At Mercy Corps Ventures, we’ve been investing in and co-designing real-world Web3 use cases through our Crypto For Good work for the past 7+ years. To date, we’ve partnered with 30 companies, reaching 3,000,000 users. We’re launching this newsletter to share our perspectives, insights, and optimism about the future of crypto for underserved communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. 

If there’s someone you know who would appreciate this content, feel free to share it. And as always, we’d love to hear from you—reach out and let us know what you’re up to. 

We’re fast approaching the end of 2024 and wanted to share updates and a look back on the year that’s been. 

Here’s what we’ll cover: 

🚀 Crypto For Good Fund IV now live! 

✨ Highlights from 2024 

🔮 What we’re looking forward to in 2025 

Last month, we launched the fourth round of the Crypto For Good Fund, providing equity-free funding (grants of up to $100,000) to startups developing innovative Web3 products in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. 

From the first three Crypto For Good Funds:

We’ve screened 1,000+ proposals. 

💡 We’ve launched 20 real-world crypto use cases. 

💰 We’ve deployed $3M+ in funding, impacting the lives of 40,000+ people.

More Insights Here  

This time around, we’re focused on broad thematic areas including: 

• Access — how can we onboard more people to financial freedom? Stablecoins offer immense utility to users in emerging markets – how can we improve access? 

• Programmable money — how can we create impactful applications and achieve efficiencies by leveraging smart contracts? 

• Locally-adapted solutions — how can we tailor web3 solutions with improved user experience to local contexts? 

• Humanitarian aid — how can tranform how humanitarian aid is operated and delivered tobetter serve the 299 million people in need ? 

• ReFi / Climate innovation — how can we promote and restore the environment alongside financial gains with the coordination tools and incentives that web3 provides? 

Interested? Builders can apply here before January 12, 2025.

🔗 Share the C4G4 opportunity with your networks by reposting on LinkedIn and X  

This year, we saw incredible on-chain innovation for social impact. Here are a few highlights: 

With climate crises becoming more predictable, we partnered with DIVA Donate to deliver aid before disasters strike by combining geospatial data and crypto payment rails. During the pilot, $11,000 was distributed to vulnerable pastoralists. The program is now scaling to new regions.

Read more: Launch Article | Endline Article 

In Cameroon, only 9% of people save with financial institutions due to high barriers to entry. Ejara, in partnership with the Cameroonian Central Bank, tokenized government bonds to create a savings product starting at just $1.50 (instead of $1,500). So far, more than 20,000 people have saved over $500,000 collectively. 

Read more: Launch Article | Endline Article

Water scarcity in India has reached critical levels. Atlantis DAO created a decentralized system rewarding community members for providing clean water and logistical support. This effort resulted in the harvesting of 215,000 liters of water, benefiting 4,000 users and creating 400 informal jobs. 

Read more: Launch Article | Endline Article 

As we turn the page to 2025, we’re excited about: 

🛠 The Role of DePIN in Emerging Markets 

It is no secret that emerging markets infrastructure requires significant investment - too many lack access to everyday essentials like clean water (2B people), electricity (775M), sanitation (3.5B) and internet (2.6B). At the same time, scarce job opportunities continue to hinder economic mobility.

DeFi, blockchains and token-based incentives offer a decentralized, locally-led, censorship-resistant way to fund and manage infrastructure development. Token rewards offer income-earning opportunities for those contributing to the sustainability of the infra, creating net new jobs for local communities. 

We’ll be doing a deep dive on DePIN for Emerging Markets in 2025 - reach out if you’re working in this space! 

⏩ Accelerating Anticipatory Action 

We are, obviously, not excited at the prospects of a warming planet with more climate disasters. However, as we focus on increasing climate resilience, we are keen to support technological innovations that will alleviate the worst effects of climate change. 

Operating at the intersection of climate analytics, climate resilience, fintech, big data and crypto, areas where we have been active for many years, as well as tapping into our humanitarian roots, we are eager to expand Anticipatory Action programs, which have a 7-to-1 ROI compared to traditional aid. Stay tuned for a major announcement!  

Higher-Integrity Carbon Credits 

While we’ve been disappointed at the state of the web3 carbon market, there’s reason for optimism. In 2024, Open Forest Protocol (an MCV portfolio company) minted the world’s first ever fully ‘data-backed’ carbon credit. Off-takers can verify on-chain all relevant project details on an immutable ledger, providing transparency and trust in the integrity of the credit. 

What are you excited about for 2025? We’d love to hear from you. 

Happy end of year to all! 

Scott 

At Mercy Corps Ventures, we’ve been investing in and co-designing real-world Web3 use cases through our Crypto For Good work for the past 7+ years. To date, we’ve partnered with 30 companies, reaching 3,000,000 users. We’re launching this newsletter to share our perspectives, insights, and optimism about the future of crypto for underserved communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. 

If there’s someone you know who would appreciate this content, feel free to share it. And as always, we’d love to hear from you—reach out and let us know what you’re up to. 

We’re fast approaching the end of 2024 and wanted to share updates and a look back on the year that’s been. 

Here’s what we’ll cover: 

🚀 Crypto For Good Fund IV now live! 

✨ Highlights from 2024 

🔮 What we’re looking forward to in 2025 

Last month, we launched the fourth round of the Crypto For Good Fund, providing equity-free funding (grants of up to $100,000) to startups developing innovative Web3 products in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. 

From the first three Crypto For Good Funds:

We’ve screened 1,000+ proposals. 

💡 We’ve launched 20 real-world crypto use cases. 

💰 We’ve deployed $3M+ in funding, impacting the lives of 40,000+ people.

More Insights Here  

This time around, we’re focused on broad thematic areas including: 

• Access — how can we onboard more people to financial freedom? Stablecoins offer immense utility to users in emerging markets – how can we improve access? 

• Programmable money — how can we create impactful applications and achieve efficiencies by leveraging smart contracts? 

• Locally-adapted solutions — how can we tailor web3 solutions with improved user experience to local contexts? 

• Humanitarian aid — how can tranform how humanitarian aid is operated and delivered tobetter serve the 299 million people in need ? 

• ReFi / Climate innovation — how can we promote and restore the environment alongside financial gains with the coordination tools and incentives that web3 provides? 

Interested? Builders can apply here before January 12, 2025.

🔗 Share the C4G4 opportunity with your networks by reposting on LinkedIn and X  

This year, we saw incredible on-chain innovation for social impact. Here are a few highlights: 

With climate crises becoming more predictable, we partnered with DIVA Donate to deliver aid before disasters strike by combining geospatial data and crypto payment rails. During the pilot, $11,000 was distributed to vulnerable pastoralists. The program is now scaling to new regions.

Read more: Launch Article | Endline Article 

In Cameroon, only 9% of people save with financial institutions due to high barriers to entry. Ejara, in partnership with the Cameroonian Central Bank, tokenized government bonds to create a savings product starting at just $1.50 (instead of $1,500). So far, more than 20,000 people have saved over $500,000 collectively. 

Read more: Launch Article | Endline Article

Water scarcity in India has reached critical levels. Atlantis DAO created a decentralized system rewarding community members for providing clean water and logistical support. This effort resulted in the harvesting of 215,000 liters of water, benefiting 4,000 users and creating 400 informal jobs. 

Read more: Launch Article | Endline Article 

As we turn the page to 2025, we’re excited about: 

🛠 The Role of DePIN in Emerging Markets 

It is no secret that emerging markets infrastructure requires significant investment - too many lack access to everyday essentials like clean water (2B people), electricity (775M), sanitation (3.5B) and internet (2.6B). At the same time, scarce job opportunities continue to hinder economic mobility.

DeFi, blockchains and token-based incentives offer a decentralized, locally-led, censorship-resistant way to fund and manage infrastructure development. Token rewards offer income-earning opportunities for those contributing to the sustainability of the infra, creating net new jobs for local communities. 

We’ll be doing a deep dive on DePIN for Emerging Markets in 2025 - reach out if you’re working in this space! 

⏩ Accelerating Anticipatory Action 

We are, obviously, not excited at the prospects of a warming planet with more climate disasters. However, as we focus on increasing climate resilience, we are keen to support technological innovations that will alleviate the worst effects of climate change. 

Operating at the intersection of climate analytics, climate resilience, fintech, big data and crypto, areas where we have been active for many years, as well as tapping into our humanitarian roots, we are eager to expand Anticipatory Action programs, which have a 7-to-1 ROI compared to traditional aid. Stay tuned for a major announcement!  

Higher-Integrity Carbon Credits 

While we’ve been disappointed at the state of the web3 carbon market, there’s reason for optimism. In 2024, Open Forest Protocol (an MCV portfolio company) minted the world’s first ever fully ‘data-backed’ carbon credit. Off-takers can verify on-chain all relevant project details on an immutable ledger, providing transparency and trust in the integrity of the credit. 

What are you excited about for 2025? We’d love to hear from you. 

Happy end of year to all! 

Scott