UN expands Stellar blockchain payment programme

• The United Nations Development Programme will expand its use of Stellar-based blockchain payments after completing pilots in seven countries.
• The agency said the trials reduced payment costs and improved resilience during disruptions.
• UNDP said the next phase will establish a framework for wider blockchain payment adoption across its global development programmes.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has signed a new agreement with the Stellar (CRYPTO:XLM) Development Foundation to expand blockchain-based payments after pilot programmes in seven countries showed lower costs and improved payment reliability.

The agreement follows 16 months of testing in Haiti, Syria, Kenya, Guatemala, The Gambia, Colombia and Papua New Guinea, with UNDP saying the next phase will establish a process for country offices to adopt blockchain payments more broadly.

UNDP said a Cash for Work programme in Syria reduced payment distribution costs from 10% to 2%, while a pilot in Haiti continued processing transactions during a mobile network outage.

The agency said the expanded programme will support broader use of blockchain payments in humanitarian and development projects, and as neither UNDP nor the Stellar Development Foundation is publicly listed there is no share price available.

Last month, UNDP launched a Blockchain Advisory Group to guide the use of blockchain technology across its development programmes, including digital public infrastructure and public services.

The announcement comes as stablecoins and blockchain payment networks gain wider use in remittances and cross-border payments, particularly in regions with limited access to traditional banking services.

At the time of reporting, Stellar price was $0.1996.