Ripple has stepped forward to aid victims of the California wildfire tragedy, donating $100,000 in its native XRP token.
The contribution, made through The Giving Block, will support on-the-ground relief efforts by nonprofit organizations World Central Kitchen (WCK) and GiveDirectly.
Crypto Community Joins the Fight Against Wildfires
Ripple announced the contribution in a January 14 social media post, indicating that President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to head NASA, Jared Isaacman, will match its donation.
Isaacman, through his company Shift4, has launched a fundraiser in collaboration with The Giving Block, a platform that facilitates crypto-based philanthropy. The goal is to raise $2 million to help in wildfire relief efforts. By January 13, the initiative had raised more than $25,000 from over 100 crypto contributions.
Ripple is the first major corporate donor to support the effort, with its gift coming only days after it partnered with MoonPay to contribute another $50,000 to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation. This nonprofit supports Los Angeles firefighters by providing tools, equipment, and resources not covered by the city’s budget.
Its donation comes in the wake of XRP emerging as the best-performing cryptocurrency among the top 50 by market capitalization. The token’s current price of $2.86 means it is only 15.5% away from its all-time high of $3.40, achieved in January 2018.
A Crisis of Unprecedented Scale
California is grappling with devastating wildfires fueled by extreme drought conditions and powerful Santa Ana winds. The situation has forced tens of thousands to be evacuated as the fires that started in early January continue to wreak havoc.
Tragically, reports indicate that at least 24 people have lost their lives, with countless homes being destroyed.
The fires have erupted in the Palisades, Eaton, Sylmar, and Ventura areas of Los Angeles, destroying up to 40,000 acres and leaving a path of destruction in their wake.
While the Hurst fire has been largely contained, the Palisades inferno is still raging, with experts estimating economic losses exceeding $50 billion.
The crypto community has a history of rallying together to support disaster victims. In 2023, they raised funds for victims of the Maui fires, with Ripple contributing $100,000. A year later, the community donated more money to help people affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton. On that occasion, Isaacman reportedly matched the first $475,000 raised dollar for dollar.
