Hold a Coin We Don’t Accept? Your Options
We accept nine coins, each on one network. If your crypto is something else, or the right coin on the wrong network, you can still give, but converting it first has costs that are easy to miss, including tax. This page helps you pick the route that loses the least on the way to the cause.
By Global Relief Group · Last updated:
We accept bitcoin on the Bitcoin network, ETH and USDC on Ethereum, USDT and TRX on TRON, BNB on BNB Smart Chain, SOL on Solana, XRP on the XRP Ledger and DOGE on Dogecoin. Anything else, including one of those coins on a different network, has to be converted before it can be donated here.
Before you convert anything, check what you already hold
The cheapest conversion is the one you don’t make. If you also hold one of our nine coins, especially one you have held for more than a year, giving that instead usually avoids both the conversion fees and, for US donors, the tax on swapping. A swap counts as disposing of your coin, so any gain since you bought it becomes taxable. Our page on swapping first versus donating directly works through the numbers.
If your coin has lost value since you bought it, converting first can actually work in your favour, because the swap realises a loss you may be able to claim. That page covers this too.
Which guide fits your coin?
| What you hold | Example | Read |
|---|---|---|
| A stablecoin on a network we don’t accept | USDT on Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain or Solana; USDC on Base, Solana or Arbitrum | Stablecoins on the wrong network |
| A token on Ethereum or a layer 2 network | LINK, SHIB, PEPE, UNI, wrapped bitcoin; ETH on Base or Arbitrum | Converting Ethereum tokens |
| A coin with its own blockchain | Litecoin, Cardano, Toncoin, Polkadot, Avalanche, Stellar, Bitcoin Cash | Converting other coins |
| One of our nine coins, on the right network | BTC on Bitcoin, SOL on Solana | Nothing to convert: donate it directly |
Three ways to convert
| Route | How it works | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A centralized exchange | Deposit your coin, sell or trade it for one we accept, then withdraw that to our address | Most coins, larger amounts, coins with their own blockchain | Deposit memos, withdrawal fees and minimums, holding periods on new accounts |
| A swap inside your wallet | Wallets such as MetaMask, Trust Wallet and Exodus can swap one coin for another through third-party providers | Convenience when the wallet supports both coins | Fees and price spreads that can be higher than an exchange’s |
| A decentralized exchange or bridge | Swap tokens or move them between networks using smart contracts | Tokens on Ethereum and similar networks | Token approvals, fake sites, price impact on small coins |
For most people, an exchange account they already use is the simplest and most predictable route. Whatever you choose, convert to the coin and network shown on our donation screen.
What converting costs
- Trading fees or spread: the exchange’s or swap provider’s cut, shown before you confirm.
- Network fees: one for moving your coin to the exchange (if you hold it in a wallet), and another for sending the converted coin to us.
- Withdrawal fees and minimums: set by the exchange for each coin and network.
- Tax: for US donors, a swap is a taxable disposal of the old coin. See the tax maths page.
Together these can take a noticeable share of a small gift.
Stay safe while converting
Before you swap
- Type the exchange or wallet address yourself or use a bookmark; fake sites copying well-known wallets and exchanges often appear in search results and ads.
- Never enter your recovery phrase into any website or “support” chat.
- Copy our donation address fresh from our site after converting, and choose the network shown there.
- If something goes wrong, our guide to crypto sent on the wrong network explains what can be recovered.
Common questions
Can you accept my coin directly instead?
At the moment we accept only the nine coin-and-network pairs listed above, because each one has its own address that our team monitors and verifies. If you would like to give a large amount in another coin, contact us before converting.
Will converting reduce my tax deduction?
Usually not by much: if you donate soon after swapping, your deduction is roughly the coin’s value at the swap. The bigger cost for US donors is the tax on the swap itself, because swapping is a taxable disposal of the old coin. If the new coin rises in value before you give it, that extra rise isn’t deductible, because coins received in a swap count as newly acquired. Our tax maths page works through an example.
Which coin should I convert into?
For larger gifts, any of our coins is fine. For smaller gifts, a coin with low network fees, such as XRP, SOL or TRX, keeps more of your donation for the cause. If you want a stable dollar value, convert to USDC on Ethereum or USDT on TRON.