Hoe je crypto kunt doneren aan een goed doel en elke munt optimaal kunt benutten

If you have been sitting on appreciated Bitcoin or Ethereum and wondering whether your gains could do some good in the world, you are not alone.

Millions of crypto holders are asking exactly the same question: how to donate crypto to charity in a way that is straightforward, tax-efficient, and genuinely impactful.

This guide covers everything you need: how crypto charitable giving works, the tax advantages available in both the UK and the US, a step-by-step process for making your first donation, and the platforms and precautions that ensure your gift reaches the causes you care about.

Why Is Donating Crypto to Charity Such a Tax-Smart Decision?

This is the single most important piece of information most crypto holders are missing.

Donating digital assets directly to a registered charity is almost always more tax-efficient than selling your crypto and donating the cash proceeds.

Beide IRS in de Verenigde Staten en HMRC in the United Kingdom classify cryptocurrency as property rather than currency.

This classification has a critical implication: when you sell appreciated crypto, you owe capital gains tax on the profit.

But when you donate it directly to an eligible charity, that taxable disposal event is treated very differently.

Lees ook: Technische analyse in cryptohandel en hoe pas je het in de praktijk toe? 8 factoren die de wisselkoers van cryptovaluta naar fiatgeld beïnvloeden

What Are the US Tax Benefits of Donating Cryptocurrency?

In the United States, donating long-term appreciated cryptocurrency directly to a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit can deliver two distinct tax advantages simultaneously.

First, you generally eliminate capital gains tax liability entirely on the donated asset.

Second, you can claim a charitable income tax deduction for the full fair market value of the crypto at the time of the gift, up to 30% of your adjusted gross income (AGI), with any excess carried forward for up to five years.

The combined capital gains and Medicare surtax saving can reach up to 23.8% of the asset’s appreciated value.

To put that in practical terms:

if you bought Bitcoin for £5,000 and it is now worth £33,000, donating it directly to charity means the charity receives the full £33,000, you claim a deduction for £33,000, and neither you nor the charity pays capital gains tax on the £28,000 appreciation.

Selling and then donating the cash would have cost you roughly £5,600 in tax first.

What Are the UK Tax Benefits of Donating Crypto to Charity?

In the United Kingdom, donating cryptocurrency to a registered UK charity is generally exempt from Capital Gains Tax.

HMRC treats the disposal as a no-gain, no-loss transaction, meaning you do not pay CGT on the appreciation between your acquisition cost and the market value at the time of donation.

This is a significant benefit for any UK crypto holder sitting on substantial unrealised gains.

HMRC does not consider cryptoassets to be currency or money, which means crypto donations are not directly eligible for Gift Aid.

If you want your donation to qualify for Gift Aid which lets the charity reclaim 25p for every £1 donated, and lets higher-rate taxpayers claim additional relief, you will need to convert your crypto to sterling first, then donate the cash proceeds.

Bear in mind that converting crypto to cash is a taxable disposal event under UK tax law, so you would need to account for any CGT liability on the conversion before the donation.

How to Donate Crypto to Charity: A Step-by-Step Process

Once you understand the tax benefits, the mechanics of donating are surprisingly straightforward.

Here is a clear walkthrough from deciding to give, through to confirmation on the blockchain.

1. Verify the Charity Is Registered and Eligible

In the US, confirm the charity holds 501(c)(3) status using the IRS Tax Exempt Organisation Search. In the UK, check the Charity Commission register.

Donating to an unregistered entity does not qualify for tax benefits, and could expose you to scams.

2. Confirm the Charity Accepts Crypto Directly

Check the charity’s website for a crypto donation page.

Major organisations including the British Red Cross, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Save the Children, and Diabetes UK all accept crypto directly via platforms like The Giving Block.

If your chosen charity does not accept crypto, a donor-advised fund is your next best option (covered below).

3. Choose Which Cryptocurrency to Donate

In 2025, Bitcoin (BTC) remained the most donated cryptocurrency, followed by USDC and USDT stablecoins, Ripple USD (RLUSD), and Ethereum (ETH).

Donating an asset that has appreciated the most since you acquired it will typically generate the greatest tax benefit, since you avoid the largest potential capital gain.

4. Initiate the Transfer From Your Wallet

Open your crypto wallet, enter the charity’s wallet address exactly, specify the amount, and confirm the transaction.

Always double-check the recipient address before confirming blockchain transactions are irreversible once broadcast to the network.

Many charities use platforms like The Giving Block, which generates a unique wallet address for each donation.

5. Save Your Transaction Receipt

Once the transaction is confirmed on the blockchain, save the transaction hash (TXID), the fair market value of the crypto on the date of donation (check a reputable exchange for this figure), and the written acknowledgment from the charity.

For US donations over $250, the charity must provide a contemporaneous written acknowledgment. For gifts over $5,000, a qualified appraisal is required by the IRS.

6. Report the Donation on Your Tax Return

In the US, report the donation on Schedule A (if itemising) and attach Form 8283 for noncash contributions above £500.

In the UK, report any CGT-exempt disposal through your Self Assessment return. In both jurisdictions, a qualified tax professional familiar with digital assets is worth consulting before filing.

Voorbeelden van bekende goede doelen en organisaties die cryptodonaties accepteren

Veel bekende goede doelen en organisaties accepteren nu cryptodonaties, omdat ze de groeiende populariteit van cryptovaluta erkennen en de potentie ervan om nieuwe donateurs aan te trekken en hun fondsenwervingsmogelijkheden te vergroten. Hier zijn enkele voorbeelden:

Save the Children:Deze internationale organisatie accepteert donaties in verschillende cryptovaluta, waaronder Bitcoin, Ethereum en Litecoin, om haar op kinderen gerichte programma's over de hele wereld te ondersteunen.

UNICEF:Het Kinderfonds van de Verenigde Naties accepteert Bitcoin-donaties via zijn partnerschap met The Giving Block, een platform dat cryptodonaties voor non-profitorganisaties faciliteert.

Wereldvoedselprogramma:Het WFP, onderdeel van de Verenigde Naties, accepteert donaties in Bitcoin om voedselhulp te bieden aan mensen in nood over de hele wereld.

American Cancer SocietyDe ACS accepteert donaties in Bitcoin en andere cryptovaluta om kankeronderzoek, voorlichting en belangenbehartiging te financieren.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital:Dit kinderkankeronderzoekscentrum accepteert donaties in Bitcoin en andere cryptovaluta om zijn levensreddende werk te ondersteunen.

Nationale Vereniging voor Multiple Sclerose:De NMSS accepteert donaties in Bitcoin om onderzoek naar multiple sclerose, een chronische neurologische ziekte, te financieren.

The Nature Conservancy: Deze wereldwijde natuurbeschermingsorganisatie accepteert Bitcoin-donaties om de biodiversiteit te beschermen en klimaatverandering te bestrijden.

ASPCA (Amerikaanse Vereniging voor de Preventie van Dierenmishandeling): De ASPCA accepteert donaties in Bitcoin om dieren in nood te helpen.

Which Platforms Make It Easy to Donate Crypto to Charity?

You do not need to arrange a crypto donation manually.

Several platforms have built dedicated infrastructure specifically for this purpose, handling wallet management, tax receipts, and currency conversion on behalf of both donors and charities.

Cryptocurrencies die algemeen geaccepteerd worden door liefdadigheidsinstellingen

Hoewel Bitcoin nog steeds het meest gebruikt wordt, accepteren veel goede doelen ook andere populaire opties, zoals:

• Ethereum (ETH): Veelgebruikt en biedt slimme contracten voor potentiële toekomstige liefdadigheidsinstellingen.

• Litecoin (LTC): Snellere transactiesnelheden vergeleken met Bitcoin, waardoor het een aantal goede doelen aantrekt.

• Stablecoins (USDC, DAI): gekoppeld aan fiatvaluta's
  

Conclusie

Giving back doesn’t have to be a headache or a tax burden.

If you’ve been watching your portfolio grow, learning How to Donate Crypto to Charity is one of the most effective ways to maximize your impact while minimizing what you owe the taxman