How do you verify a nonprofit holds Bitcoin?

Verification uses a multi-source approach: on-chain wallet analysis (publicly disclosed addresses checked against blockchain explorers), official organizational statements (press releases, annual reports, board minutes), third-party reporting (credible journalism, nonprofit watchdog organizations), and direct outreach. No single source is sufficient. A confirmed classification requires at least two independent corroborating sources with documented evidence links.

What counts as confirmed evidence of Bitcoin holdings?

Confirmed evidence includes: a publicly disclosed Bitcoin wallet address with verifiable on-chain balance, an official organizational announcement or press release stating BTC treasury holdings, a documented board resolution or treasury policy specifically referencing Bitcoin reserves, or verified reporting from credible financial or nonprofit media with named sources. Anonymous claims, social media posts without official backing, and unverified third-party assertions do not qualify for confirmed status.

What is the difference between confirmed and strong evidence categories?

Confirmed means the organization has publicly disclosed its Bitcoin holdings through official channels with verifiable on-chain or documentary evidence. Strong Evidence means credible indicators exist (such as known Bitcoin payment infrastructure, public statements from leadership, or documented donation acceptance with no stated conversion policy) but the organization has not made an explicit public statement confirming treasury holdings.

How are on-chain wallet addresses verified?

When an organization publicly discloses a Bitcoin wallet address (on their donation page, in a press release, or in an annual report), that address is checked against public blockchain explorers like Mempool.space or Blockstream Explorer. The balance, transaction history, total received, and transaction count are recorded. The address is also cross-referenced against known exchange addresses to distinguish between a custody wallet and a pass-through address that immediately converts to fiat.

Can a nonprofit be listed without a public wallet address?

Yes. A nonprofit can be listed in any category without a public wallet address if sufficient documentary evidence exists. Many organizations hold Bitcoin through institutional custodians or multi-signature arrangements that do not correspond to a single publicly identifiable address. In these cases, the verification relies on official statements, annual reports, or credible third-party reporting rather than on-chain evidence.

What sources are used to verify Bitcoin treasury policies?

Primary sources include: official organizational websites and donation pages, annual reports and Form 990 filings, press releases and official blog posts, board meeting minutes (when publicly available), and direct organizational responses to research inquiries. Secondary sources include credible journalism from Bitcoin-focused publications (Bitcoin Magazine, CoinDesk), mainstream financial press, and nonprofit sector watchdog organizations.

How often is the directory data updated?

The directory is updated on a rolling basis as new evidence becomes available. Major updates occur when organizations make public announcements, publish annual reports, or when new on-chain evidence is identified. The research date displayed on the homepage reflects the most recent comprehensive review.

What happens if a nonprofit's holding status changes?

If an organization's status changes (for example, if a confirmed holder publicly announces they have liquidated their Bitcoin reserves, or if a previously unverified organization discloses a treasury policy), the record is updated with the new evidence and the change is logged with a date stamp. Historical status changes are preserved in the organization's evidence record so researchers can track the evolution of the organization's Bitcoin relationship over time.

How do you handle nonprofits that accept Bitcoin but immediately convert to fiat?

Organizations that accept Bitcoin donations but immediately convert to fiat via payment processors (like The Giving Block or Engiven) are classified separately from treasury holders. These organizations are typically listed in the Platform or Unknown categories rather than Confirmed or Strong Evidence. The distinction is critical: accepting Bitcoin is a payment infrastructure decision, while holding Bitcoin is a treasury strategy decision.

How can I submit evidence to update a nonprofit's verification status?

Evidence submissions can be made through the Submit Organization form on this site. Include the organization name, the specific evidence you have found (with a direct URL or document reference), and the category you believe the evidence supports. All submissions are reviewed against the verification criteria before any status change is made.

TRANSPARENCY

VERIFICATION
METHODOLOGY

How we research, classify, and verify nonprofits that accept and hold Bitcoin. Our five-tier classification system provides transparency about the evidence behind each listing.

VERIFICATION TIERS

ORGS RESEARCHED

EVIDENCE TYPES

85+

CITATIONS REVIEWED

RESEARCH PROCESS

IDENTIFICATION

Scan public announcements, crypto donation platforms, Bitcoin community forums, and nonprofit databases to identify organizations accepting Bitcoin.

EVIDENCE COLLECTION

Gather public documentation including press releases, IRS filings, on-chain data, official statements, and third-party reporting.

CLASSIFICATION

Apply five-tier classification based on evidence strength, from confirmed treasury holders to unknown/unverified policies.

ONGOING MONITORING

Continuously monitor for policy changes, new announcements, and community feedback. Update classifications as evidence evolves.

CLASSIFICATION TIERS

Each organization in the directory is assigned to one of five tiers based on the strength of available evidence regarding their Bitcoin holding practices.

CONFIRMED TREASURY HOLDERS

Organizations with publicly documented Bitcoin treasury policies, on-chain evidence, or official announcements confirming BTC holdings.

CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA

▸Public announcement or press release of Bitcoin treasury policy
▸On-chain evidence of holdings (public addresses or proof-of-reserves)
▸Board-approved investment policy including Bitcoin
▸Regular public reporting of BTC treasury balance

EXAMPLES

Rainforest Foundation US

Launched 'Treasury for the Trees' with 100 BTC goal, public announcement January 2025

My First Bitcoin

100% of savings in BTC, 85%+ payments via Lightning, publicly documented

STRONG EVIDENCE

Organizations demonstrating strong indicators of Bitcoin holding through operational behavior, grant structures, or public statements, but without explicit treasury policy documentation.

CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA

▸Grants awarded and tracked in satoshis rather than fiat equivalents
▸Operational patterns consistent with BTC holding (Lightning payments, sat-denominated budgets)
▸Public statements from leadership suggesting Bitcoin reserves
▸Ecosystem positioning that implies holding (Bitcoin development funding)

EXAMPLES

Human Rights Foundation

$8.5M+ distributed in BTC grants, awards in satoshis

OpenSats

Tracks allocations in sats, funds Bitcoin developers

BITCOIN-ONLY OPERATIONS

Organizations operating exclusively within the Bitcoin ecosystem. Their operational model implies holding, but explicit treasury policy documentation may not be publicly available.

CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA

▸Accept only Bitcoin (no fiat or altcoin donations)
▸Operational expenses paid in Bitcoin where possible
▸Mission directly tied to Bitcoin ecosystem development
▸Team compensation partially or fully in Bitcoin

EXAMPLES

Bitcoin District Initiative

Bitcoin-only circular economy in Washington DC

Brink

Bitcoin Core developer funding, accepts BTC donations

PLATFORM MODEL

Organizations that hold Bitcoin on behalf of other charities through a custodial or reserve model, rather than holding for their own treasury.

CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA

▸Holds BTC in reserve for distribution to partner charities
▸Transparent reporting of total BTC held
▸Clear custody and distribution policies
▸Partner charity verification and onboarding process

EXAMPLES

EverGive

Holds 30+ BTC on behalf of 50+ traditional charities

UNKNOWN / UNVERIFIED

Organizations that accept Bitcoin donations but whose holding policies are not publicly documented. They may convert immediately, hold partially, or have undisclosed policies.

CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA

▸Accept Bitcoin donations (confirmed)
▸No public treasury policy regarding crypto holdings
▸No on-chain evidence of holding
▸May use third-party processors that auto-convert to fiat

EXAMPLES

Coin Center

Accepts crypto donations, holding policy not publicly documented

LIMITATIONS

This directory relies on publicly available information. Organizations may hold Bitcoin without public disclosure, or may have changed policies since our last review.

On-chain analysis is limited. Many organizations use custodial services, multisig wallets, or privacy-preserving techniques that make holdings difficult to verify externally.

Classifications represent our best assessment based on available evidence. They are not endorsements or guarantees. We encourage donors to contact organizations directly to confirm current policies before making significant donations.

If you have information that could update a classification, please submit it through our form.

DATA SOURCES

▸Official nonprofit websites and press releases

▸IRS Form 990 filings and financial disclosures

▸On-chain blockchain analysis (public addresses)

▸The Giving Block platform data

▸Bitcoin community forums and social media

▸Direct organizational communications

▸Third-party journalism and reporting

▸Community submissions and feedback

EXPLORE THE DIRECTORY

Browse all verified organizations with their classification tiers.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Common questions about how we verify nonprofit Bitcoin holdings and classify organizations.