Ripple Partners with Pledge 1% to Enhance Social Impact and Blockchain Innovation
Ripple, a leader in blockchain technology, has taken a significant step in deepening its commitment to social impact by partnering with Pledge 1%, a global movement of companies dedicated to making a positive difference in the world through their business practices. This partnership marks a new chapter for Ripple as it continues to drive innovation and create meaningful change in the world.
Ripple’s Impactful Commitment
Through its Ripple Impact initiative, the company has pledged to donate 1% of its profits towards advancing blockchain innovation, improving access to financial services, scaling carbon markets, and supporting employee-driven local impact initiatives. Since the launch of Ripple Impact in 2018, Ripple has donated over $180 million globally to support various partners and initiatives that address critical challenges such as building financial resilience in emerging markets, providing humanitarian aid, and championing blockchain research and development in academia.
Jan D’Alessandro, Chief Legal & Philanthropy Officer at Pledge 1%, commended Ripple for its leadership in leveraging blockchain technology for social good and philanthropy. She highlighted Ripple’s track record of advancing financial inclusion, supporting humanitarian aid, and driving innovation through programs like UBRI, which have made a significant impact globally.
Advancing Blockchain Innovation
At the core of Ripple Impact’s mission is the advancement of blockchain innovation and financial resilience. With a substantial commitment of $80 million to the University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI), Ripple has collaborated with more than 50 leading academic institutions across 26 countries, including prestigious universities like the University of California Berkeley and University College London. This partnership has supported over 1,500 blockchain research projects and facilitated the development of 600 new or expanded fintech courses.
In emerging markets, Ripple’s partnership with Mercy Corps Ventures has played a vital role in providing investments to over 50 fintech startups and securing $500 million in follow-on funding. The Unlocking Opportunity collaboration aims to bridge funding gaps for entrepreneurs in Africa, Latin America, and Asia while introducing scalable services built on XRPL for unbanked and underbanked communities.
Financing Climate Action and Empowering Employees
Ripple has set ambitious goals for sustainability, pledging $100 million to scale voluntary carbon markets and support new solutions that enhance transparency and efficiency in carbon credit trading. The company is dedicated to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 and has recently collaborated with other industry leaders to purchase Sustainable Aviation Fuel certificates (SAFc), reducing carbon intensity in aviation.
In addition to its sustainability efforts, Ripple fosters a culture of giving by empowering employees to make a difference through donation-matching programs and active local engagement. Employees volunteer thousands of hours annually with nonprofits such as Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation in the San Francisco Bay Area and Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity in London, reflecting Ripple’s commitment to driving meaningful change both globally and locally.
Ripple’s partnership with Pledge 1% underscores the company’s dedication to creating a more inclusive and sustainable financial system through collaboration and impactful initiatives. As Ripple continues to innovate and make a positive impact, the global community can expect to see even greater contributions to social good and blockchain innovation in the future.
