The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has formed the Blockchain Advisory Group (BAG). This new group will look at how blockchain technology can improve public services and address global development challenges.
The group was officially introduced on June 3 at the Proof of Talk 2026 conference in Paris. Haoliang Xu chaired the first meeting. The main topic was financial inclusion and digital finance. Participants talked about the barriers that still prevent many people from accessing financial services.
UNDP is already working with governments and industry partners in many regions. These include Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, Central Asia, and the Asia-Pacific region. Current projects explore blockchain for digital payments, financial inclusion, climate finance, digital identity systems, supply-chain traceability, public procurement, and public service delivery.
Events at the Launch
Alongside the launch, UNDP’s AltFinLab organized several events under the theme “Scaling Blockchain for Public Good.” These events included presentations on blockchain and decentralized AI projects that are already being tested in development programs. The sessions showed some early results and practical applications.
Future Plans and Members
The Blockchain Advisory Group plans to meet twice a year. Future discussions will cover digital governance, legal identity, financial inclusion, sustainability, climate initiatives, and the future of digital work. The group currently includes 26 organizations from across the blockchain industry. Some notable members are the Ethereum Foundation, Cardano Foundation, Algorand Foundation, Kraken, Sui Foundation, and Web3 Foundation.
Overall, this seems like a practical step by UNDP to understand the real potential of blockchain beyond just cryptocurrency. It will be interesting to see how these discussions translate into actual projects and policies over the coming years.
