How Apex Fusion Turns Staking Rewards Into Global Charity Impact

In a blockchain world often defined by financial speculation and siloed innovation, Apex Fusion emerges with a higher purpose—merging technology and altruism. With its multi-layered architecture combining Prime (Layer 1), Vector (UTXO Layer 2), and Nexus (EVM Layer 2), Apex Fusion not only unifies fragmented networks but also pioneers philanthropy through its SPO Charity Program. This initiative diverts staking rewards from network validators directly into global charitable causes.

In this edition of Behind the Startup by HackerNoon, Ishan Pandey sits down with Christopher Greenwood, Program Director at Apex Fusion, to discuss how decentralized technology can drive social transformation from feeding thousands in India to planting fruit trees in South Africa.

Ishan Pandey: Hi Christopher, it's a pleasure to welcome you to our “Behind the Startup” series. With your extensive background in strategic program management and leadership within the blockchain sector, what inspired you to spearhead the SPO Charity Initiative at Apex Fusion?

Christopher Greenwood: Thank you, Ishan. It’s great to be here. For me, the inspiration stems from a simple thought: we gain so much from this world, yet many people live focused on what they don’t have, comparing and competing with others who appear to have success or material wealth. In doing so, we often forget that what we’re living today may be the dream of someone else. In the end, we all leave this earth with nothing. So while we’re here, I deeply align with the message that true wealth is not in what we take, but in what we can give to the earth. That’s the value I want to embody through blockchain.

The idea behind the SPO Charity Initiative was born from this. In Apex Fusion, network validators, Stake Pool Operators (SPOs)—can earn around 10% APY for securing the network. We decided to redirect that value toward charitable causes, turning staking into a direct vehicle for doing good in the world. One example is the Friends of the World stake pool (https://friendsoftheworld.io/ and https://x.com/fotw_io), which I personally set up. Every month, we convert staking rewards into USDT and fiat, and then donate 100% of those funds to verified charities. In March, we supported Ammucare) (www.ammucare.org), a humanitarian organisation founded by Mohanji, that provided 2,050 meals to the hungry across multiple locations in India.

In April, we’re working with the World Tribal Alliance (www.worldtribalalliance.org), another which unites indigenous tribes for the purpose of preservation of ecology and wisdom traditions. One of their missions is Fruit Tree Plantation Drive, planting fruit-bearing trees that nourish people, animals, and the land. We plant trees today not for ourselves, but for the generations to come. Just as we eat the fruits of trees planted by those we may never know, this is our way of giving back for future generations.

Ishan Pandey: The SPO Charity Initiative is a unique approach to leveraging staking rewards for charitable causes. Could you elaborate on how this model operates and the impact it has achieved so far?

Christopher Greenwood: The model is simple but powerful: we use the power of Proof of Stake to do good. The Apex Fusion Foundation delegates stake to SPOs, who are already vital to securing the network and some of those pools, like Friends of the World, choose to direct their operator rewards to charitable causes. Each month, we take the rewards earned, convert them into USDT or fiat, and transfer 100% of the funds to approved charities. There are no middlemen. The impact has been immediate and tangible, in March, we supported Ammucare to provide 2,050 meals across India. In April, we’ll be working with the World Tribal Alliance to fund the planting of fruit-bearing trees in South Africa, offering a sustainable source of nourishment for both humans and animals for years to come.

This isn’t just aid—it’s regenerative giving. We're also growing a community of aligned SPOs who share this mission. One inspiring example is the LUCHA initiative in Serbia, where staking rewards are directed to support charities focused on poverty relief, education, and social development. It’s led by our Art Director, Djordje Obradovic at Hal8, one of our core development partners, which shows that this spirit of giving is embedded not just in our tech stack, but in the people building it. Together, these efforts show that staking can do more than secure a network—it can secure futures, communities, and lives. We hope to continue expanding this circle and inspire others to turn their staking rewards into real-world impact.

Ishan Pandey: Transparency and trust are crucial in charitable activities. What mechanisms does Apex Fusion deploy to ensure that contributions are verifiable and reach their intended beneficiaries?

Christopher Greenwood: Trust and transparency are inherent to blockchain and at Apex Fusion, they’re also core to how we approach charity. But we also recognise that, in practice, trust often breaks down in the gaps between systems, organisations, and people. That’s where real effort is needed to bridge intention with accountability.

Our approach is action-led: we don’t just talk, we act, and then we show. All staking activity and rewards are recorded on-chain and fully traceable. For Friends of the World, once the rewards are received, we convert them into fiat or USDT, transfer them to the charity, and then share proof of action: receipts, photos, and videos of the impact. These are posted publicly and shared with our delegators and community.

This process ensures that 100% of funds (less costs) go directly to the cause, and we are currently exploring ways to integrate these charitable flows natively into the Apex Fusion ecosystem. My ideal is that, with the help of people much more technically gifted than me, we can build the tools and systems to allow these charities to receive AP3X directly, manage it transparently, and reduce any friction between Web3 value and real-world application. It’s a blend of tech and training but it’s possible.

Ishan Pandey: Engaging the community is vital for the success of such initiatives. How has the response been from stakeholders, and what strategies are in place to encourage broader participation?

Christopher Greenwood: The response has been very positive. Many people in Web3 want to contribute meaningfully, they just need a clear, trustworthy, and easy way to do it. We’re finding that there’s a huge number of good people with the heart to help, but often lack the technical or operational experience to manage these efforts end to end. That’s where the SPO Charity Initiative plays a bridging role.Web3 and blockchain are rich with talent, creativity, and passion and I believe we can harness those qualities to build a new kind of giving economy, one where transparency, impact, and participation are aligned. As more community members become aware of what’s possible, I believe we’ll see more stake pool operators step up, more delegators choose mission-driven pools, and hopefully more developers help us scale these efforts with better infrastructure. This is what it means to build an ecosystem, not just technically, but socially...

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