A Binance charity donation from 2018, originally worth $200,000, has grown into a $37 million fortune for cancer patients in Malta. However, this potentially life-changing gift remains trapped in a digital wallet, caught in a seven-year standoff between innovative intent and traditional procedural hurdles.
The Heart of the Standoff
The core of the issue is a fundamental disagreement on how to get the money to the patients. Binance, through its Blockchain Charity Foundation (BCF), insists on transferring the funds directly to the end-beneficiaries. To do this, they require patient information, including medical bills and their crypto wallet addresses. The company views this as a non-negotiable step to ensure the “highest levels of transparency and efficiency”.
On the other side, the Malta Community Chest Fund (MCCF), the government-run charity, has refused to provide this patient data. An MCCF official, John Huber, stated that sharing this information was never part of the original agreement and that the charity “will never do it for any donor”, emphasizing that the vulnerable families they support are not in a position to handle cryptocurrency conversions. This clash between a model of direct, on-chain transparency and the protection of patient privacy and simplicity has created an intractable deadlock.
A Donation’s Meteoric Rise
The story began in 2018 when Malta was actively branding itself as “Blockchain Island”. As part of this push, Binance and its users donated 30,644 BNB to the MCCF, worth approximately $200,000 at the time. The tokens were sent to a dedicated wallet, where they have remained completely untouched for years.
While the tokens sat idle, their value soared. With BNB’s price rising from under $7 in 2018 to over $1,200 in late 2025, the original donation ballooned to an estimated $37 million to $39 million. This incredible appreciation has turned the gift into a transformative sum that could address critical needs in Malta’s healthcare system, such as helping to bridge a significant shortage of palliative care specialists.
A Timeline of Disputes and Stalled Progress
The journey of this donation has been marked by legal threats and unresolved proposals.
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2018: The donation of 30,644 BNB is made to the Malta Community Chest Fund.
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2020/2021: The MCCF threatens legal action against Binance, alleging a failure to transfer the promised funds and file necessary accounts. The lawsuit was dropped shortly after when the missing documents were “found in an electronic folder”.
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2021-Present: Binance states it is waiting for the MCCF to provide patient details and wallet addresses. The MCCF continues to refuse. Despite Binance expressing optimism about a potential resolution, no progress has been made public, and the funds remain locked.
The Bigger Picture
This situation highlights a critical challenge in the crypto world: the gap between innovative technology and real-world implementation. The case shows how bureaucratic procedures and a lack of clear frameworks can prevent powerful tools from achieving their goals, even when all parties have good intentions.
The transparency of blockchain technology means this stalemate is visible to all, increasing public scrutiny and pressure to find a solution. As one report noted, this case demonstrates both the “tremendous promise” of crypto donations and how bureaucratic delays can block vital aid from reaching those who need it most.
