Stuck Between Survival And Aid: Here Is The Story Of Crypto Entrepreneur

In order to work closely with his colleagues on his crypto project, Andriy Velykyy, a crypto entrepreneur, is now fighting for the safety of his wife and one-year-old son after Russia’s attack on his country.

Velykyy is right now seeking shelter in a hotel-turned-humanitarian camp. Using his crypto connections, he is supporting local relief funds.

In addition, Velykyy is working together with other crypto entrepreneurs and managing a crypto relief fund dubbed Unchain that has raised more than $3million in donations.

The life of Andriy Velykyy has become a daily struggle after Russia invaded his country. Velykyy is balancing between his humanitarian project and operating his crypto business.

He is also looking to provide safety to his wife and one-year-old son. Velykyy shared that his family doesn’t want to leave the country without him.

As the situation got tense on the Ukraine border, friends and family repeatedly warned Velykyy and urged him to leave the country. But Velykyy chose to continue his work in Kyiv, a tech hotspot, on his crypto startup. Now, he deeply regrets his decision to stay, saying he had no idea the situation could turn this bad.

How Velykyy And Other Crypto Entrepreneurs Are Balancing Surviving With Support?

After Russia’s airstrike on a major TV tower, Velykyy fled the county’s capital Kyiv on March 1. While the family was en route to find a safer place in the western part of the country, Velykyy and his family managed to get shelter in a hotel turned humanitarian camp. Using his position as co-founder and CEO of Allbridge, Velykyy has been able to find connections within the crypto community to support local relief efforts.

But unlike most crypto founders, who successfully relocated their employees abroad, Velykyy was unable to do so. Although 3 of his employees still managed to make it abroad, 14 are still stuck in western Ukraine. Meanwhile, more than 2 million people have already fled the country. But men aged 18 to 60, including Velykyy at 36, are needed if the situation demands them to fight. But, Velykyy believes he could provide more help by “working on his laptop” than fighting with a rifle.

Velykyy, along with other crypto entrepreneurs, assists in managing Unchanin, a crypto relief fund that has raised over $3 million in donations. Velykyy also donated funds given to him to provide for non-military supplies such as medicine, food, water, and stretchers. Meanwhile, one of his company’s investors provided one of the biggest donations. The investor donated $20,000 in the USDC cryptocurrency, which was used for purchasing buses to transport supplies.

According to an estimation by the U.S government, at least 12 million are in need of humanitarian aid across Ukraine. According to donation data tracker Candid, as part of a global relief fund, corporations, wealthy investors, and charity organizations have donated $344 million. In the meantime, a blockchain analytics firm Elliptic reveals that the Ukrainian government has raised over $63 million in crypto assets.

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Andrew is a blockchain developer who developed his interest in cryptocurrencies while his post-graduation. He is a keen observer of details and shares his passion for writing along with being a developer. His backend knowledge about blockchain helps him give a unique perspective to his writing