Paris, June 2026 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has officially launched the Blockchain Advisory Group (BAG) during Proof of Talk 2026, bringing together senior leaders from across the blockchain ecosystem to explore how blockchain technologies can strengthen public systems, support digital public infrastructure, and address pressing development challenges.
Chaired by UNDP Associate Administrator Haoliang Xu, the inaugural meeting focused on financial inclusion and digital finance. Discussions highlighted barriers such as fragmented payment systems, digital identity constraints, interoperability challenges, and institutional readiness. Xu emphasized that blockchain must be evaluated not just as a technological innovation, but as a tool for delivering meaningful public value: “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.”
The launch builds on UNDP’s broader work on blockchain for sustainable development. Across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, UNDP is collaborating with governments and partners to explore blockchain applications in digital payments, climate finance, digital identity, traceability, public procurement, and service delivery. These efforts are documented in UNDP’s recent publication New Tech, New Partners: Transforming Development in the Digital Era.
Alongside the BAG launch, UNDP’s AltFinLab organized a series of events under the banner Scaling Blockchain for Public Good. Highlights included the SDG Blockchain Accelerator Impact Showcase, featuring blockchain and decentralized AI solutions already moving toward implementation, and a public dialogue hosted with Sciences Po Tech & Global Affairs Innovation Hub, which convened governments, researchers, and ecosystem leaders to discuss blockchain adoption in public systems.
Looking ahead, the Blockchain Advisory Group will meet twice annually, each time focusing on a different theme such as public trust and digital governance, inclusive legal identity, financial inclusion, sustainability and climate accountability, and digital labour. The aim is to move from dialogue to concrete opportunities for collaboration and action.
The BAG currently includes 26 member organizations representing a broad cross-section of the blockchain ecosystem, including the Ethereum Foundation, Cardano Foundation, Algorand Foundation, Stellar Development Foundation, Avalanche Foundation, Web3 Foundation, and Filecoin Foundation. This diverse membership underscores the group’s ambition to bridge development priorities with blockchain innovation.
By creating a structured space for collaboration, UNDP is positioning blockchain as a driver of digital public infrastructure, financial inclusion, and sustainable development. The BAG represents a significant step toward ensuring that blockchain technologies are harnessed not just for private gain, but for public good worldwide.
