The "people" who are donating are MIT alumni and the Bitcoin community. Both have clear incentives for Bitcoin adoption at MIT.
MIT alumni - A degree from MIT is prestigious because of the amazing work the community does in creating and developing emerging technologies. Alums had the chance to work on similar projects in their day. They want to put the intelligence of the next generation to work. It's an investment in the future.
Bitcoin Community - Bitcoin needs to be trusted in order to be widely adopted. If a prestigious institution is putting a lot of brainpower into developing the infrastructure of the payment network, it well lend credence to the entire scheme and provide a great test case for a USD-Bitcoin integrated economy.
MIT students are smart; they will do something with the Bitcoin, even if they do just sell it for the $100. If you were given $100 would you give it away? I don't think so.
MIT alumni - A degree from MIT is prestigious because of the amazing work the community does in creating and developing emerging technologies. Alums had the chance to work on similar projects in their day. They want to put the intelligence of the next generation to work. It's an investment in the future.
Bitcoin Community - Bitcoin needs to be trusted in order to be widely adopted. If a prestigious institution is putting a lot of brainpower into developing the infrastructure of the payment network, it well lend credence to the entire scheme and provide a great test case for a USD-Bitcoin integrated economy.
MIT students are smart; they will do something with the Bitcoin, even if they do just sell it for the $100. If you were given $100 would you give it away? I don't think so.