Getting Wikipedia to accept Bitcoin donations - Community pledge

[Meni Rosenfeld]

So I've tested out the system. They're using Coinbase for processing which has these implications:

1. There is no public Bitcoin address associated with Wikipedia.
2. The amount donated is denominated in USD (thus I cannot specify the exact amount of the pledge).
3. There isn't that much by way of confirmation of the donation - all I get is a Coinbase receipt like https://coinbase.com/orders/c2e107a91057283dcebf7708255650c3/receipt.

Per the rules of the titular pledge, I am now to forward the 8.0728757 pledged bitcoins to Wikipedia. But given the above it's not clear to me how to do that in a way that proves that I have.

I welcome suggestions for the best way to do it.

(PS I believe there was little to no effect of this pledge on their decision, but the money is going to a good cause anyway).

[1713602066]

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[edd]

So I've tested out the system. They're using Coinbase for processing which has these implications:

1. There is no public Bitcoin address associated with Wikipedia.
2. The amount donated is denominated in USD (thus I cannot specify the exact amount of the pledge).
3. There isn't that much by way of confirmation of the donation - all I get is a Coinbase receipt like https://coinbase.com/orders/c2e107a91057283dcebf7708255650c3/receipt.

Per the rules of the titular pledge, I am now to forward the 8.0728757 pledged bitcoins to Wikipedia. But given the above it's not clear to me how to do that in a way that proves that I have.

I welcome suggestions for the best way to do it.

(PS I believe there was little to no affect of this pledge on their decision, but the money is going to a good cause anyway).

Linking to the receipt provided by Coinbase and the transaction on Blockchain.info would be adequate in my opinion. This would verify that the bitcoins were sent when they were worth the amount in USD as stated on the Coinbase receipt. While this may not specifically prove that the bitcoins came from you, it would be unlikely that you waited to send the 8.0728757 BTC until someone else happened to send that exact amount and were able to access their online receipt.

Disclosure: I don't recall sending a donation to this so I have no stake in the outcome.

[Meni Rosenfeld]

Apparently there's an additional email they're sending when the "donation is fully processed", I guess we'll be wiser tomorrow.

Linking to the receipt provided by Coinbase and the transaction on Blockchain.info would be adequate in my opinion. This would verify that the bitcoins were sent when they were worth the amount in USD as stated on the Coinbase receipt.

Sounds good but the challenge remains that it's difficult to define a donation amount in USD that will lead to the desired BTC amount. However, getting someone else's receipt does sound difficult, so I guess even with a small mismatch it's still a strong indication.

[Meni Rosenfeld]

I see there are no objections so I'll go ahead now.

Receipt: https://coinbase.com/orders/57da4b59c0b6250f4496a88d8f4b5024/receipt
Transaction: https://blockchain.info/tx/d0aac50742521ecf418038d2d09323ebeb955384f3397011429f1d1af10e12b9

Thank you to everyone who has donated!

[solex]

Well done Meni.

[bigasic]

Yes, good job... I can't believe it took them this long to start taking it. I guess since they are using coinbase, they will be able to identify the donator, probably for legal reasons..unless there is a way to open up a coinbase account anonymously.

[gweedo]

I see there are no objections so I'll go ahead now.

Receipt: https://coinbase.com/orders/57da4b59c0b6250f4496a88d8f4b5024/receipt
Transaction: https://blockchain.info/tx/d0aac50742521ecf418038d2d09323ebeb955384f3397011429f1d1af10e12b9

Thank you to everyone who has donated!

Very nice! Stand up act!

[googlemaster1]

Good on ya Meni.  Wish it was a little more on the forefront, but they do take it nonetheless.  Good times!

[knight22]

Congrat on this one!

[Meni Rosenfeld]

Yes, good job... I can't believe it took them this long to start taking it. I guess since they are using coinbase, they will be able to identify the donator, probably for legal reasons..unless there is a way to open up a coinbase account anonymously.

There is no need to open a Coinbase account. They do ask however for personal details when donating, which in theory I guess could be spoofed.

[razibuzouzou]

Awesome, well done

[Meni Rosenfeld]

Good news. Here's a recent email communication:

Dear Meni Rosenfeld,

We're thrilled by your generous contribution. At Wikipedia, the donation of a single dollar makes a difference in the work we do. When we get a much larger donation, we can accomplish that much more. On behalf of the Wikimedia Foundation and Wikipedia's readers, you have our heartfelt thanks.

As a nonprofit, the Wikimedia Foundation relies on donations to keep Wikipedia going. Every month, half a billion people look to Wikipedia for information that gives them answers and insight into the world around them. Wikipedia now has 30 million articles in more than 275 languages, and it’s growing every day thanks to the thoughtful contributions of readers like you.

We’d love to acknowledge your generosity on our Benefactors page, http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Benefactors, where we list those who’ve donated $1,000 or more. Please let me know if you’d like to be added to this page of honor. Some donors choose to acknowledge the name of a loved one on our Benefactors page, and we’re happy to do that for you, too.

Thank you again for your generous contribution.

Warmly,

Rosie Lewis
rlewis@wikimedia.org
W: 415-839-6885 X. 6839
F: 415-882-0425

Hi Rosie,

Thank you for the offer. I'll be happy to be listed, I have two requests:

1. The donation was based on funds collected from the Bitcoin community, so it should be listed as "The Bitcoin Community" rather than my own name.

2. The donation in question was for $4730, which appears to be just $270 shy of the $5K required for the higher "Leading Donor" tier. Will it be possible for me to donate an extra $270 and be listed as a leading donor?

Thanks,
Meni

I welcome suggestions for a name to credit other than "The Bitcoin Community".

Also, apparently some of the entries in the Benefactors page have links, which link would be appropriate?

[solex]

a link to https://bitcoin.org would seem appropriate, and useful to anyone who follows it up.

[tsoPANos]

This is getting so interesting now!

[Meni Rosenfeld]

So, I donated the extra $270 (0.46359 BTC), and now the Bitcoin community is proudly listed as a leading donor.

[gweedo]

So, I donated the extra $270 (0.46359 BTC), and now the Bitcoin community is proudly listed as a leading donor.

I will say it again, good man and stand up action!

[molecular]

Cool, "The Bitcoin Community" is listed as leading donor. Thanks for the find, Meni

[afkmember]

Good thing but i d rather donate to wikileaks

[Meni Rosenfeld]

Cool, "The Bitcoin Community" is listed as leading donor. Thanks for the find, Meni

In case you haven't followed up on the latest developments in this thread, I'll recap the story - after the $4730 donation they offered to list me as a sustaining donor, and I asked to rename as The Bitcoin Community, and donated an extra $270 to go up to the leading donor tier.

[molecular]

Cool, "The Bitcoin Community" is listed as leading donor. Thanks for the find, Meni

In case you haven't followed up on the latest developments in this thread, I'll recap the story - after the $4730 donation they offered to list me as a sustaining donor, and I asked to rename as The Bitcoin Community, and donated an extra $270 to go up to the leading donor tier.

well, thank you!