New Initiative Aims to Raise 100 Bitcoin to Secure Long-Term Funding and Urgent Action in the Rainforests of Central and South America
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Beth Duncan, [email protected]
Marina Wright, [email protected]
Camila Rossi, [email protected]
New York, January 30, 2025 – Rainforest Foundation US (RFUS) is pleased to announce the launch of its innovative initiative, Treasury for the Trees, a Bitcoin-based reserve aimed at securing long-term funding for rainforest protection in Central and South America. RFUS’s goal is to raise 100 Bitcoin (BTC), which will support RFUS’s mission to protect rainforests and uphold Indigenous peoples’ rights for generations to come.
The launch of the Bitcoin Treasury comes at a pivotal moment for the Amazon and other vital rainforests. With deforestation reaching critical levels, the future of these ecosystems hangs in the balance. Without immediate intervention, parts of the Amazon could shift from carbon sinks to carbon emitters, accelerating the climate crisis. Scientists warn that we have until 2030 to prevent irreversible damage.
A Superior Store of Value and Potential for Appreciation
Traditional treasuries in fiat currencies are vulnerable to inflation and economic instability, eroding the reserves’ value over time. The RFUS Bitcoin Treasury is designed to be a hedge against inflation and economic volatility, owing to Bitcoin’s decentralized network and fixed supply. Therefore, the Bitcoin we receive today could maintain or even grow its purchasing power in the future. Also, unlike fiat reserves, Bitcoin has significant potential for appreciation over time.
Financial Independence
By holding Bitcoin, a symbol of financial sovereignty, RFUS will reduce its dependence on traditional fundraising mechanisms and ensure a resilient funding source for its work in the future.
“A Bitcoin Treasury represents a new model of securing financial sustainability for a nonprofit organization,” said Suzanne Pelletier, Rainforest Foundation US Executive Director. “With 100 Bitcoins in the Treasury, we will have the security to implement high-impact, long-term initiatives to protect forests, biodiversity, and our climate. It will reduce our reliance on traditional fundraising cycles and ensure the sustainability of our work even during periods of conventional market downturns or changing donor interests.”
A Flexible and Rapid Response
While the primary goal is to hold Bitcoin in the Treasury for long-term impact, RFUS may strategically liquidate portions of the appreciated Bitcoin to fund urgent operational needs, such as responding to immediate threats facing Indigenous communities and their lands.
“By using a portion of our appreciated Bitcoin when critical situations arise, RFUS can act quickly in times of crisis,” explains Pelletier. ”The record number of fires, drought, and other threats to biodiversity and Indigenous peoples throughout the Amazon and Central America—and political and economic volatility in the global north—demonstrate how vital it is for organizations like RFUS to have the resources on hand to be able to respond immediately in the face of these ongoing threats.”
Bitcoin adoption is accelerating, offering RFUS a unique opportunity to build a financial reserve that can weather economic uncertainties and support urgent climate action in the Amazon and beyond.
By contributing to RFUS’s Bitcoin Treasury, donors will directly support the protection of tropical forests, the sustainability of Indigenous communities, and the slowdown of climate change. Every donation, no matter how small, plays a crucial role in securing the future of the rainforests.
For more information on the Treasury or how to donate, visit rainforestfoundation.org/bitcoin
Background
RFUS is a leader in integrating technology in community-based forest protection work with Indigenous communities and exploring how cryptocurrency and blockchain technology can be used for social good. In 2015, RFUS was one of the first nonprofit organizations to accept cryptocurrency donations as well as create a cryptocurrency that would support our work. Establishing a Bitcoin Treasury reinforces our commitment to demonstrating how blockchain technology can be responsibly harnessed to ensure the long-term sustainability of our work.
About Rainforest Foundation US
Rainforest Foundation US (RFUS) is committed to protecting the rainforests and the rights of Indigenous peoples in Central and South America. Through grassroots partnerships and innovative strategies, RFUS works to protect tropical ecosystems, safeguard Indigenous peoples’ land rights, and address the climate crisis. Learn more at rainforestfoundation.org/mission-history
