UN Expands 40+ Blockchain Pilots to Deliver Over $760M in Aid and Cut Banking Fees

On 11 March 2026, UN agencies were reported to be testing more than 40 blockchain-based pilots to speed up humanitarian cash assistance and reduce reliance on traditional banking rails. The World Food Programme's Building Blocks platform has moved over $760 million to 6 million people, while other initiatives use USDC transfers, biometric verification, and a blockchain pension app, even as critics warn about "Blockchain In Name Only" projects and connectivity barriers.