The complete guide for donations, projects & campaigns

What is crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding refers to the financing of a project by a large number of individual supporters – usually via the Internet. People donate or invest small amounts in order to achieve a larger goal together. There are different types:

• Donation-Based: pure donations without consideration (e.g. for charitable purposes)
• Reward-based: Donors receive something in return, e.g. a product
• Equity-Based: Investors receive company shares
• Lending-Based: Participation via repayment models

Crowdfunding is a billion-dollar market worldwide. According to data from Statista, the global crowdfunding volume in 2023 was over 12 billion USD – with a continuing upward trend.

What is Bitcoin crowdfunding?

Bitcoin crowdfunding is a modern variant of classic crowdfunding – with the special feature that supporters do not pay in euros or dollars, but in Bitcoin. The advantages are obvious:

• The amounts are directly sent to the wallet of the project initiator
• It does not need any middlemen or banks
• Therefore, no KYC process with the payment service provider is required
• Global reach: Anyone with a Bitcoin wallet can donate
• Immediate credit via Lightning Network
• Ideal for micro-payments – unlike FIAT money orders, no amount is too small to be credited in the Lightning Network
• Large donations (over €1,000) also possible via on-chain

Technically, Bitcoin crowdfunding often runs via plugins or platforms that provide a donation form with a QR code and donation targets.

A live example of Bitcoin crowdfunding:

[coinsnap_bitcoin_crowdfunding id=”38392″]

[coinsnap_bitcoin_crowdfunding_shoutout id=”38392″]

Why is Bitcoin crowdfunding particularly interesting for WordPress?

For website operators

With a market share of over 40%, WordPress is the most widely used CMS in the world. For bloggers, NGOs, creators and small companies, it is the ideal tool for bringing content and projects online quickly and flexibly.

With Bitcoin crowdfunding, your own content or project can be financed directly by readers and fans – without third-party providers and without dependence on payment services.

For beginners & people with specific concerns

If you don’t have a website, you can start a WordPress.com blog for free in just a few minutes and use it, for example, to collect Bitcoin for:

• medical treatment
• an anniversary trip
• a celebration (milestone birthday, wedding, christening, etc.)
• a social concern

This also works without prior technical knowledge – e.g. with the Coinsnap plugin which can be installed directly in WordPress with just one click.

Bitcoin crowdfunding versus FIAT crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is nothing new – unlike Bitcoin crowdfunding. But why should you go for Bitcoin crowdfunding instead of fiat crowdfunding? In the table below you can see some of the key differences–and advantages–of Bitcoin crowdfunding versus fiat crowdfunding:

In summary, Bitcoin crowdfunding is ideal for small campaigns (target e.g. €200) that would not be possible with a large bureaucratic and cost overhead.

Bitcoin crowdfunding is also ideal for crowdfunding campaigns on topics that fiat payment service providers may not support (issue of censorship).

And of course, Bitcoin crowdfunding is unbeatable if your crowdfunding campaign relies on raising many small amounts (micro-payments) to achieve its goal – raising very small amounts of less than one Euro, for example, is not feasible with conventional fiat crowdfunding solutions!

Cost consideration – what do you get from the donation? Bitcoin versus FIAT

Let’s be honest – crowdfunding is all about one thing: money. And that’s why we now want to look at what percentage of your donors’ money actually goes NET to your crowdfunding fund. To do this, let’s first take a look at the fees:

Overview of fees (typical values)

1. platform fees

• GoFundMe: 0 % platform fee (but only for fundraising campaigns), “voluntary” service fee proposed instead
• Kickstarter: 5 % platform fee
• Indiegogo: 5 % platform fee
• Betterplace (for charitable projects): 0 % directly, but voluntary “tips” are heavily advertised

2. payment service provider fees (PayPal, Stripe)

• PayPal / Stripe Standardapprox. 2,9 % + 0,30 € per transaction
• International payments or foreign currency often incur a further 1-2% charge

We will now look at what this means using the example of a donation of €100.

Example of a net payout from a donation of €100

Note: With PayPal and Stripe there may be additional fees for currency conversion or country limits. For a donation of €10, for example, the fixed costs can account for a disproportionately large share.

In practice, therefore, depending on the platform and payment method, usually only 90% to 92% of the donation amount actually reaches the project or campaign. And especially with smaller donations or international payment transactions, the net percentage can drop even more significantly!

Bitcoin-based solutions such as Coinsnap largely avoid all these deductions – for example, Coinsnap only charges 1% fees, but no payment processing fees and no third-party fees are due.

That means: Up to 99% of the donation ends up directly in your wallet!

For what purposes can Bitcoin crowdfunding be used?

Bitcoin donations can be used in a variety of ways – here are some practical examples:

• Private occasions
  Birthdays, weddings, surprise gifts
• Creative projects
  Book publishing, album production, art
• Social emergencies
  Medical aid, school materials, crisis support
• Community initiatives
  Playground construction, environmental projects, clubs
• Content financing
  YouTube series, podcasts, blog articles
• Charity
  Support good NGOs / activists whose goals you want to promote, such as Bitcoin Zambia (an African education initiative), or a family you know in Ukraine…

Bitcoin crowdfunding has a huge advantage over all fiat crowdfunding platforms – only one percent of the donations are lost on the way from the donor to you – or your beneficiary (infrastructure costs)! Exactly 99% of the donations are credited to your wallet and are available for the purpose of the campaign!

In short, with Bitcoin crowdfunding there are practically no limits to your ideas and creativity: Whatever you want to finance – if you have a good idea and can describe it well to your readers / visitors / followers, then you can use Bitcoin crowdfunding to collect Bitcoin for it.

No matter what it’s about – if other people are interested, you can offer them an easy, fast and secure way to get involved with Bitcoin crowdfunding!

Provider comparison: Bitcoin crowdfunding for WordPress

There is currently only one dedicated Bitcoin crowdfunding for WordPress plugin in the official plugin directory – Coinsnap Bitcoin Crowdfunding. However, there are various providers that offer external solutions, which then have to be integrated manually. Some examples are these:

Bitcoin crowdfunding for WordPress in practice using the example of Coinsnap

What does the plugin do?

The Coinsnap Bitcoin Crowdfunding Plugin for WordPress enables website operators to collect Bitcoin donations for projects, campaigns or personal causes directly on their own WordPress site. The special feature: The contributions are transferred in the form of Satoshis (the smallest unit of Bitcoin) directly and without detours to the wallet of the creator of the campaign – either via the Bitcoin Lightning Network or as a classic on-chain transaction. Processing is completely decentralized and without the involvement of third-party providers, banks or payment service providers.

What does the user interface offer?

Users can make their Bitcoin donations conveniently using a QR code and send a public shout-out or a personal message if they wish. These donor messages can optionally be displayed live on the website – a great way to create transparency and community. The donation forms are integrated using shortcodes and can be flexibly placed anywhere within the WordPress website – whether in pages, blog posts or widgets.

What do you need to use Coinsnap Bitcoin Crowdfunding?

All you need to use the plugin – in addition to a WordPress site – is a Coinsnap account or your own BTCPay server. A Lightning wallet or a wallet address is sufficient to receive donations. The plugin is fully GDPR-compliant, as no unnecessary data is stored, and is available free of charge in the official WordPress plugin directory.

How do I install and configure Coinsnap Bitcoin Crowdfunding?

The configuration is particularly beginner-friendly: After installation from the WordPress plugin directory, the connection to Coinsnap or your own BTCPay server can be established (see installation instructions).

All campaign parameters can then be set individually: The desired target amount in Satoshis, three preset donation amounts, the description of the project, a welcome text and an optional thank you message. In addition, fields for entering the name, e-mail address and personal message can be activated. If you wish, you can also use the shoutout function, which displays public donor messages directly on the website.

The form is easily integrated via an automatically generated shortcode that can be inserted anywhere on the website. Visitors then see a compact, modern donation form with a progress bar, countdown (if desired) and donation options. After scanning the QR code and confirming, the donation amount is transferred directly to the connected wallet of the campaign creator – quickly, securely and without detours.

Can I also use the plugin with my BTCPay server?

Coinsnap offers two operating modes: In simple mode, the connection is made via a Coinsnap account, which requires no prior technical knowledge. In advanced mode, tech-savvy users can connect the plugin to their own BTCPay server, giving them maximum independence and control over all aspects of the payment processing.

Excursus: legal framework for crowdfunding in Europe

In most countries of the European Community, collecting money as part of a simple crowdfunding campaign – e.g. for a private gift, a creative idea or a social project – is generally is generally permitted as long as no consideration is promised and there is no intention to make a profit exists. In this case, it is legally a case of gifts which do not require special authorization.

Important legal information:

• Donations without consideration (donation-based crowdfunding) are unproblematic as long as they are made voluntarily and without any contractual obligation.
• Who regularly or commercially collects funds (e.g. for a company) could be subject to the Asset Investment Act or other financial market regulations.
• For charitable donations with a donation receipt you need the status of non-profit status from the tax office – purely private individuals are not allowed to issue tax-deductible donation receipts.
• For higher individual donations a gift tax may be due – this is the responsibility of the recipient, although allowances apply (e.g. €20,000 for gifts from friends).
• It is recommended to maintain transparency about the purpose of the crowdfunding and to use the funds for a specific purpose as described.

As long as you are a private individual or initiative without commercial intent Bitcoin donations for a specific cause–for example via WordPress and the Coinsnap plugin–you are operating within a legally permissible framework in most of Europe. However, individual tax or legal advice is advisable in the event of uncertainties or larger amounts.

Conclusion

Bitcoin crowdfunding for WordPress is ideal for collecting Bitcoin quickly, cost-effectively and without any technical or bureaucratic effort.

Bitcoin crowdfunding for WordPress is the perfect solution for anyone who wants to raise financial support in the form of Bitcoin quickly and easily without any prior technical knowledge, bureaucratic hurdles or complicated third-party services.

People with a specific cause – be it a private project, a social project or a creative goal – benefit in particular from the simple setup and direct payout to their own wallet.

The Coinsnap plugin makes implementation extremely easy: a campaign is live in just a few minutes, donations can be accepted immediately, and supporters from the immediate environment or the online community can contribute to the success of the project without any barriers.

So if you are looking for a modern, independent and accessible crowdfunding solution, Bitcoin Crowdfunding for WordPress offers a clear path to your goal.

Start your first Bitcoin crowdfunding campaign now

With Coinsnap Bitcoin Crowdfunding you can start today to collect Bitcoin for your projects and causes from your followers and visitors.

You only have to follow three steps and you can launch your first Bitcoin crowdfunding campaign on your WordPress website in half an hour at the latest:

1. set up a Coinsnap account

2. install & link plugin

3. configure & place campaign

Go to the Coinsnap Sign In page and enter your email address. We will send you a 6 digits code, that you will enter on Coinsnap.io. And your Coinsnap account is active!

Search for Coinsnap Bitcoin Crowdfunding in the WordPress backend under Add plugin, click on Install, and then on Activate. Open the plugin settings and enter the store ID and API key that you can find in your Coinsnap account. Done.

Go to Bitcoin Crowdfunding in the WordPress dashboard on the left, click on Crowdfundings and then on New Crowdfunding. Then fill out the form fields, copy the displayed shortcode where you want to run the campaign, and all deposits will be credited directly to your Lightning Wallet.

Set up a Coinsnap account

Everything you need to know to receive Bitcoin donations!

Monetization is a key topic for bloggers, influencers and content creators. In addition to advertising, affiliate links or subscriptions, direct donations from the community are becoming increasingly important and Bitcoin donations (also known as Bitcoin donations ) are becoming an exciting alternative.

In this blog article, we shed light on what Bitcoin Donations are, why they are interesting for bloggers and influencers and how to use them easily – especially on WordPress.

Also, we compare different providers and introduce the Coinsnap Bitcoin Donation plugin in detail, including its three donation models simple, multi-amount and shoutout. At the end, there is a conclusion with a call to action on how you can integrate Bitcoin donations on your website yourself.

What are Bitcoin Donations?

Bitcoin donations are voluntary payments in the cryptocurrency Bitcoin that are made to support websites, projects or people. Instead of traditional currencies (fiat) such as euros or dollars, donors use Bitcoin to “reward” a blogger for a helpful article, for example, or to support an influencer for their content.

Technically, this usually works in such a way that the content creator provides a Bitcoin address or a donation button. Interested readers or followers can then send any amount using their Bitcoin wallet – worldwide worldwide, with just one click and directly to the recipient in just a few minutes.

There are two ways to transact Bitcoin: On-chain (classic Bitcoin transaction on the blockchain) and via the Lightning Network. Lightning is a secondary network that enables near real-time Bitcoin payments with minimal fees – ideal for very small amounts (micro-donations). Modern Bitcoin donation solutions often support both variants so that donors can choose whether they want to donate on-chain or via Lightning.

For you as a site operator, this means maximum flexibility: you can receive and store Bitcoin directly without having to rely on a third-party provider.

Why are Bitcoin Donations so interesting for WordPress bloggers and content creators?

Bitcoin Donations for WordPress offer their operators various advantages over the classic monetization method of fiat donations:

• Global reach
  Bitcoin is available globally – wherever there is internet access. This means that every fan – no matter where in the world – can easily send you something. And without having to deal with bank details, PayPal & Co.
• Maximum simplicity
  All it takes to make a Bitcoin donation is a scan and a click in the Bitcoin Lightning Wallet, and the support is on its way. This lowers the inhibition threshold for spontaneous “tips” enormously!
• Low fees & no middleman
  With Bitcoin Donations, there are no typical payment provider fees as with credit cards or PayPal. Many Bitcoin payment solutions work with very low fees or even completely free of charge for the recipient. In addition, there are no middlemen or platforms that make money – the money goes directly to you.
• No chargebacks or fraudulent payments
  Chargebacks or fraud are excluded in the blockchain and in the Lightning Network. You benefit from this just as much as your donor.
• Independence & resistance to censorship
  It is particularly important for independent content creators not to be dependent on the mercy of individual payment service providers. Bitcoin is decentralized – no company can freeze your payments or “shut you down”. Even if services like PayPal or Patreon were to block you, loyal readers can continue to support you via Bitcoin. This level of independence and freedom of speech is unique!
• Data protection for donors
  Many supporters wish to donate anonymously or under a pseudonym. With Bitcoin Donations, supporters do not have to disclose any personal data, names or addresses – just carry out a wallet transaction. This makes even security-conscious or shy supporters feel more comfortable. For you as the recipient, there are also fewer data protection issues, as hardly any personal data is processed (no credit card numbers, emails, etc.), which is in line with GDPR compliance.
• Micro-donations and new interactions
  Lightning also enables tiny amounts (e.g. a few cents) that would never arrive with fiat due to the fees. This opens up new forms of interaction: readers could send a few Satoshi (the smallest Bitcoin unit) for each article they read as a token of appreciation. Such micro-donations add up and get the community more involved.
• Reach new user groups
  Cryptocurrencies have long been mainstream. By accepting Bitcoin, you are showing yourself to be innovative and targeting the growing group of crypto enthusiasts. They prefer to support projects that are Bitcoin-friendly. Conversely, there are regions in the world where many people cannot use PayPal but can use Bitcoin. So you are potentially expanding your circle of supporters.

All of the above arguments make Bitcoin Donations highly attractive for bloggers, content creators and influencers, especially if they have a tech-savvy, cross-regional following and are looking for uncomplicated additional sources of income.

What business models and revenue streams are possible with Bitcoin Donations for WordPress?

Bitcoin donations are not only an expression of digital appreciation, but can also be specifically integrated into business-oriented models models. Here are some practical application scenarios for bloggers, influencers and website operators that offer more than just the classic “tip jar”:

1. Donate in recognition of high-quality content
   A classic with clear benefits: You offer free, high-quality content (e.g. specialist articles, tutorials, explanatory videos) and give your readers or viewers the opportunity to show their appreciation by donating Bitcoin. The call for donations can be placed specifically at the end of each post – e.g.:
   “This post helped you? Support my work with a small Bitcoin donation.”
   In this way, donations become conscious recognition for specific achievements.
2. Project or format financing (collect target amount)
   The aim here is to collect a clearly defined amount for a specific project – similar to traditional crowdfunding. Example:
   “I want to start a new video format and need 0.01 BTC for equipment and editing – help me reach my goal!”
   This can be integrated as a Bitcoin donation button on a landing page or in the blog. The transparency of the goal motivates many supporters – and you can display the progress as a total or as a percentage, for example.
3. Donations to promote a good cause
   Not every donation has to benefit the operator directly. Many bloggers and influencers use their reach to promote a specific cause – e.g. digital education, environmental protection or freedom of expression online.
   You can use a Bitcoin donation form, for example, to say:
   “All Bitcoin donations this month will go to the open source initiative XYZ.”
   Thanks to the transparency of the blockchain, it is even possible to publicly verify that the donated money has been forwarded. This creates trust – and a willingness to donate!
4. Donations for charitable causes (charity campaign)
   If you want to use your reach to do good, Bitcoin is also suitable for temporary charity campaigns. For example, you can start a campaign like:
   “Donate BTC for relief supplies in Ukraine – I will forward everything 1:1 to the NGO.”
   It is important here to communicate openly where the money is going, how the recipient will be reached and, if necessary, to provide proof. The use of shoutouts or public thank you lists can help to further increase the willingness to donate.

In short, with a little creativity, you can use Bitcoin Donations to generate Bitcoin income in a variety of ways. The important thing is that you describe the reason why you are asking for donations well and motivate your followers and visitors to donate a few sats.

Bitcoin Donations for WordPress: comparison of providers

If you use WordPress, there are now several providers and pluginsto receive Bitcoin donations. We compare three popular solutions below – Coinsnap, BTCPay Server and Coinbase Commerce – based on seven important criteria:

Coinsnap Bitcoin Donation Plugin in detail

After the overview we now want to take a closer look at the Coinsnap Bitcoin Donation Plugin as it has been specially developed for WordPress and is therefore a very attractive solution.

Functionality and features

The plugin “Coinsnap Bitcoin Donation” allows you to receive Bitcoin donations on your WordPress site with minimal effort. It connects your website to either Coinsnap or to your own BTCPay server – depending on your settings. This gives you the choice between a convenient all-in-one service (Coinsnap hosts everything for you) or maximum control (you use your own infrastructure). In both cases, the following applies: Payments are immediately credited to your Bitcoin wallet (Lightning) without Coinsnap storing them temporarily.

Implementation is deliberately kept simple: You install the plugin from the official directory, activate it and then go to “Bitcoin Donations -> Settings”. There you enter either your Coinsnap API data (if you use Coinsnap) or the access data to your BTCPay server. After this connection you can create donation buttons or forms. The basic settings (e.g. standard amount, texts, color scheme) can be made conveniently in the admin interface. Programming knowledge is not necessary – everything is done with clicks. You can use the shortcode to place the donation button: In the post text or at the desired position, you insert the shortcode displayed to you, which is then automatically replaced by a donation form.

Special functions

The Coinsnap plugin offers some great features out-of-the-box:

• Free or fixed amounts: You can decide whether the donor enters the amount freely as a number (e.g. 20 sats), or whether you specify fixed buttons for e.g. 5€, 10€, 20€ (converted into sats). Both options are possible – even simultaneously in the multi-amount form(see below).
• Message from the donor: There is an option to display a message field. The donor can leave a few words there (e.g. “Thank you for your content!”). As the operator, you will see this message in the admin area when the donation is made; for single and multi donations, the message remains private between donor and operatorand the shoutout it becomes public (see next point).
• Shoutout function: The outstanding unique selling point is the Shoutout option. If you activate this option, the donor can enter a comment that will be displayed publicly on the website after a successful donation. publicly on the website. This creates a kind of guestbook or “wall of fame” for supporters. The plugin offers the option of displaying all shoutouts next to the form or on a separate page – this increases community participation and encourages others to make a shoutout too. Some WordPress operators use the Shoutout Donation to keep their comment pages SPAM-free – no spammer, and certainly no bot, will pay a few sats before leaving their unwanted comments!(further information)
• Enter donor data (optional): If desired, you can add additional fields to the form, such as the donor’s name or e-mail address. This can be useful if you want to thank them personally or send something to larger supporters, for example. However, these fields are optional and can be omitted to preserve the anonymity character anonymity.
• Security: The plugin is based on the open source technology BTCPay Server, . All transactions run via secure channels (Coinsnap API with key, BTCPay via URL/key). This means you don’t have to worry about someone redirecting your donations without authorization – as long as you don’t pass on API keys, everything is secure. In addition, the Bitcoin does not remain in WordPress or the plugin, but goes directly to your wallet, which further minimizes the risk.

The three donation models

As already mentioned, the Coinsnap plugin provides three different types of donation forms available:

“Simple” (Bitcoin Donation Button)

This is the classic donate button. In its simplest form, it is a “Donate Bitcoin” button that can have a small input field for the amount. The visitor can usually enter the desired amount here (or there is a preset default) and optionally leave a message for you. After clicking on “Donate”, a QR code or payment link is generated, which the user can pay with their wallet. This model is suitable if you want to keep it as simple as possible ideal for sidebar buttons or at the end of blog posts with the call “If you liked the article, I’d appreciate a Bitcoin donation!”.

“Multi-Amount” (three preset donation amounts)

This is a donation form that three predefined amounts to choose from. For example, you could offer €5, €10, €20 in sats to choose from (you define the exact values in the plugin setting). The user then simply clicks on one of the buttons instead of entering an amount themselves. Of course, a message field can also be included here. Multi-Amount is suitable for giving donors an orientation many then opt for the average value. It lowers the cognitive hurdle (“How much should I give?”). Technically, the plugin generates three buttons next to each other. As soon as the user clicks on one, the payment process runs in exactly the same way as with the simple model. This format is ideal for donation pageswhere you ask for support and provide suggestions straight away.

Test Coinsnap Bitcoin Donation

Try live demo

“Shoutout”

This is the special model where the donor receives a public message/comment can leave. The form asks for a nickname and the message (amount too, of course), and after payment this message is displayed on your website – either directly next to the donation form or collected on a special page: you can place the shoutout list via shortcode wherever you want.

This model is great for engaging the community: Donors feel heard because their message is visible. Example: A reader donates 500 sats and writes “Great article, helped me a lot! – Max”. This message may then appear below the article in a list of supporter comments. In this way, new visitors will also see that your work is appreciated and may be motivated to donate and write something as well.

Spam protection is automatically provided – anyone who wants to troll would have to pay at least a few satoshi, which significantly increases the inhibition threshold. Many creators use shoutouts to enable live interactions (e.g. you could read out the latest shoutouts in the stream, etc.). The Coinsnap plugin offers this function out-of-the-box, which sets it apart from other donation solutions.

With its features and user-friendliness, the Coinsnap Bitcoin Donation Plugin is an all-round well thought-out solution for WordPress: It combines user-friendliness user-friendliness, flexibility and security. Whether you simply want to add a small donation button or an interactive donation board with comments – the plugin provides the necessary functions.

In addition, it is free of charge and advertises with strong arguments such as instant credit to your wallet, absolutely beginner-friendly and GDPR-compliant. For bloggers and influencers who want to set foot in the Bitcoin world, trying out this absolutely recommend trying out this plugin!

Test Coinsnap Bitcoin Shoutout

Try live demo

Conclusion: Bitcoin Donations for WordPress open up new sources of income

Bitcoin Donations for WordPress are more than just hype – they offer WordPress bloggers and content creators a new, future-oriented source of income.

Low fees, global reach and technical simplicity make Bitcoin donations an attractive alternative or supplement to traditional donations via PayPal & Co. WordPress users benefit in particular from special plugins such as Coinsnap, which make integration a breeze. We have seen that anyone can set up a Bitcoin donation function on their site in just a few steps – and thus provide their community with a modern way to donate, say thank you in the form of Bitcoin in the form of Bitcoin.

For you as a blogger/influencer, this means: why not simply test? Set up Bitcoin donations on your website today – for example with the Coinsnap plugin presented here – and convince yourself of the possibilities . Your readers will love having another option to support you. And you’ll open up a source of income that fits perfectly into the digital age.

Get Bitcoin Donations for WordPress now

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