The Tor Project, the nonprofit behind the privacy-focused browser that bears its name, is spearheading a Web3-based crowdfunding effort aimed at pushing back against what it calls the erosion of internet freedom worldwide. The initiative arrives as global internet freedom has dropped for 15 straight years, with more governments tightening controls over what their citizens can access, according to Freedom House’s latest report.
Why the crowdfunding push now
The timing isn't accidental. Freedom House’s annual index shows the longest sustained decline since it began measuring digital liberties. In 2024 alone, at least 40 countries expanded internet restrictions — blocking websites, throttling connections, or prosecuting users. Tor’s tools, which anonymize traffic and bypass censorship, have become a lifeline for activists, journalists, and ordinary people in those places. But maintaining and improving those tools takes money, and traditional funding streams can be unpredictable.
The Tor Project says it's turning to Web3 — the decentralized, blockchain-based ecosystem that underpins cryptocurrencies — to raise funds directly from supporters. The exact mechanism hasn’t been detailed publicly, but the organization has hinted at token-based contributions or smart-contract donation models that let donors track how their money is used. For an organization built around the idea of distributed trust, the approach fits.
What Web3 brings to the table
Web3 crowdfunding offers a few advantages over conventional platforms like GoFundMe or Patreon. Transactions are recorded on a public ledger, which can reduce concerns about where money goes. It also lets people in censored countries contribute without running afoul of local banking restrictions or payment processors that might block donations to pro-freedom groups. Tor’s own software already routes around censorship; using a funding channel that does the same for money makes strategic sense.
That said, Web3 is still a niche space. Cryptocurrency donations accounted for less than 2% of all charitable giving in 2024. Whether Tor can tap into that small but passionate donor base enough to make a measurable difference remains an open question.
The state of internet freedom
Freedom House’s data paints a grim picture. The 15-year decline means that most of the world’s internet users now live under regimes that restrict what they can see and say online. The report notes that governments are becoming more sophisticated — moving from blunt shutdowns to targeted surveillance, legal intimidation, and algorithmic content moderation that silences dissent without an official ban. Tor’s network, with its encrypted relay system, is one of the few countermeasures that individuals can deploy themselves, without waiting for a court ruling or a policy change.
But Tor has its limits. The browser is slower than standard browsers, and some websites block traffic from known Tor exit nodes. The organization has been working on faster bridges and more resilient entry points, but those improvements require sustained engineering resources. The crowdfunding initiative is meant to provide that.
What happens next
The Tor Project hasn't set a public fundraising target or a deadline for the Web3 campaign. It's likely to roll out in phases, starting with a pilot that tests the technical and legal feasibility of blockchain-based donations. If it works, it could become a recurring revenue stream — one that doesn't depend on grants from foundations or corporate sponsors who might have their own agendas. For now, the only certainty is that the fight for internet freedom isn't getting any easier, and Tor is betting that a decentralized funding model is part of the answer.
