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Mozilla paused cryptocurrency donations in January 2022 after criticism over their environmental impact, then proposed a proof-of-stake-only policy in April. By June, it had put all crypto donations on hold again because its donation vendor could not reliably distinguish currency types and volatility had increased. The contemporaneous reports identify Jamie Zawinski—not Brendan Eich—as the Mozilla project founder who criticized the donation request.
Why did Mozilla stop accepting crypto donations?
The Mozilla Foundation had accepted cryptocurrency donations since 2014. A reminder about crypto donations during its 2021 year-end campaign prompted discussion about the environmental impact of cryptocurrency and whether accepting it fit Mozilla’s mission and climate commitments. On January 6, 2022, Mozilla announced a pause while it reviewed the policy. Mozilla’s policy update and contemporaneous coverage by TechCrunch describe the pause and its context.
Criticism focused in part on proof-of-work currencies. Mozilla later described proof-of-work as more energy intensive than proof-of-stake. As a dated illustration of the concern, TechCrunch reported on January 6, 2022, that the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance estimated Bitcoin mining used 148 terawatt-hours annually at that time. That is a contemporaneous estimate, not a current figure or a Mozilla-specific emissions measure.
Who criticized the donation request?
The title’s Brendan Eich attribution is not supported by the contemporaneous reports identified here. The Register and TechCrunch name Jamie Zawinski, who helped name the Mozilla project, as a vocal critic. Zawinski wrote that “everyone involved in the project should be witheringly ashamed of this decision,” as reported by The Register. This is his criticism of Mozilla’s decision, not an independent technical assessment of cryptocurrency energy use.
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TechCrunch’s January 6 report also identifies Zawinski as a Mozilla founder criticizing the donation request. The available contemporaneous reporting does not explain how Brendan Eich became associated with this particular call-out.
What was Mozilla’s April plan?
On April 7, 2022, Mozilla Foundation president Mark Surman announced that the Foundation intended to stop accepting proof-of-work cryptocurrencies and accept proof-of-stake currencies instead. Surman wrote: “Mozilla will no longer accept ‘proof-of-work’ cryptocurrencies, which are more energy intensive.” He also said: “Mozilla will accept ‘proof-of-stake’ cryptocurrencies, which are less energy intensive.” Mozilla expected to publish a list of accepted currencies by the end of the second quarter. The announcement set out a proposed direction; it did not establish that the new acceptance policy was put into operation.
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Mozilla’s comparison was about the energy demands associated with the two transaction-verification approaches. It was not a full lifecycle comparison of every cryptocurrency, nor did the announcement quantify the Foundation’s donations by currency or calculate their emissions. Read the April 7 Mozilla Foundation update for Surman’s explanation.
Why did Mozilla put all crypto donations on hold again?
Mozilla’s June update superseded the April proposal. The Foundation said it would continue holding all cryptocurrency donations until further notice because its donation vendor had no way to distinguish proof-of-stake currencies from other types. Increased cryptocurrency volatility also contributed to the decision. In other words, a narrower environmental policy was not operationally workable through the available donation process.
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- Smart backup: Use your second Tangem Wallet as your Backup keys with end‑to‑end encryption; no more papers, pictures. If one card is lost, the remaining can still restore full access, with an optional seed phrase available for advanced users.
- Engineered to last up to 25 years: Waterproof (IP69K), shockproof and tested for extreme temperatures from −25°C to 50°C. A durable cold wallet with long‑term protection and independently audited security.
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Mozilla left open the possibility of supporting greener crypto projects in the future, but the June update did not announce that proof-of-stake donations had begun. The update, last edited June 27, 2022, is on MozillaWiki’s cryptocurrency donations page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Did Mozilla start accepting proof-of-stake donations?
No—not according to the June 2022 update. April’s proof-of-stake-only approach was a proposed policy, while June’s operational decision was to keep all cryptocurrency donations on hold because the vendor could not classify them and volatility had increased. The latest primary update identified here is dated June 27, 2022; it does not establish Mozilla Foundation’s donation policy in September 2026 or whether a later policy statement exists.
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