Crypto, Social Good, Bridging the Digital Divide: Deep Dive into the UNICEF CryptoFund, at the intersection of Ethics, Finance, Technology | web3 podcast

Social Good, Crypto, Bridging the Digital Divide: Deep
Dive into the UNICEF CryptoFund, at the intersection of Ethics,
Finance, Technology. I am really excited about this
episode with Sanna Bedi and
Arun Maharajan from the UNICEF Venture
Capital Fund and UNICEF CryptoFund that goes deep into how they
tackle complex issues at the intersection of finance, ethics, and
technology.



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The UNICEF Venture Fund was launched in 2016 specifically
designed to finance early stage, open source technology that can
benefit children. In October 2019, UNICEF launched
the CryptoFund, a new financial vehicle allowing UNICEF to
receive, hold, and disburse cryptocurrency - a first for the UN.
The CryptoFund is a pooled fund of bitcoin and ether
and the investments made through the CryptoFund are
denominated in crypto. In the context of the UN Venture
Fund, cryptocurrency is an additional way for UNICEF to make
investments into early-stage startups in emerging and developing
economies. The CryptoFund is a prototype fund for UNICEF to
explore the use of digital currencies, and what it means to
operate in a digitally financed future.


Sanna and Arun discuss reconciling financial returns with the
ethical imperative of prioritizing children's well-being and
address equitable distribution of technological benefits. The
conversation explores promoting open-source solutions,
inclusivity for women in tech, and striking a balance between
short-term gains and long-term sustainability. Sanna and Arun
provide an overview of the UN CryptoFund's alignment with UN
goals and its project selection criteria and cover what they
understand by successful projects and their impact, geographic
focus, cryptocurrency funding, transparency, and the concept of
digital public goods. The episode concludes with a glimpse into
the future plans of these funds, offering a comprehensive
overview of how unique this UN initiative is.


In summary:
Balancing financial returns with the ethical imperative for
children's well-being. Equitable distribution of technological
benefits and addressing the digital divide. Promotion of
open-source solutions and implications for intellectual property.
Fostering inclusivity and empowerment for women in the tech
industry. Balancing short-term financial gains with long-term
sustainability. Geographic focus, cryptocurrency funding,
transparency, and future plans of the UN CryptoFund and Venture
Capital Fund.

Let's get into the episode right now.


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