Silicon Valley unicorn Paystand’s new CSR initiative assisted 25,000 people in 11 countries during the 2023 pilot year, including Mi Primer Bitcoin, Hope House, and bizzNEST
SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Paystand, the blockchain-enabled commercial payments platform, today announces the launch of Paystand.org. Paystand.org is the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of the pioneering financial technology (fintech) company. The organization will harness the power of the Blockchain and emerging bitcoin circular economies to create financial opportunities within vulnerable and underrepresented communities.
Paystand.org has already provided donations, grants and technical assistance to a range of different NGOs, including Mi Primer Bitcoin (My First Bitcoin), Hope House and Digital NEST’s bizzNEST initiative.
Paystand.org is rooted in Paystand’s mission: to decentralize the financial system, transforming businesses toward a better economy. The initiative addresses the serious challenges facing emerging economies globally in financial inclusion, including high inflation, lack of access to banking, burdensome service fees, long payment delays with too many intermediaries, and difficulty obtaining credit and capital. These underserved communities also deal with such issues as workers sending money back home and being hit with unfair charges as high as 6.8%. They also must wait days for their families to receive it — showcasing a clear exploitation of the less fortunate by the financial system.
For example, in Latin America, an estimated 70% of the population is unbanked or underbanked, forcing individuals and businesses to rely on informal lenders and personal networks for credit. However, in El Salvador, where a bitcoin circular economy is emerging, more than 2 million underbanked citizens use bitcoin; tourism has increased 30%, bringing foreign investment; and more than $120 million in cross-border remittances was sent last year using bitcoin, avoiding fees for Salvadoran overseas workers supporting their families back home.
The same is true for other countries with growing bitcoin economies. Bitcoin use is growing significantly faster than the traditional banking system in these regions, and signals a higher adoption rate of digital currency, driving significantly more inclusive opportunities for the underbanked in Latin America. Additionally, integrating blockchain and Bitcoin technologies with circular economy principles offers a transformative opportunity for Latin America’s 160 million youth, the SMEs that constitute 99% of the business landscape, as well as investors who channel $100 billion in annual finance flows.
To create this critically needed more inclusive financial landscape and help build economic growth, Paystand.org is taking a holistic approach: by enabling selected organizations that educate and promote the use of Bitcoin and blockchain technology in emerging and underrepresented communities.
“Since we started Paystand nearly 10 years ago we’ve built our mission on Bitcoin and blockchain as the key enabler to democratize an unjust financial system. It is more than just technology or investment opportunity for Silicon Valley; it is the critical tool for a more efficient and thriving global economy, and in emerging markets to unlock better equity, access, and economic opportunity for the underbanked,” stated Jeremy Almond, CEO of Paystand. “It’s incredibly exciting to see the dual impact Paystand.com can have first on the commercial side of finance, and now with Paystand.org as a catalyzing change agent for financial inclusion for the underrepresented. We hope this dual approach can be a model for how emerging tech companies should approach stewardship.”
The Paystand.org grantees use the funding, mentoring, expertise, basic financial literacy education and technology training – to build community financial services that can create sustainable and regenerative economic practices.
For example:
- My First Bitcoin (Mi Primer Bitcoin, El Salvador) is one of the first international projects in which Paystand.org provided financial support to create a platinum-standard curriculum for more than 800 classes for 22,000 people, enabling them to use and understand the blockchain technology-based financial system, with more than 1,800 earning bitcoin diplomas.
- The Digital Nest organization (headquartered in the Bay Area) is creating tech training centers for Latinx youth from immigrant and farmworking communities. Providing assistance and mentorship so that more than 3,100 young people received professional technology training and career development, enabling them to participate in career track activities and internships.
“This grassroots approach demonstrates the tangible benefits of bitcoin-based economies to unbanked and underserved populations and improves the circumstances of economically marginalized communities,” said Alexandra Navarro, Paystand.org chief executive. “Early adopters will educate local populations on how to integrate more capital circulation into community life, how to access and utilize cutting-edge financial technologies, and will coach individuals and businesses on how to use bitcoin most effectively.”
“Moreover, Blockchain can empower entrepreneurs by democratizing access to capital, fueling the growth of SMEs that are the backbone of our economy. Our commitment at Paystand is to harness this technology, not just for economic efficiency, but as a force for equitable growth across Latin America,” she concluded.
Initial funding for Paystand.org’s CSR work comes from a percentage of Paystand Inc.’s annual revenue to cover operations, donations and grant making, with an ambitious goal of giving up to 10% of their profits. Grants are awarded to eligible nonprofit organizations based on criteria established by Paystand.org’s board of directors.
Paystand.org is selectively adding corporations, other foundations, and financial institutions as founding partners in order to increase the philanthropic impact. And starting Feb 15, Paystand.org will begin accepting new grantee applications for 2024 for organizations and projects that will advance its philanthropic mission. To learn more about partnering or the grantee process visit Paystand.org.
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About Paystand.org
As the philanthropic arm of Paystand.com, Paystand.org harnesses the expertise, ingenuity, and assets of its parent fintech entity, Paystand, Inc. to promote financial inclusion and economic growth for underrepresented communities and in emerging economies. By promoting the principles of circular economies, Paystand.org seeks to create sustainable economic ecosystems through innovative financial solutions. Paystand.org aims to use financial education, increased access to credit, capital and technology, and innovations including Bitcoin and blockchain technology, to expand economic opportunity for thousands of communities in the United States and abroad who have historically been excluded from participating fully and freely in both local and global economies. For more information, visit Paystand.org.
About Paystand
Paystand is on a mission to create an open commercial finance system, starting with a zero-fee network for B2B payments. Paystand is the largest B2B receivables, payables and payments network running on a commercial blockchain. The company makes it possible to digitize receivables, automate processing, reduce time-to-cash, eliminate transaction fees, and enable new revenue. The AR/AP solutions are designed for both U.S. and LATAM businesses of all sizes. For more information about Paystand, visit us at paystand.com. Follow our blog, and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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