UN agency moves Stellar blockchain payment initiative beyond pilot stage
Summary
UNDP signed a new agreement with the Stellar Development Foundation to expand blockchain-based payments after 16 months of pilots in Haiti, Syria, Kenya, Guatemala, The Gambia, Colombia, and Papua New Guinea. The next phase will set up a framework for country offices to use blockchain payments across more programs. Early results showed practical gains: in Syria, onchain Cash for Work payments cut distribution costs from 10% to 2%, and in Haiti payments continued during a cellular outage. The move signals a broader shift from limited trials to wider humanitarian use of public blockchain infrastructure. UNDP has also launched a Blockchain Advisory Group to explore broader uses, including digital public infrastructure.
