Giga Adopts Lido Impact Staking for School Connectivity Funding

Giga, a joint initiative between UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), has adopted Lido Impact Staking (LIS) as a new financing model to support its mission of connecting every school to the internet by 2030. This innovative approach leverages Ethereum staking returns to secure long-term funding, allowing donors to contribute without depleting their principal capital.

Giga, which assists governments in designing, planning, negotiating funding, and implementing connectivity for schools globally, has found a sustainable funding model through Lido Impact Staking. Institutional donors and individuals can stake their ETH and allocate a portion of their staking rewards to Giga. This method ensures that donors, now referred to as “impact stakers,” can support global connectivity efforts while retaining full ownership of their principal.

Gerben Kijne, Blockchain Product Lead at UNICEF, highlighted the significance of this model, stating that it allows for the acceleration of school connectivity at scale. By utilizing blockchain technology and staking rewards, Giga can unlock new sources of funding to bridge the digital divide.

Lido Impact Staking enables ETH holders to direct a percentage of their staking yield towards high-impact projects like Giga. Unlike traditional donations, stakers maintain full control over their principal, with their staking rewards funding internet access for underserved schools. This participation by UNICEF Giga establishes LIS as a practical example of crypto-powered philanthropy, showcasing how Ethereum staking can drive long-term social impact.

The adoption of LIS by Giga also provides an opportunity for institutional donors, including corporations, foundations, and Web3 communities, to support global initiatives in a scalable and capital-efficient manner. Organizations can now stake ETH for Giga, ensuring sustained funding for school connectivity without affecting their original assets.

Impact Staking emerged as an innovative initiative following Ethereum’s transition to Proof of Stake, pioneered by the team at Launchnodes. Founded in April 2020, Launchnodes empowers users worldwide to solo stake Ethereum and operate their own Ethereum nodes without compromising custody or control over their assets. In 2023, the Lido Ecosystem Grants Organization (LEGO) awarded Launchnodes a grant to develop an Impact Staking middleware that integrates seamlessly with Lido’s scalable, battle-tested middleware, leading to the creation of Lido Impact Staking (LIS).

Today, the LIS team collaborates with NGOs, governments, philanthropic foundations, family offices, and social impact donors who recognize the transformative potential of Impact Staking. By channeling staking rewards into meaningful causes, this model introduces a sustainable, blockchain-driven approach to philanthropy.

Launched in 2019, Giga aims to connect the estimated three million schools still without internet access. Online learning opens a world of information to students and teachers, enabling inclusive lifelong learning and socio-economic growth. Giga is currently engaged in 39 countries. Lido Impact Staking (LIS) is a decentralized impact funding mechanism that facilitates philanthropy by allowing ETH stakers to donate a portion of their staking rewards to social impact projects. Built on Lido’s liquid staking protocol, LIS enables sustainable, long-term funding for initiatives like Giga.