Binance to support users in Turkey’s earthquake region with $100 airdrops in BNB tokens

The devastating earthquake that hit Turkey on Feb 6 has left a trail of destruction in its wake, affecting numerous communities and individuals.

In response to the tragedy, cryptocurrency exchange Binance has announced that it will airdrop $100 USD worth of BNB tokens to all Binance users residing in the regions hardest hit by the earthquake. The process of identifying eligible users will involve checking Proof of Address (POA) submissions made before Feb. 6 in 10 cities affected by the earthquake: Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Şanlıurfa, and Osmaniye.

Although the POA method may not be 100% accurate, Binance said it considers it to be the best option available to locate users affected by the earthquake. The estimated total value of the donations is around $5 million, or 94 million Turkish lira. Binance Charity has also set up a public donation address, encouraging individuals to donate to the Emergency Earthquake Appeal using various cryptocurrencies, including BTC, ETH, BNB, BUSD, and XRP.

Following natural disasters, individuals frequently encounter challenges accessing traditional banking services especially when they need it the most for essential needs such as medical supplies and food. The use of cryptocurrency transfers has therefore become increasingly popular for delivering financial aid to disaster victims, since transfers are speedy, cost-effective, transparent, and unrestricted, making them well-suited for providing aid in emergency circumstances.

Cryptocurrency has increasingly become a solution for delivering aid in the aftermath of disasters. For example, cryptocurrency has been used to provide aid to those affected by the war in Ukraine. Aid organizations have utilized crypto to deliver financial assistance and supplies to those who are unable to access traditional banking services due to the conflict.

Related: Binance to temporarily suspend bank transfers in US dollars beginning Feb. 8

Other organizations within the crypto ecosystem are also stepping up to support the unfortunate victims of the Turkish earthquake. On Feb. 6, cryptocurrency exchange Bitget announced that it had committed 1 million Turkish lira ($53,000) to relief efforts.