Post reported the Ukrainian government had already received more than $42 million in cryptocurrency donations since last Saturday — "plus digital artwork including a limited edition worth roughly $200,000," according to blockchain analytics firm Elliptic. Some of the crypto donations have already been converted into traditional currency, primarily euros, according to Kuna.io, the Kyiv-based cryptocurrency exchange that helped the government set up and manage its crypto wallets for donations. The money was then used to buy critical supplies like drones, bulletproof vests, heat-sensitive goggles and gasoline, from both state actors and the private sector.

According to data from the public digital ledger, none of the 180 donated digital artworks have been sold. There is a map of the eastern part of the country with parts of it controlled by Russian-backed rebels in the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

In addition to well-established cryptocurrencies, Ukraine received donations denominated in almost 100 obscure digital currencies, according to a Post analysis of data from Etherscan. They included a new one named Save Ukraine, another with a racially abusive name, and several themed after crypto community in-jokes focused on dogs and Musk, the Tesla CEO. The government's strategy has been to convert less popular cryptocurrencies into traditional money first and hold bitcoin and ether in reserves because they are more stable and liquid, Chobanian said. Donations were still streaming in as new efforts to raise crypto for the Ukrainian government cropped up.

Mykhailo Fedorov, the deputy prime minister of Ukraine, announced AidForUkraine early Tuesday morning. According to its website, AidForUkraine has raised over a million dollars. The AidForUkraine fundraising effort came together quickly, according to Everstake's Vasylchuk, who fled Kyiv days before the invasion and is in temporary housing in Florida. Come Back Alive, an organization that helps the Ukrainian army, has received millions of dollars in donations from various groups, including a group that held an auction on the internet to raise funds. After their campaign was suspended from Patreon, the NGOs decided to switch tocryptocurrencies. According to the New York Times, UkraineDAO is limiting spending to help war victims. Ellen Satterwhite said that would be allowable under our guidelines.


Elsewhere On GoFundMe, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher have already raised over $15 million for refugee and humanitarian aid — in just one day.