UNDP launches Blockchain Advisory Group to explore blockchain for public good
The inaugural session concentrated on financial inclusion and digital finance as its opening theme, with discussions covering obstacles such as fragmented payment systems, constraints around digital identity, interoperability challenges between systems, and the general readiness of institutions to adopt new technologies.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a new Blockchain Advisory Group (BAG) on June 3, 2026, in Paris, during the Proof of Talk 2026 conference. The initiative brings together senior figures from across the blockchain industry to examine how blockchain technologies might be applied to development challenges, digital public infrastructure, and the strengthening of public systems.
Inaugural Meeting Focused on Financial Inclusion
The group’s first meeting was chaired by Haoliang Xu, UNDP’s Associate Administrator. The inaugural session concentrated on financial inclusion and digital finance as its opening theme, with discussions covering obstacles such as fragmented payment systems, constraints around digital identity, interoperability challenges between systems, and the general readiness of institutions to adopt new technologies. Participants examined how blockchain might work alongside existing infrastructure to widen access to financial services, improve efficiency, and increase transparency.
Xu described the purpose of the group in a statement: “Blockchain technologies are evolving rapidly, but the key question is how these innovations can meaningfully contribute to stronger public systems and better development outcomes for people and planet. UNDP is creating a space for practical collaboration and strategic exchange between development actors and the blockchain ecosystem to better understand where blockchain technologies can deliver public value.”
Part of a Broader Body of Work
The formation of BAG builds on UNDP’s existing work applying blockchain to sustainable development and digital public infrastructure. The organization has been working with governments and partners across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, Europe and Central Asia, and Asia-Pacific on applications including digital payments, financial inclusion, climate finance, digital identity, traceability, public procurement, and public service delivery. This work is detailed in UNDP’s publication New Tech, New Partners: Transforming Development in the Digital Era.
Alongside the launch meeting, UNDP’s AltFinLab — an initiative focused on the intersection of innovation, finance, and emerging technologies — organized a related series of events under the title “Scaling Blockchain for Public Good.” These included an Impact Showcase for the SDG Blockchain Accelerator, which highlighted blockchain and decentralized AI projects that are progressing toward implementation in development settings. A separate public dialogue, held with the Sciences Po Tech & Global Affairs Innovation Hub, brought together government representatives, researchers, industry figures, and development practitioners to discuss the adoption of blockchain in public systems and financial inclusion efforts.
Future Meetings and Themes
UNDP has stated that the Blockchain Advisory Group will meet twice a year going forward. Each meeting will address a different theme related to development priorities, with topics set to include public trust and digital governance, inclusive society and legal identity, financial inclusion and digital financial services, sustainability and climate-related accountability, and digital labour and the future of work. UNDP describes the aim of these convenings as moving from general dialogue toward specific opportunities for collaboration between the organization and blockchain industry participants.
Membership
The Blockchain Advisory Group currently comprises 26 member organizations from across the blockchain sector:
Algorand Foundation, Arbitrum Foundation, Avalanche Foundation, Blockchain for Good Alliance, Blockchain for Impact, Cardano Foundation, Celo Foundation, Cointelegraph, Interchain Foundation (Cosmos), Dfinity Foundation, Dubai Blockchain Centre, Ethereum Foundation, Exponential Science Foundation, Filecoin Foundation, FLock.io, Funding the Commons, Giveth, InfStones, Kraken, NEARWeek, Nordic Blockchain Association, Partisia Blockchain Foundation, Stellar Development Foundation, Sui Foundation, The Blockchain Center Abu Dhabi, and Web3 Foundation.
