DeFi Leaders Pioneer Decentralized Fundraising for Two Activist Non-Profits

New York, NY – Ameen Soleimani, a prominent figure in decentralized finance (DeFi), has announced his active support for two "DUNA non-profits" that are leveraging decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) for fundraising. This initiative, which includes collaboration with Lex_node and legal tech contributions from Gabe Shapiro, underscores a growing trend in using blockchain for activist and legal defense funding. Soleimani's involvement highlights the increasing adoption of crypto-native solutions for causes that may face challenges within traditional financial systems.

Soleimani, known as a co-creator of Moloch DAO and founder of SpankChain, confirmed his engagement in a recent tweet. He stated, "> I help with two DUNA non-profits today, @lex_node is with me on one of them - the fundraising DAO that coordinated the @FreeAlexeyRoman fundraisers on juicebox the other is @UnchainIran DAO legal tech courtesy of Gabe 🫡." This public statement draws attention to the practical application of DAO structures in real-world activism.

One of the supported entities is a fundraising DAO dedicated to "FreeAlexeyRoman," a campaign for the legal defense of Tornado Cash developers Alexey Pertsev and Roman Storm. This effort notably utilized the Juicebox platform for transparent, on-chain fund management, especially after traditional crowdfunding services like GoFundMe reportedly canceled their campaign. The use of Juicebox demonstrates the resilience and censorship resistance that decentralized platforms can offer to controversial causes.

The second non-profit, UnchainIran, operates as a US-based non-governmental organization (NGO) structured as a Wyoming Unincorporated Nonprofit Association (UNA). Its mission involves employing a DAO and blockchain technology to raise funds for Iranian citizens and advocate for freedom, while strictly adhering to OFAC sanctions policies. UnchainIran's V2 grants platform facilitates direct contributions to vetted projects, showcasing a compliant yet decentralized approach to international activism.

Lex_node, a recognized expert in the legal aspects of DAOs, is actively involved in the "FreeAlexeyRoman" fundraising DAO, providing crucial guidance on the complex regulatory landscape. Gabe Shapiro is credited with supplying the essential "DAO legal tech" for these ventures, emphasizing the critical need for robust legal frameworks and expertise as decentralized organizations expand their real-world operations. These collaborations exemplify how key figures in the crypto community are bridging blockchain innovation with tangible social impact.