Buy Goods. Tip Monero.
Coffee & more to your door. Grown by farmers you can tip.
What is Gratuitas
Gratuitas is a social impact startup that allows you (the consumer) to tip producers in developing nations using Monero.
Why Monero? Because we believe Monero is the closest thing we have to true peer-to-peer digital cash. It's cheap and safe to send. The receiver just needs a Monero private key, and does not even require technology like a smartphone or computer to receive and hold the tips. Also, like cash, with Monero there is no fear that the recipients' funds will be publicly known for all to see - thus avoiding exposing the recipient to crime or confiscation of their tips.
How does Gratuitas work? Everyday, we are using products that are produced by under appreciated, hard-working people living in developing countries. Imagine being able to thank those workers directly with a tip. Now you can.
As a proof-of-concept, Gratuitas is providing coffee and macadamia nut farmers with Monero private keys. If you like a product, you can scan the QR code on the packaging to tip the producers directly with a digital cash tip. Tipping the coffee farmers is working and we are now adding other products and seeking partnerships. Our hope is, one day, tipping the Manilla factory worker that crafted the sole of your shoe, will be as commonplace as tipping your local barista.
What will the farmers do with their Monero Tips? Initially, probably nothing. But it will give them the chance to save up a nest egg of Monero that will likely grow in value over time. Eventually, with the help of Gratuitas, we think people will learn how to sell their Monero for cash, use it to make purchases on the internet, or use it locally — allowing local Monero economies to organically blossom.
The Farmers
San Rafael Urias Finca
Farmer
The Monero tips you send will go directly to the farmers that make these top quality products possible. The coffee or oil you purchase will come with a Monero address printed on it. Any Monero you send to that address will go to a wallet controlled by us which we will split and forward to the farmers respective wallets. Eventually we will have it set up so tips don't go through us at all but for now this is the best way for us to kick-start this and make sure the farmers are getting their tips. We personally visited both the coffee and macadamia nut farms in Antigua, Guatemala and can confirm that the quality of these products and production processes can not be topped. At the San Rafael Urias Coffee Finca we were able to spend time with the farmers, teach them about Monero, and personally provide them their wallet seeds. It was a great success and they greatly appreciate this project. They have already received some very generous tips! We did not have time to provide the Valhalla Macadamia farmers with their wallets but were able to teach the owners about Monero. They are very excited that their workers will be receiving these crypto tips. We will be working with the owners and a local crypto enthusiast we met on our trip to make sure the macadamia farmers learn about Monero and receive the wallet seeds. For now we are holding any tips sent to the nut farmers and will split and forward the tips directly to each wallet once the farmers are set up. Please consider purchasing these products. You will be glad you did and the farmers will be too!
