It’s not every day you see a cryptocurrency heavyweight swap the glitz of trading charts for coffee farms and classrooms. But that’s exactly what Bybit, the world’s second‑largest exchange by volume, did at this week’s Blockchain4Good Summit 2025 – ETHCC Cannes Edition.
Against the backdrop of sunlit boulevards and buzzing tech tents, 150 change‑makers—from UN officials to scrappy startups—gathered under the motto “Where human‑centered technology meets sustainable development.” Co‑hosted by the Blockchain for Good Alliance and Celo EU (with support from UNDP AltFinLab, InnoFund and Positive Blockchain), the summit felt more like a reunion of purpose‑driven pioneers than a typical crypto conference.
Ben Zhou, Bybit’s co‑founder and CEO, nailed it in his keynote: “We believe blockchain should do more than drive financial gains—it should change lives. That’s why we’ve backed the BGA since day one. From Cannes to communities across the globe, we’re empowering founders who are solving humanity’s toughest problems with the tools of Web3.”
Putting Money Where Their Mouth Is
Bybit didn’t just talk; they poured dollars into action:
- Coffee farmers in need. Remember EthicHub, the blockchain startup that connects smallholder coffee growers with peer‑to‑peer loans? Bybit backed them with a cool $1 million. Suddenly, families in rural villages have transparent access to finance—and a shot at lifting themselves out of poverty.
- Students on the rise. In South Korea, 300 students at St. Paul American Scholars will get a helping hand next school year, thanks to a $100 000 commitment from Bybit. And in Africa, the newly minted Bybit Academy—powered by a $100 000 scholarship fund in partnership with AltSchool Africa—is gearing up to train 1 000 aspiring engineers, data wizards and product builders.
- Uni pitch fever. Over in the UAE, university teams duked it out at the SuiHub‑AUS Blockathon, tackling blockchain and AI challenges under the mentorship of seasoned experts. Winners walked away with more than bragging rights—they earned a direct line to investors ready to fund the next big idea.
And if all that wasn’t enough, Bybit just announced they’ll boost their backing of the Blockchain for Good Alliance to $2.5 million in 2025. More cash. More missions. More impact.
From Fireside Chats to Demo Day
Between coffee breaks and croissants, summit sessions drilled into the tough stuff—data ownership, financial inclusion, climate solutions, and the hunt for sustainable Web3 public goods. The highlight? An Impact Startup Demo Day where visionaries pitched tokenized carbon credits, decentralized IDs for refugees, and everything in between.
By the time the Med sunset painted the sky, one thing was clear: this isn’t about hype or quick flips. As Ben Zhou wrapped up, he looked out at the crowd and said, “Our mission goes far beyond markets. We’re here to empower real people with real tools—whether that means giving unbanked communities access to finance, or helping young builders turn bold ideas into impact. Blockchain can and should be a force for good, and Bybit is proud to help lead that movement.”
So next time you hear “crypto,” don’t think solely of fast trades and price charts. Think of farmers brewing a better future, students coding their dreams, and an exchange that decided to put people first. That’s the real story unfolding from Cannes to communities everywhere.
