The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a Blockchain Advisory Group to explore how blockchain can support public services and development goals. The group was officially introduced on June 4, 2026, at Proof of Talk 2026 in Paris.
The advisory group brings together 26 organizations from across the blockchain industry, including major foundations and ecosystem players. Its goal is to study how blockchain tools can improve government systems, expand financial access, and strengthen transparency in public institutions.
Cosmos is honored to be a member of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Blockchain Advisory Group (BAG).
BAG brings together 26 member organizations from across the blockchain ecosystem to:
– explore how blockchain technologies can help address development…
— Cosmos – The Interchain ⚛️ (@cosmos) June 4, 2026
UNDP said the group will focus on practical use cases rather than theory, with discussions centred on real-world development challenges.
Financial inclusion and digital identity at the centre
The first major topic discussed by the group was financial inclusion and digital finance. Members focused on common barriers such as fragmented payment systems, weak digital identity frameworks, lack of interoperability, and limited institutional readiness.
UNDP officials said blockchain could help improve access to financial services, especially in regions where traditional banking systems are limited or inefficient. The technology is also being explored for use in digital identity, public payments, and government service delivery. According to UNDP, the aim is not to replace existing systems but to complement them and make them more efficient and transparent.
Bringing governments and blockchain ecosystems into structured collaboration
UNDP’s Blockchain Advisory Group is designed to create a structured space where governments, blockchain foundations, and technology companies can work together on real-world problems. The group brings together 26 organizations across the blockchain ecosystem, including major foundations and infrastructure providers.
Instead of isolated pilots, the goal is to build coordinated frameworks that can be used in public systems. This includes improving digital identity systems, strengthening public financial tracking, and making cross-border payments more efficient and transparent.
The UNDP says this kind of collaboration helps close the gap between policy and technology. Governments can better understand where blockchain adds real value, and where traditional systems still work better.
Many of the countries involved are still early in their digital transformation. By working directly with blockchain ecosystems, UNDP aims to help them test ideas safely, understand risks, and prepare for broader adoption in public services.
Blockchain pilots move from testing to real-world deployment
UNDP is also pushing blockchain use cases beyond early experiments into practical deployment across public systems. Through its wider digital public infrastructure programs, the organization is supporting projects in areas such as climate finance, digital identity, public procurement, and financial inclusion.
These efforts are already active across regions, including Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, where governments are exploring how blockchain can improve service delivery and data transparency.
Rather than focusing only on innovation, UNDP says the priority is measurable impact. This includes reducing inefficiencies in public systems, improving trust in government processes, and expanding access to financial services for underserved populations.
The Blockchain Advisory Group is expected to help identify which use cases are ready for scaling and which still require further testing. The focus is on turning blockchain from a concept into a working tool for governments and communities.
Similarly, the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) has signed a partnership with the Cardano Foundation to explore how blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies can improve sports management in Brazil.
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