2020: A Year of Giving Back

Gemini Gives Back started as an employee-led initiative in 2017 by members of #TeamGemini who wanted to help those who are in need. What started as small groups volunteering locally has now grown into an organized effort that fosters community-driven initiatives, both inside and outside of Gemini.

As the globe faces a deadly pandemic and our country addresses widespread discrimination, 2020 has proved to be a difficult yet inspiring year, with diverse groups coming together to fight for social justice and effect change in our communities. Even though we are all working remotely, Gemini has been more united than ever in supporting each other and our neighbors.

Here is a snapshot of some of work we have done in 2020 and how you can get involved:

Supporting Social Justice

Over the past year, Gemini executives have had powerful conversations with our Black colleagues about their experiences. Given these discussions, we reexamined the commitments we've made at Gemini and to the global crypto community. Among the affirmations we have made this year are that Black Lives Matter and that we stand with the Black community today and forever. The actions we have taken as a company include donating $250K across five organizations focused on education, economic, and social justice reform for the Black community recommended by, voted on, and chosen by our employees. The organizations we have donated to are the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Equal Justice Initiative, Chicago Youth Centers, the Black Parent Initiative, and IntegrateNYC.

We invite you to donate to these groups and to read our full statement on Black Lives Matter.

Donation Matching

This year, Gemini instituted a gift-matching program of up to $1K per employee, per year, to support organizations they choose. Since the launch of the program, Gemini employees have requested donation matching for more than 100 nonprofit organizations that do work across the globe. A cross-section of the nonprofits that are approved for donation matching include Black Girls Code Inc., Know Your Rights Camp, The Water Project, The Bowery Mission Foundation Inc., No Kid Hungry, Gamers Outreach, Code to Inspire, Engender Help, and the Ali Forney Center. We hope you join us in supporting these nonprofits that work with diverse communities throughout the United States.

#BitcoinTuesday on Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is a global movement that has encouraged individuals to do good over the past several years and has inspired millions of people to engage in a simple act of generosity. For the second year running, Gemini collaborated with The Giving Block to support #BitcoinTuesday, part of the larger #GivingTuesday initiative. This year, Gemini donated $20,000 in crypto to Save the Children, No Kid Hungry, and Children International to support the health and development of children around the world.

You can donate to more than 120 nonprofits with cryptocurrency through The Giving Block.

Gemini Opportunity Fund

Earlier this month, we announced the creation of the Gemini Opportunity Fund, a donor-advised fund that will support Bitcoin Core development through grants, fellowships, and donations. The Gemini Opportunity Fund will back Bitcoin Core developers who are working to improve the usability, security, and resilience of the Bitcoin Network. The Fund’s first donations will total $200,000, with $50,000 in BTC donated to the Human Rights Foundation’s Bitcoin Development Fund, and $150,000 in BTC donated to John Newbery’s recently launched Brink, a London-based, non-profit fellowship program that will sponsor and mentor exemplary Bitcoin developers. With this initiative, we continue powering the individual through crypto.

We welcome you to learn more about the Gemini Opportunity Fund.

New York Cares Coat Drive

All New Yorkers need a warm coat, especially this time of year. Even though many of us are working remotely, many of New York’s essential workers cannot afford to work from the comfort of their homes. Imagine you couldn't get to work, pick up your prescriptions from the pharmacy, or send your child to school all because you didn't have a decent coat to wear. Every year many New Yorkers face this reality, and even more so this year. New York Cares organizes a coat drive to give the gift of warmth. For every $20 raised New York Cares can purchase one warm coat for those in need. We partnered with New York Cares to host our own Coat Drive fundraiser.

Find ways you can donate here.

Bitcoin Pizza Day 10th Anniversary

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Bitcoin Pizza Day on May 22, we worked with Slice Out Hunger and Papa John's to donate pizza to New York’s frontline workers battling so bravely against COVID-19. Through this initiative, we also raised funds for No Kid Hungry, a group that works to feed the one in four kids who could face hunger. We donated $25K to Slice Out Hunger and No Kid Hungry, and through our partnerships we delivered 500+ pizzas to New York’s bravest. Bitcoin Pizza Day commemorates a now famous transaction of 10,000 bitcoins for two pizzas. At the current bitcoin price that’s more than $260 million for two pies!

We invite you to continue supporting these important groups.

Looking Ahead

We look forward to building on our 2020 initiatives by continuing to expand our relationship with the organizations and people that have helped shape Gemini Gives Back. We will continue to work closely with our community to help those in need as we follow our mission to empower the individual through crypto.

Onward and Upward,

Team Gemini