$36.5M in BNB Donated to Maltese Cancer Patients Unclaimed After 7 Years—Here's Why
In 2018, Binance and crypto users donated $200,000 in BNB to support terminal cancer patients in Malta, with the funds now worth approximately $36–39 million due to BNB’s price increase. These funds remain unclaimed in the original wallet, leading Coinbase executive Conor Grogan to urge Maltese citizens to pressure their government for action. The donation became entangled in regulatory and bureaucratic issues: Malta’s supposed pro-crypto stance was ultimately hampered by restrictive regulation and political instability. The Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation (MCCFF)—the intended recipient—accused Binance’s Blockchain Charity Foundation of failing to release the funds. Dispute arose over distribution: Binance insisted on donating directly to patients, requiring personal data and crypto handling, which the MCCFF refused, citing data privacy and the impracticality of expecting vulnerable families to manage cryptocurrency. Both sides blamed the other for the stalemate. As of now, the wallet remains untouched, with the fund’s use and distribution unresolved and awaiting further action.
