Matt Damon brings RLUSD into Ripple's Water.org payments spotlight. Matt Damon is set to speak at Ripple Swell 2026 as Water.org draws attention to Ripple USD (RLUSD) through its Get Blue campaign. Key points: * Damon is listed as a keynote speaker for Ripple Swell 2026 in New York City. * Water.org names Ripple as the exclusive digital asset and payments partner for Get Blue. * RLUSD is being framed as payments infrastructure, not as a trading product. Ripple Swell. Damon is scheduled to appear at Ripple Swell 2026, the company's New York event focused on payments, stablecoins, traditional finance and the onchain economy. The Swell website lists Damon as a keynote speaker and identifies him as co-founder of Water.org, a nonprofit focused on expanding access to safe water and sanitation. The appearance gives Ripple a broader audience for a payments message that often stays inside crypto markets. Water.org recently launched Get Blue, a campaign built around consumer participation, brand partnerships and direct donations to support safe water access. The nonprofit names Ripple as the exclusive digital asset and payments partner for the campaign, with the company providing seed funding and using Ripple Payments and RLUSD to support transfers to microfinance partners. RLUSD use. The Water.org partnership gives RLUSD a different kind of stablecoin use case, because the focus is not exchange liquidity, treasury management or trading settlement. Its stated role is more practical: move funds across borders with less friction, so more money can reach partners that finance household water and sanitation projects. That does not make stablecoins a cure for the water crisis. The core work still depends on local partners, lending programs and community-level execution, but faster payment rails can help reduce operational drag when funds must move through several markets. For Ripple, the reputational value is clear because philanthropy is easier for mainstream audiences to understand than liquidity routing inside crypto venues. The risk is that the impact gets overstated, since one keynote and one campaign do not prove broad stablecoin adoption. Stablecoins have spent years gaining traction through crypto exchanges, remittances and corporate treasury use, while public-facing aid projects remain a smaller test of whether the same rails can serve everyday funding needs. Disclaimer and Risk Warning: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is based on the author's opinion. It does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and subject to high risk, including the risk of losing all or a substantial amount of your investment. Trading or holding crypto assets may not be suitable for all investors. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author(s) and do not represent the official policy or position of Yellow, its founders, or its executives. Always conduct your own thorough research (D.Y.O.R.) and consult a licensed financial professional before making any investment decision.

How are global leaders tackling water scarcity? Amazon, Gap, Starbucks and Ecolab unite for Water.org's Get Blue initiative, mobilising business leadership to tackle the global water crisis Nearly a quarter of the global population, approximately 2.1 billion people, lack access to safe water, while 3.4 billion people lack access to safe sanitation. To address this perennial challenge, Water.org announced the launch of a corporate-led programme known as Get Blue in Davos, as part of the World Economic Forum's 2026 Annual Meeting. The announcement follows Davos's theme of a "blue thread", highlighting the role of water ecosystems in global trade and livelihoods. Water.org was founded in 2009 by Gary White and Matt Damon, with the aim of bringing solutions that break down barriers between people and access to safe water. Since, the non-profit organisation has reached 85 million people with lasting access to safe water or sanitation to date. Businesses leading sustainable action. The launch of Get Blue helps Water.org move closer towards its goal of reaching 200 million people by 2030. Gary White, CEO and Co-Founder, says: "Solving the global water crisis is possible if the business community comes together and focuses on measurable change. Water sits at the centre of opportunity in the global economy. "Get Blue gives companies a way to lead on an issue their industries depend on and to help scale solutions that are already reaching millions of people who need them. This is the kind of leadership required to end the water crisis within our lifetimes." Get Blue is a global movement which aims to mobilise brands, creators, consumers and capital to help solve the global water crisis. The initiative is designed to accelerate access to safe water and sanitation through aligning global business leadership and funding behind Water.org's solutions. Kara Hurst, Chief Sustainability Officer at Amazon, says: "The water crisis requires sustained, meaningful action and Get Blue is an example of what the private sector can do to help raise awareness and work together to drive solutions and impact. "This approach builds on Amazon's aim to be a responsible water steward in communities - and water-stressed regions - where it operates, as it works to reduce water use across its operations through investment, innovation and implementation." Cross-sector collaboration. Water.org has partnered with Gap, Amazon, Starbucks and Ecolab to launch Get Blue, with the companies providing products, content and experiences to help fund water access. The launch of the project for consumers is planned for later in 2026. Richard Dickson, President and CEO of Gap, says: "At Gap Inc., we bridge gaps to create a better world - and the gap between people who lack access to water, let alone clean water, is far too big. Through the launch of Get Blue, we're uniting some of the world's most influential brands behind a shared mission." Get Blue aligns with Starbucks's business values, with the aim of tackling water scarcity in agricultural areas where the company's supplies are grown. Marika McCauley Sine, Chief Sustainability Officer at Starbucks, says: "In some coffee, tea and cocoa farming regions, people lack access to clean water and sanitation. For Starbucks, helping these communities thrive is both the right thing to do and strengthens our business and supply chain." Emilio Tenuta, SVP and Chief Sustainability Officer at Ecolab, said on LinkedIn: "Get Blue is designed to enable consumer and B2B companies to treat water as a core operating and market issue - something that is foundational to Ecolab. "Business Chief know that when Business Chief help customers use water smarter, Business Chief unlock growth, value and impact. "By joining forces with global leaders to expand access to safe water, we can tackle global water scarcity and strengthen the communities in which we all operate." Discussing the initiative on LinkedIn, Kara wrote: "Nearly one in four people around the world don't have access to safe water. That means mothers are walking for hours - every day - to collect water for their families. Children are getting sick and missing school. "The global water crisis is real, but we believe it's not insurmountable - and together, we can make a difference."

Get Blue at WEF: Water.org, Amazon & Ecolab's water strategy. Water.org has joined with Gap, Amazon, Starbucks and Ecolab to launch Get Blue, a global initiative to help fund access to safe water and sanitation Today, 2.1 billion people lack access to safe water, which is nearly a quarter of the global population, while 3.4 billion people lack access to safe sanitation. To help address this issue, Water.org has announced the launch of Get Blue in Davos, as part of the World Economic Forum's 2026 Annual Meeting. This follows Davos's theme of a "blue thread" throughout the event, highlighting the importance of water ecosystems in global trade and livelihoods. What does Water.org do? Water.org was founded in 2009 by Gary White and Matt Damon, with the aim of bringing solutions that break down barriers between people and access to safe water. To date, the non-profit organisation has reached 85 million people with lasting access to safe water or sanitation. The launch of Get Blue helps Water.org move closer towards achieving its goal of reaching 200 million people by 2030. Gary White, CEO and Co-Founder of Water.org, says: "Solving the global water crisis is possible if the business community comes together and focuses on measurable change. "Water sits at the centre of opportunity in the global economy. "Get Blue gives companies a way to lead on an issue their industries depend on and to help scale solutions that are already reaching millions of people who need them. "This is the kind of leadership required to end the water crisis within our lifetimes." About Get Blue. Get Blue is a global movement which aims to mobilise brands, creators, consumers and capital to help solve the global water crisis. It is designed to accelerate access to safe water and sanitation through aligning business leadership and funding behind Water.org's solutions, helping to reach families and communities in need globally. Kara Hurst, Chief Sustainability Officer at Amazon, says: "The water crisis requires sustained, meaningful action and Get Blue is an example of what the private sector can do to help raise awareness and work together to drive solutions and impact. "This approach builds on Amazon's aim to be a responsible water steward in communities - and water-stressed regions - where it operates, as it works to reduce water use across its operations through investment, innovation and implementation." What are sustainability leaders saying about the launch? Water.org has partnered with Gap, Amazon, Starbucks and Ecolab to launch Get Blue, with the companies providing products, content and experiences to help fund water access. The launch of the project for consumers is planned for later in 2026, with the companies developing solutions across the fashion, food and beverage and technology sectors. Emilio Tenuta, SVP and Chief Sustainability Officer at Ecolab, said on LinkedIn: "Get Blue is designed to enable consumer and B2B companies to treat water as a core operating and market issue - something that is foundational to Ecolab. "Sustainability Mag know that when Sustainability Mag help customers use water smarter, Sustainability Mag unlock growth, value and impact. "By joining forces with global leaders to expand access to safe water, we can tackle global water scarcity and strengthen the communities in which we all operate." All sustainability, net zero and sustainable supply chain leaders should attend: * Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit - QEII Centre, London, March 4-5 * Sustainability LIVE: The US Summit - Navy Pier, Chicago, April 21-22 Co-located with Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE, these events brings together CSOs, ESG leaders and senior decision-makers at a moment when sustainability, supply chains and commercial performance are increasingly interconnected. Tickets can be booked online today for The Net Zero Summit and The US Summit. Group discounts available. Each of the founding companies brings a different perspective and area of expertise to the initiative, helping with the mission of bringing water to everyone, everywhere. Richard Dickson, President and CEO of Gap, says: "At Gap Inc., Sustainability Mag bridge gaps to create a better world - and the gap between people who lack access to water, let alone clean water, is far too big. "Through the launch of Get Blue, Sustainability Mag is uniting some of the world's most influential brands behind a shared mission. "By coming together, we can help make safe water accessible to every person on the planet and demonstrate what's possible when our industry steps up as a force for good." Get Blue aligns with Starbucks's business values, with the aim of tackling water scarcity in agricultural areas where the company's supplies are grown. Marika McCauley Sine, Chief Sustainability Officer at Starbucks, says: "In some coffee, tea and cocoa farming regions, people lack access to clean water and sanitation. "For Starbucks, helping these communities thrive is both the right thing to do and strengthens our business and supply chain." This cross-industry partnership demonstrates the scale of the initiative, as well as the importance of cross-sector collaboration and cultural reach. Kara Hurst said on LinkedIn: "Nearly one in four people around the world don't have access to safe water. "That means mothers are walking for hours - every day - to collect water for their families. "Children are getting sick and missing school. Entire communities are going without a basic necessity so many of Sustainability Mag take for granted. "The global water crisis is real, but we believe it's not insurmountable - and together, we can make a difference."