As Ethereum’s co-creator, Vitalik Buterin is no stranger to innovation. This time, he’s collaborating with Sandeep Nailwal, Polygon’s co-founder, and Crypto Relief, an India-based cryptocurrency fund. Their joint endeavor? To raise $100 million for the purpose of funding COVID-19 research and enhancing India’s medical infrastructure.

Crypto Relief is contributing $90 million in USD Coin USDC $1.00 to the cause, while Buterin is personally investing $10 million. They will then participate in the distribution of these funds.

To ensure full compliance with their local rules, Crypto Relief has decided to transfer the funds to Buterin, according to a Tweet by Nailwal from January 2022.

The initial donation was employed to provide “urgent humanitarian aid” as part of India’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Operating as a community-led fund, Crypto Relief has been instrumental in offering financial assistance to India during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Buterin, in a June 8 tweet, acknowledged that COVID-19, along with potential “upcoming pandemics”, pose a substantial risk this century. He advocates for an inclusive solution, fusing “advanced scientific innovations” and “practical application”.

He suggests a considerable focus of COVID-19 research should be on studying the virus’s airborne transmission and on enhancing medical equipment.

This includes refining ventilation systems, implementing HEPA filtering, and exploring novel technologies such as UVC irradiation, according to Buterin.

Research into “Long COVID” is another important area to concentrate on, Buterin notes.

He stated, “Today, a large number of people are suffering from lingering symptoms of Covid (often referred to as #LongCovid), therefore research into Long Covid remains a high priority.”

Moreover, Buterin shared that the $100 million would be sent to a Gnosis Safe wallet, giving out the contract address.

This significant donation, initially made in Shiba Inu (SHIB) tokens, was orchestrated by Buterin in early 2022.

But this isn’t the first time Buterin has used his resources for the greater good.

In April 2022, he made a donation in Ether (ETH) worth $5 million to the “Aid for Ukraine” campaign to assist in Ukraine’s defense against the invasion by Russia in February 2022.

According to the Crypto Relief’s official website, the fund has managed to accumulate $473 million by November 26.

When Cointelegraph sought an updated figure from Crypto Relief, they were unable to obtain an immediate response.

The collaboration underlines the potential of cryptocurrency for philanthropic initiatives, demonstrating how these digital assets can be harnessed to fund meaningful causes such as public health research.

It also showcases a growing trend among crypto industry leaders to play an active role in global crises, leveraging their influence and resources for the benefit of all.

Finally, the mention of research into Long COVID underlines a critical issue facing the global community today. It accentuates the importance of comprehensive research into the long-term effects of COVID-19, educating readers about the ongoing health challenges associated with the pandemic.