UNICEF’s Crypto Adventure: How Aya and Chris Became Blockchain Buddies!

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In a delightful tête-à-tête, the illustrious President of the Ethereum Foundation, Aya Miyaguchi, found herself in the charming company of Christopher Fabian, the mastermind behind UNICEF’s innovation unit and the founder of Giga. They embarked on a whimsical journey through the annals of time, specifically to the years 2018 and 2019, when the United Nations Children’s Fund first dipped its toes into the murky waters of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency with the inception of its CryptoFund. 🚀

Now, dear reader, picture this: Fabian, a chap with a background in startups and tech wizardry, reminiscing about the Herculean task of persuading the UN that this shiny new technology was destined to revolutionize the way they received and distributed donations. “It was 2018, mind you! A time when the crypto landscape was akin to a wild west, with cowboys and misunderstandings galore!” he quipped. 🤠

“All these misconceptions about what the thing is made it take a lot longer than it should have,” he continued, shaking his head in disbelief. “And I daresay, they still hinder governments from embracing certain types of blockchains.”

To elucidate the workings of blockchain and crypto, he conjured up the image of a motorcycle delivering vaccines to the farthest reaches of the globe. “Think of crypto as a motorcycle, a rather intangible one at that! It’s a vehicle for funds, just like a motorcycle is for vaccines,” he explained, with a twinkle in his eye. 🏍️

But wait, there’s more! He also likened cryptocurrency to a fungus growing on trees, with governments and organizations like the UN being the rather immovable trees. “You can’t just yank the trees around! No, no! It has to be a subtle, organic process, much like how nature intended,” he mused, sounding like a philosopher lost in the woods. 🌳

As fate would have it, Aya and Christopher’s paths crossed in the bustling city of Osaka during DevCon. After a delightful chat, Aya realized that Christopher possessed a profound understanding of the crypto realm and its potential to aid UNICEF. “His vision aligned perfectly with my dreams for Ethereum’s future,” she declared, as if she had just discovered the secret to eternal youth.

“I decided to work with UNICEF, not just because of its illustrious name, but because it was the right team. We weren’t about to steer a ship into uncharted waters without a capable crew!” she added, with a wink.

And so, in October 2019, UNICEF launched its CryptoFund, heralding it as a “new financial vehicle allowing UNICEF to receive, hold, and disburse cryptocurrency.” A first for the UN, mind you! Initially, they funded eight emerging tech companies with a generous 125 ETH. But oh, how they’ve grown! Now, they’re off to grander projects, including Fabian’s own Giga, which aims to bring the wonders of the Internet to those who’ve been left in the digital dark. 🌐

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2025-05-28 16:49