A California-based professional basketball team, the Sacramento Kings, has revealed that it is planning on mining Ethereum for a new charitable program, reportedly making it the first pro sports team to mine cryptocurrency.

Supporting Sacramento-Based Causes

As part of their MiningForGood initiative, the Sacramento Kings will be mining for Ethereum. They are teaming up with MiningStore to use its crypto mining machines. The machines will be installed in the only Tier 4 data center in a professional sports arena.

The Ethereum they generate will go toward causes in California’s capital city. It will start with the Build Black Coalition, an organization supporting transformational change for black communities in Sacramento. Not only that, but it will aid workforce development and technology education programs, reports the National Basketball Association (NBA).

With cryptocurrency gaining in popularity, the MiningForGood program will help those in need. Additionally, it’s hoped that it will serve as a blueprint for other organizations. Sacramento Kings owner and chairman Vivek Ranadivé said:

Opportunity begins when technology allows the world to find innovative solutions to complex problems.

The timing of the MiningForGood program comes amid that of Coinbase’s announcement. Yesterday, Brian Armstrong, CEO of the California-based crypto exchange, announced the launch of his GiveCrypto charity. However, one expert has said that the blockchain “is not going to solve everything” in the charity sector.

Making a Positive Change

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time that the Sacramento Kings have turned their attention to technology. In 2014, they became the first professional basketball team to accept Bitcoin.

At the time, it was announced that they were taking cryptocurrency payments for purchases made in the Kings Team Store. Using BitPay to process the transactions, the aim is to deliver a seamless experience for their fans. The team has also used virtual reality to bring students in India courtside to a game. It’s no surprise then that the Kings are turning to Ethereum for its MiningForGood program.

As well as using technology for social change, the Kings are making a positive impact on the environment too. Their Golden 1 Center was the first arena to be awarded the LEED Platinum status in 2016. Powered entirely by solar energy, it is the greenest sports venue in the U.S.

Additionally, the team has one of the most progressive food programs in sports. According to the NBA, the Kings reduce their landfill footprint by sourcing locally, donating unserved food, and returning organic waste to farms. Of course, with technology making such a major impact in the world around us, using it for good causes seems inevitable.

How important do you think technology is for social good? Let us know in the comments below.

Images courtesy of Shutterstock.