Posts in: International Cooperation

🚀 Breaking Down the Stack: Why Web3 Payments Can Transform Support in Fragile Contexts

In places hit by war or disaster, financial infrastructure is often broken—or nonexistent. Traditional support faces security risks, high costs, and a lack of transparency. But what if we could deliver assistance that’s secure, traceable, and inclusive, even where banks don’t exist?

Web3 payments can offer a powerful solution. By leveraging blockchain, it can enable fast, transparent transactions, empower communities, and give donors real-time visibility. Yet, success isn’t just about tech—it’s about people, partnerships, and collaboration.

Why break down the stack?

• Demystify the technology – Help program managers, donors, and practitioners understand what’s needed and why, so they can make informed decisions.
• Prepare for full-scale deployment – Clarify roles, interactions, and procurement needs to move from pilot to program with transparency and confidence.
• Ensure nothing is overlooked – From wallets to on/off-ramps, every component must be accounted for to build a system that truly works in the field.

The real challenge ahead? Moving from pilot to full-scale impact. That’s where you come in.

If you’re already involved in similar projects or pilots, let’s share our experiences and refine these models together.

🔗 Read more: Breaking Down the Stack: What It Takes to Implement Web3 Payments for Lasting Impact

#Web3 #HumanitarianTech #DigitalPayments #InnovationForImpact

🌟 Honored to have been part of workshop on “Harnessing the Potential of Digital Sustainable Finance to Accelerate the Agenda 2030” in Bonn! 🌟

A big thank you to the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), SOAS Centre for Sustainable Finance and particularly Prof. Ulrich Volz for organising such an insightful event.

During the morning of this full-day workshop, I participated in a closed-door roundtable that explored ‚Rethinking capital market infrastructure to scale up sustainable finance‘ and ‚Fostering inclusive green finance through digital solutions‘. The presentations and discussions were enlightening with valuable contributions from Yuen Lo and Peter Knaack.

When I was on the panel after the official book launch, the panel was asked to single out the most important innovation in this area. While I made it clear how digital payments #web3 #stablecoins can really help, I specifically emphasised the huge potential of #biodiversity #certificates in dealing with the big problems we’re facing.

It was a pleasure to engage with esteemed speakers including Dr. Erica Moret, Amb. Prof. Bitange Ndemo, and Dr. Iliya Nickelt.

If you missed the live stream, the book “Sustainable Digital Finance” is available as a PDF or EPUB via open access at Springer.

#SustainableFinance #DigitalFinance #Agenda2030 #Sustainability #FinanceForGood #FutureOfCooperation

🌐 Building Resilient Digital Transactions in Fragile Contexts with Web3 🌐

In fragile environments, secure and inclusive digital transactions can transform lives. I recently revisited the technology and economics behind these solutions and sketched out the stack required to make them work.

Why does this matter? Clarity is key—both for didactics and procurement. Explicitly breaking down the stack helps generate a common understanding, especially when discussing setup with non-technical stakeholders. It also ensures that expected services are properly defined during procurement.

This is how I currently understand the stack to come together:

🔗 Public Blockchain layer 1/2: The foundation—like Algorand, Cosmos, Ethereum, Gnosis, Linea, Polygon, or Stellar—delivering security, transparency, and smart contract capabilities.

💰 Stablecoin: Digital currencies like USDT, USDC, and EURS, providing stability and enabling seamless cross-border transactions.

⚙️ Stablecoin Management: Platforms such as ensuring compliance and smooth integration with APIs and tools.

🔒 (Regulated) Onramp Service Provider: The regulated gateway for converting fiat to digital assets, ensuring trust and accessibility.

👛 Wallet: User-friendly digital wallets enabling secure storage and transactions, even offline.

💱 Offramp & Liquidity Services: Services bridging digital assets to local currency and ensuring liquidity, such as mobile money providers or local liquidity vendors.

This space is still evolving, with overlaps and players emerging as solution providers—integrating parts of the stack.

👉🏻 Does this resonate? Does it help you understand the space better? Do you see yourself in this stack?

🔍 TL;DR: Web3 is reshaping digital transactions in fragile contexts. From blockchain infrastructure to regulated onramps and user-friendly off-ramps, every layer matters. Does this help you? Let’s discuss! 🚀

Stablecoins: Why the Fundamentals Matter 💰🔗

As stablecoins gain traction, especially in development and humanitarian contexts, it is worth revisiting some of the fundamental risks. The 2020 paper Stablecoins 2.0: Economic Foundations and Risk-Based Models (Klages-Mundt et al.) still serves as a timely reminder that: Not all stablecoins are created equal, and their risks are often underestimated.

For custodial stablecoins (those backed by reserve funds), three core risks stand out:

• Counterparty risk: Your trust is only as strong as the custodian’s solvency and integrity. There is no deposit insurance here.
• Censorship risk: Centralised control means redemptions or issuance can be blocked.
• Economic risk: If the value of the reserve assets fluctuates, so does the value of your ‘stable’ coin. Simply being pegged does not guarantee stability.

The paper’s framework remains relevant today, particularly as institutional adoption increases. When using stablecoins in high-stakes environments such as aid or remittances, these shouldn’t be abstract concerns.

🔗 Read the paper

MoneyGram Launches Stablecoin-Powered Remittance App in Colombia 🌎💸

MoneyGram has introduced a new mobile app in Colombia that integrates USD-pegged stablecoins (USDC), enabling users to receive, store, and manage funds in dollars rather than local currency. The app leverages the Stellar blockchain ⚡ and Crossmint’s wallet infrastructure to facilitate fast, low-cost transactions—without requiring a bank account.

Context: Why Colombia? 🇨🇴 Colombia is a major remittance market, where families receive over 22 times more in inflows than outflows. With the peso’s value fluctuating significantly in recent years, stablecoins offer recipients a way to preserve value and avoid exposure to local currency depreciation.

Key Features

• USDC as the in-app currency: Provides stability and transparency. 💵
• Blockchain-powered transfers: Enables near-instant, low-cost transactions. ⚡
• Global cash network: Access to 500,000+ retail locations for easy cash withdrawals. 🏦

Broader Implications The global remittance market exceeds US$860 billion annually, often characterised by high fees and slow processing times. By adopting blockchain technology, MoneyGram aims to reduce costs and improve efficiency. This initiative also raises questions about the potential dollarisation of local economies, as users gain direct access to dollar-denominated digital assets.

What’s Next? The app is now live in Colombia, with plans for expansion. A key factor to watch: whether the cost savings from blockchain-based transfers will be passed on to end users, potentially pressuring traditional remittance providers to innovate.

This development marks a significant step in the evolution of cross-border payments, blending digital currency with an established global network. Read the full press release.

#Remittances #Stablecoins #Fintech #Blockchain #DigitalPayments

🚀 When internet coverage through landline or mobile is weak, for some years now you immediately look up - for internet from space.

The battle for global internet from space is heating up! Here’s the latest:

• Starlink 🌍: 8,000+ satellites, 200 Mbps speeds, and millions of users worldwide. Direct-to-cell service is rolling out, making access even easier
• Amazon’s Kuiper 🛰️: Over 100 satellites already in orbit, over 3.200 planned, with commercial service starting late 2025. Affordable, fast internet for all is the goal
• EU’s IRIS² 🇪🇺: 290 satellites by 2027, split between Low and Medium Earth Orbit (LEO / MEO), focusing on security, sovereignty, and resilience

This isn’t just about speed—it’s about connecting the unconnected, empowering economies, and ensuring no one is left behind.

How will satellite internet change your work or community? Let’s talk! ⬇️

#SatelliteInternet #Starlink #ProjectKuiper #IRIS2 #DigitalFuture #ConnectivityForAll

I was recently again involved in discussions about improving internet connectivity in Africa. The current situation, in terms of internet connectivity on the continental scale, revealed a landscape of both progress and potential:

• A robust backbone: Africa’s internet infrastructure is already impressive—a ring of subsea cables encircles the continent, providing critical connectivity.
• Local exchange, global reach: Major Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) in Johannesburg and Nairobi keep African traffic local, reducing latency and costs.
• New hubs emerging: #German DE-CIX - which provides network interconnection services and operates several carrier and data center neutral internet exchanges internationally - is expanding this network with IXPs in Kinshasa (ACIX) and Lagos (AF-CIX), further strengthening regional resilience.

Yet, challenges remain. Vulnerabilities persist: Damage to subsea cables can still disrupt connectivity, and repair capacities are limited, leading to prolonged outages.

The takeaway? Africa is building its own digital future—with strong foundations already in place, but still in need of further investment to ensure reliability and reach.

#DigitalAfrica #InternetInfrastructure #Connectivity #DECIX #IXP

I just recently posted about a paper describing how “Conjuring a Blockchain Pilot” worked in #HumanitarianAid in the early days of the #blockchain hype.

This article by Martine Dahl-Bastiansen published on the London School of Economics and Political Science (#LSE) website presents a variety of applications in the field.

As I am not familiar with all the projects described there, I cannot endorse them in terms of their meaningful and responsible use of blockchain technology.

So even when decentralised technology is used, many of these projects seem to continue to reflect centralised procedures. Moreover, the mere use of technology does not indicate acceptance if people have no alternative but to use the system defined by international donors.

Again: In the end, technology should not be first; it should be critically assessed, even if one is confident about the opportunities in selected use cases. And design should start with the people and communities, which the support should help to improve their living and create opportunities. #FutureOfCooperation #blockchain #web3

Read the post: How Blockchain is Contributing to the Humanitarian Sector as of 2025

🛰️ IRIS²: Europe’s Answer to Secure, Sovereign Satellite Internet

Many countries with limited telecom infrastructure are turning to satellite internet—often to Starlink. But relying on a single, geostrategically sensitive provider comes with risks: data sovereignty, dependency, and unpredictable access.

Enter IRIS², the EU’s new secure satellite constellation. Designed for resilience, interoperability, and security, IRIS² aims to provide high-speed, encrypted connectivity across Europe and beyond, especially where cables and towers fail.

Why it matters:

• Digital sovereignty: No more reliance on non-EU providers for critical communications.
• Multi-orbit resilience: Combines LEO and MEO satellites for low latency and global coverage.
• Beyond broadband: Supports crisis management, healthcare, and secure government operations.
• Future-proof: Built for 5G/6G, quantum-safe encryption, and seamless integration with terrestrial networks.

First services start in 2029, full deployment by 2030. A strategic move—not just for Europe, but for any region seeking independent, reliable connectivity.

🚀 Read more

#DigitalSovereignty #SatelliteInternet #IRIS2 #InternationalCooperation

Blockchain based solutions in #InternationalDevelopment seem to slowly pass the trough of disillusionment, entering the slope of enlightenment, following the Cycle of Overblown Hopes and Shattered Dreams defined by a large research and advisory firm.

But that does not mean the same mechanisms may again kick in that lead to the overstated expectations of the hype phase.

In the field of humanitarian aid, the paper ‘Conjuring a Blockchain Pilot: Ignorance and Innovation in Humanitarian Aid’, describes the mechanisms that came into play during the initial hype surrounding blockchain technology. While I do not agree with all of the paper’s arguments, I believe it provides a concise description of the dynamics within the sector that is also relevant to development cooperation.

In the end, technology should not be first; it should be critically assessed, even if one is confident about the opportunities in selected use cases. And design should start with the people and communities, which the support should help to improve their living and create opportunities. #FutureOfCooperation #blockchain #web3