BlockShow, an international blockchain event powered by Cointelegraph, has started a campaign to raise cryptocurrency for the Notre Dame cathedral reconstruction. The news was announced on BlockShow’s official Twitter account on April 16.
In the tweet, the team behind BlockShow revealed that it has initiated a fundraising campaign for the Notre Dame reconstruction following the devastating fire that engulfed the cathedral yesterday, April 15.
The BlockShow team posted two digital currency wallet addresses where everyone interested can transfer donations in both bitcoin (BTC) and ethereum (ETH), as well as a link to the Foundations Du Patrimoine, which is raising donations in fiat currencies.
National Public Radio (NPR) has reported about several other international campaigns raising funds for the cathedral rebuilding, including GoFundMe and La Fondation Avenir du Patrimoine à Paris. Per NPR, hundreds of millions of dollars have already been contributed by some of France’s wealthiest names, including the Bettencourt Meyers family, Bernard Arnault and François Pinault.
News about the Notre Dame fire has drawn the attention of dozens of the world’s most prominent individuals. Former president of the United States Barack Obama tweeted:
“Notre Dame is one of the world’s great treasures, and we’re thinking of the people of France in your time of grief. It’s in our nature to mourn when we see history lost — but it’s also in our nature to rebuild for tomorrow, as strong as we can.”
President of the European Council Donald Tusk said:
“I’d like to say words of comfort and solidarity with the French nation, also as citizen of Gdańsk, 90% destroyed and burnt, later rebuilt. You will also rebuild your cathedral! From Strasbourg, French capital of the EU, I call on all 28 States to take part in this task.”
Cryptocurrencies and blockchain have been gradually entering the charity sector, purportedly providing more transparency and trust to the industry. Recently, U.S. crypto payment processor BitPay and the non-profit and charitable organization that operates Wikipedia, the Wikimedia Foundation, partnered to accept crypto donations.
Last December, a Dublin-headquartered startup dubbed AID:Tech teamed up with the Irish Red Cross to use blockchain technology in a new app that improves transparency for charitable donations.
