Learn about real life applications of crypto, happening now.

Crypto IRL

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<p><span style="color: #000000;">Crypto donations have been steadily increasing over the past few years as global adoption increases, but what makes donating in crypto so attractive to both donors and charities themselves.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;"><a href="https://thegivingblock.com/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: #000000;">The Giving Block</a> is a crypto donation platform that allows donors to choose from thousands of crypto-friendly nonprofits to support, with more than 90 cryptocurrencies available to use for donations.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">They also help nonprofits get set up to accept crypto donations, including international charity <a href="https://www.wateraid.org/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: #000000;">WaterAid</a> who are determined to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Blockchain.com caught up with Pietro Moran, Director of Partnerships at The Giving Block and Sarah Kershaw, Digital Acquisitions Lead at WaterAid to find out more the role cryptocurrency plays in this space.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;"><a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blockchainbylines/episodes/QA-Donating-in-Crypto-with-WaterAid-and-The-Giving-Block-e1t8gqm" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: #000000;"><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/nEK2qwVQmiDpskZ2hgao" alt="undefined"></a></span></p>
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<h2><span style="color: #000000;">Charities are no stranger to the crypto space</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">WaterAid&rsquo;s crypto journey started in 2018 with a project that tracked donations on the blockchain and allowed donors to see where their donation was being put to use.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">In 2020 when the pandemic hit however, WaterAid decided to start accepting cryptocurrency donations. &ldquo;The Giving Block made this really easy for us to get started,&rdquo; explained Sarah Kershaw, who admits that as a charity she doesn&rsquo;t have an entire team of developers to implement complicated code.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">&ldquo;It was a very simple process to onboard using The Giving Block&rsquo;s Crypto Donation Widget, and our crypto donations have been growing ever since.&rdquo;</span></p>
<h2><span style="color: #000000;">Exposure to a new, tech-savvy, community</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Sarah shared that &ldquo;Given the crypto community is a completely different segment from our traditional donors, the opportunity is huge.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">And so to have this opportunity to connect with people who maybe haven&rsquo;t been engaged in charity giving in this way before, despite being a very digitally savvy group, they are always very excited to engage!</span></p>
<h2><span style="color: #000000;">Charities can get set-up to accept crypto in under one week</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">With the help of organizations like The Giving Block, charities can get set-up to accept crypto donations in just five to seven business days.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">&ldquo;We&rsquo;re essentially a technology partner that does all the heavy lifting for charities,&rdquo; explains Pietro. &ldquo;Once we understand the charity&rsquo;s mission and purpose, we gather all the relevant documentation across legal and other business functions. We try to make it as pain free as possible!&rdquo;</span></p>
<h2><span style="color: #000000;">Interest from charities is growing</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Despite the downmarket, The Giving Block have still been busy onboarding new non- profits, &ldquo;We haven&rsquo;t really seen too much of a turndown in demand,&rdquo; explains Pietro.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Adding to this, Pietro explains that donor activity has not slowed down either, &ldquo;Over the last 12 months, we&rsquo;ve helped fundraise over a hundred million dollars across our charity network, which highlights the social impact that crypto holders want to have.&rdquo;</span></p>
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This guide explores the rise of crypto donations and its benefits for both charities and donors. Discover how The Giving Block helps charities like WaterAid accept crypto easily and connect with new supporters.

Donating in Crypto: How Charities are Embracing Digital Assets

Donating in Crypto

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<h3><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">At Blockchain.com, we each follow a set of principles that shape our daily interactions, our work, and how we contribute to the ecosystem.</span></h3>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">During &ldquo;all time highs&rdquo; sentiment rises. When we dip, the collective sentiment falls.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What remains is the underlying technology.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Over the past year, we&rsquo;ve spoken with community members from various sectors on how they&rsquo;re using cryptocurrency and blockchain technology on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6vaEao0SXlarPUUBSdvb4T" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">the Blockchain.com Podcast</a>.</span></p>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Charity and volunteering</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Save the Children started accepting Bitcoin donations back in 2013, making them the first major charity to do so.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Ettore Rossetti, Lead Advisor of digital, marketing, and innovation at Save the Children, spoke to us about the incredibly important role of gifting cryptocurrency.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">He explained, &ldquo;The scope of need for children is greater than ever before, the decision was are we willing to take some calculated risk to potentially help more children in need and the answer was yes. And that&rsquo;s why we accept bitcoin and crypto currencies.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blockchain-com-podcast/episodes/Crypto-Aid-in-Ukraine-with-Save-the-Children-e1iapu9" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/iWWYMSWQnepwN4LzqI5C" alt="undefined"></a></span></p>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Training and education</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Founder of <a href="https://www.proofoflearn.io/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Proof of Learn</a>, a web3 education platform, Sheila Lirio Marcelo unlocks accessible high-quality education using a learn-to-earn protocol that is operated on the blockchain.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Learn-to-earn shares rewards with users who engage with new concepts, taking the conventional &ldquo;rewards system&rdquo; used in schools to the next level.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Sheila shared that she &ldquo;created Proof of Learn to leverage the power of blockchain by accrediting education on the blockchain. Web3 allows for greater accessibility and meritocracy of education across the globe.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blockchainbylines/episodes/QA-Getting-Paid-to-Learn-with-BFF-Founding-Member-Sheila-Lirio-Marcelo-e1ha4rg" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/9XrAnO4RTb2plKgdgrUu" alt="undefined"></a></span></p>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Art and culture</span></h2>
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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Creative industries are undergoing a renaissance of how artists can monetize their work as</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">NFTs (non-fungible tokens) have opened up an additional revenue stream for many creators.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">For artist Pplpleasr, selling her art as NFTs has offered more than monetary and investment rewards, it&rsquo;s exposed her to a community of like-minded creators who aren&rsquo;t afraid to challenge the status quo.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&ldquo;By having that chain of providence to verify legitimacy,&rdquo; said Pplpleasr. &ldquo;I believe the true value of the technology of NFTs expands beyond art to everything that we own in the physical or digital realm.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blockchainbylines/episodes/QA-The-Journey-of-NFT-Artist-pplpleasr-e1amled" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/DXl62eaRpyxW77cjCDGM" alt="undefined"></a></span></p>
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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Music</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">As the intersection of blockchain technology and art continues to widen, artist and musician Tom Furse explains that there is still huge demand for better financial systems in the music industry and can see particular value in the use of smart contracts, saying,</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&ldquo;As the metaverse starts to take off, it&rsquo;s quite easy to imagine gigs happening in the metaverse as well as merchandise being sold as digital items.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blockchain-com-podcast/episodes/Music--Art--and-the-Blockchain-with-Tom-Furse-of-The-Horrors-e1dkjq3" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/PVStjAlbRHay6oYFI39F" alt="undefined"></a></span></p>
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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Evident from the spectrum of industries above is community, and the power of forming groups to accomplish more than we could alone.</span></p>
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Crypto Beyond the Hype: Real-World Use Cases. Blockchain.com explores how charities, educators, artists, and musicians are leveraging crypto & blockchain for social good, education, artistic freedom, and a fairer music industry. Discover the transformative power of crypto beyond the headlines.

Crypto in The Community

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<h3><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">6 Crypto Use Cases We Love</span></h3>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Cryptocurrencies have many alternative use cases that don&rsquo;t always get as much coverage in the press, so we&rsquo;re going over six of our favorite use cases for crypto.</span></p>
<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Charity</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">As the popularity of crypto has grown, so has the desire to donate it.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">With charitable organizations starting to accept cryptocurrency, users have found donation to be a great use case for their crypto.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Famously, Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin donated $1 billion to the India Covid Relief fund as well as $5 million in ETH to aid in Ukraine.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Donating crypto could have unique tax implications based on where you live, so consult a qualified tax or legal professional for more information on your specific reporting requirements.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">According to a report from the crypto donation platform The Giving Block, there are some great reasons why nonprofits accept crypto donations:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Diversification.</strong> Crypto opens up another donation stream for nonprofits, increasing the potential for positive fundraising outcomes.</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Increased adoption.</strong> Accepting crypto donations allows nonprofits to reach donors that may have not had a way to donate before.</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Tax efficiency.</strong> Donors may be able to reduce their tax burdens, resulting in more available funds for donation.</span></li>
</ul>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Remittances</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Remittance is a word that comes up frequently in crypto discussions, and it simply means sending money from one party to another.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A remittance is usually a payment, but often when used in relation to crypto, it means people sending money internationally.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Sending money through traditional payment rails is often expensive and slow. Using crypto for international transfers is both faster and, usually, cheaper.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Using crypto is also sometimes the only option for people who can&rsquo;t access financial services like a bank, or where international transfers are restricted.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Guatemala features numerous bitcoin ATMs, where users can access their non- custodial wallets and exchange BTC for local currency, and many businesses throughout the country now accept crypto as payment.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If the Guatemalan crypto economy seems interesting (and it is), learn more about it in our article, &ldquo;<a href="https://medium.com/blockchain/latams-crypto-boom-guatemala-d228e7291c65" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">LatAm&rsquo;s Crypto Boom: Guatemala.</a>&rdquo;</span></p>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Store of value</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Crypto offers an alternative way for people to store value, especially in places where the national fiat currency may be volatile or unstable.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">For people living in countries where this is common, using a tool like stablecoins makes it possible for them to hold onto monetary value, even during times of severe inflation.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies that are tied to another value, like the US dollar, and maintain a comparatively steady value.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This stability allows people and businesses to continue making transactions using a currency with a known value, and enables them to build wealth despite localized market conditions.</span></p>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Identity management</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Using blockchain technology, you can own a public address where you manage and control your data.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This technology has extended into many areas, such as online identities in Web3, healthcare and legal records, ownership of art, and of course financial transactions.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Since the blockchain is permanent and immutable, it could serve as the most secure digital option for maintaining important records. Blockchain records can also be transferred easily, and access can be recorded without revealing the data contained within the address.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Unstoppable Domains offer a gateway to a fully controlled digital identity through decentralized domain names. These domains can be used as your universal username to access Web3 apps, websites, gaming and the metaverse.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Sandy Carter, Senior Vice President and Channel Chief at Unstoppable Domains, gives the following example:</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&ldquo;Using an NFT domain such as .blockchain enables you to give permissions to who can use that data, when they can use it, and how much they can use,&rdquo; explained Carter.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&ldquo;I may want to share my email with a certain organization, but I may not want to share my citizenship or my address.&rdquo;</span></p>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Enabling enterprise</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Cryptocurrency and decentralized finance (DeFi) don&rsquo;t require the same infrastructure as traditional finance, such as banks, creating many opportunities for entrepreneurs to use crypto in their businesses.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Using crypto and other permissionless DeFi tools that don&rsquo;t require a bank or government to work means that businesses can start and grow, even if a nation&rsquo;s economy or currency can&rsquo;t match that growth.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In places like Africa and Latin America, business owners are using crypto to fund daily operations and perform transactions.</span></p>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">NFTs</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">NFTs have received a great deal of attention throughout 2020 and 2021. If you&rsquo;re not familiar, NFT stands for non-fungible token, and is a digital asset stored on a blockchain that is unique and impossible to replicate.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">An NFT is a digital smart contract that represents a real item of value, whether digital or physical. Each NFT has its own individual history that can be traced back to the original owner, and they offer numerous benefitsB</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">They help prove the authenticity of digital assets and ownership.</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Artists can sell their work directly to fans without intermediaries.</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">They can be used to represent real-world assets.</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">NFTs can be used to create a real digital identity.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">NFTs can be used in many industries, including art, gaming, fashion, logistics and events. They can be used for collectibles, managing data, or accessing unique benefits.</span></p>
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Explore 6 exciting use cases: charity (faster donations & tax benefits), remittances (cheaper & faster international payments), store of value (hedge against inflation with stablecoins), identity management (secure & controlled digital IDs), enabling enterprise (financial inclusion & growth), and owning unique digital assets with NFTs (art, collectibles, & more).

6 Crypto Use Cases We Love

Crypto Use Cases

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<h3><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Using cryptocurrency as a digital nomad</span></h3>
<h3><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">When it comes to connecting the world transnationally, the internet is today&rsquo;s undisputed hero. And in a post-pandemic reality, an increasing number of people are harnessing the power of information technology and embracing a nomadic way of working and living.</span></h3>
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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Since 2019 there&rsquo;s been a 112% rise in American professionals who currently work and live remotely and describe themselves as digital nomads, <a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/independent-workforce-trends/digital-nomads-a-growing-trend-of-remote-workers/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">according to MBO Partners</a>.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We spoke with one digital nomad <a href="https://andysto.com/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Andy Stofferis</a> about the benefits of using cryptocurrency as a low-fee borderless solution for life on the road.</span></p>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What exactly is a digital nomad, and how do you support this lifestyle?</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Digital nomads often consider themselves citizens of the world as we can theoretically live and work from wherever.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I run several businesses including my digital marketing agency <a href="https://sendabee.com/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Sendabee</a> and I also invest a consequent part of my income in the stock market and cryptocurrencies, which brings me passive income throughout the year.</span></p>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">How have you used cryptocurrency as a digital nomad?</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I&rsquo;ve used cryptocurrency both privately and professionally, through investments and merchant payments.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">More and more merchants and freelancers offer the possibility to get paid in Bitcoin. This is a pretty easy process, especially when you&rsquo;re dealing with a foreign contractor based in another part of the world.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A few examples of private purchases I&rsquo;ve made using crypto include:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Mobile data with Bitcoin in Georgia</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A <a href="https://www.pavilionshotels.com/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">hotel</a> in Madrid where it was possible to book a room with Bitcoin</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A coffee in Prague in a <a href="https://www.paralelnipolis.cz/en/o-nas/en/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">café</a> where they only accept Bitcoin</span></li>
</ul>
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<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What do you think are some of the benefits of using cryptocurrency over fiat currency (USD / GBP etc.) when traveling?</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I never stay more than a few months in each destination so it&rsquo;s not feasible to open multiple local bank accounts that often as they require lots of paperwork and evidence of long-term residency.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Using cryptocurrency is a way to skip the bank altogether. As cryptocurrency is borderless with lower fees, it&rsquo;s often faster to make a transaction in Bitcoin than using fiat currency when dealing with suppliers and customers from different continents.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">On top of this, I also consider my cryptocurrency investments as an effortless means to make extra money if the currencies increase in value.</span></p>
<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What do you think the benefits are to the wider digital nomad community who are considering using cryptocurrency when traveling?</span></h2>
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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I see the use of cryptocurrencies as part of the future of travel &mdash; it&rsquo;s making our lifestyle easier and freer. The clear advantages of using crypto when traveling are to get rid of intermediary fees and trade freely without input from third parties, states, and banks.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&ldquo;Cryptocurrencies and digital nomads share the same value: a need for borderless freedom.&rdquo;</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Flexibility and freedom are two underpinnings principles that align not only with this &lsquo;location-independent and technology-enabled&rsquo; lifestyle but also the core values of cryptocurrency. You can find out more about Andy Stofferis and his life on the road in <a href="https://andysto.com/blog/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">his blog</a>.</span></p>
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Digital nomad Andy Stofferis shares how crypto lets him work & travel the world. Explore how crypto saves money on fees, simplifies payments, and offers passive income for borderless living. 

Crypto IRL

Crypto IRL

Buy and sell crypto in minutes