Venezuelans struggling to survive amid the collapsing health system and crumbling economy are being offered a potential lifeline through an innovative cryptocurrency platform.

Danish telecoms executive Casper Niebe wanted to do something to help after reading about a Venezuelan baby who died when his malnourished mother was unable to breastfeed him.

“That child died for want of $20 worth of formula,” Mr Niebe told The Telegraph. “I found that totally devastating.”

With the help of students and professors at the IT University of Copenhagen, Mr Niebe has built a website called Pollo Pollo – the Spanish word for chicken – to allow Venezuelans to request and sell goods, and donors to assist.

Through the website, those in need can search the offers – food, medicines, livestock, school supplies - and register as wanting the product.