Solutions Engineer - Platform Solutions Group

UNDP pushes blockchain from DPI pilots to deployment. New advisory group and government academy aim to turn blockchain pilots into production digital public infrastructure. UNDP is stepping up efforts to move blockchain from pilot projects to production digital public infrastructure (DPI), arguing that the remaining challenges are governance, interoperability and trust rather than the technology itself. The effort took shape during a series of meetings in Paris under the theme "Scaling Blockchain for Public Good," where policymakers, development organizations and industry representatives explored how to scale blockchain for digital public infrastructure, particularly decentralized identity. Last month, UNDP said pilots in Haiti, Syria, Kenya, Guatemala and The Gambia reduced blockchain-based digital payment distribution costs from about 10 percent to as little as 2 percent. The agency plans to integrate the technology into its country programs once the necessary governance frameworks are in place. The discussions, which took place under the theme "Scaling Blockchain for Public Good," resulted in the creation of the United Nations Development Program's (UNDP) Blockchain Advisory Group (BAG). The inaugural meeting was chaired by UNDP Associate Administrator Haoliang Xu. Participants agreed the debate is no longer whether blockchain belongs in DPI, but where it can deliver the greatest public value. Reflections during the Paris meeting also led to the launch of a Government Blockchain Academy, which will support countries in how they assess, adopt and use blockchain systems. The aspect of digital payments was particularly emphasized with many of the attendees underscoring the technology's role in driving financial inclusion, as it is estimated that 1.3 billion people in the world lack formal access to financial services such as bank accounts. Other issues addressed during the meeting included the need to build collaborative frameworks and partnerships to drive blockchain innovation. "The future of blockchain for development will depend not only on innovation, but on the institutions, partnerships, and public trust needed to apply it responsibly," the Alternative Finance Lab (AltFinLab) Lead for UNDP Europe and Central Asia, Robert Pasicko, said. Early deployments. Several implementation-ready projects were showcased during the meetings. UNDP The Gambia is working with FreedomPay Wallet to ensure transparent digital payments, while Plastiks is collaborating with UNDP offices in Armenia, India, El Salvador and Zambia to support climate circular economy efforts. Malawi has also developed a digital ID wallet based on blockchain which is currently being piloted. The initiative, which was recently featured in a Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC) event, is supported by the UNDP and aims to provide Malawians with digital-first identity services. Mauritania has also unveiled its plan of speeding up the integration of blockchain into its digital transformation implementation. Capmad reports that this comes as part of the country's digital infrastructure modernization drive. The system will streamline digital payments. Article topics. Latest biometrics news. Aug 10, 2026, 5:11 pm EDT Digital wallet providers, digital identity and credential issuers, verifiers and government agencies can now use test suites developed by the... Aug 10, 2026, 5:05 pm EDT Three unquestionably popular views have emerged from the ongoing debate around biometric age assurance. The first, expressed by a majority... Aug 10, 2026, 3:05 pm EDT "The price of gas keeps on rising," says a song from UK indie band Bloc Party's classic 2005 album, Silent... Aug 10, 2026, 1:04 pm EDT The United Nations (U.N.) World Food Programme (WFP) is preparing to renew a five-year agreement with Palantir Technologies even though... Aug 10, 2026, 12:07 pm EDT Aug 10, 2026, 12:05 pm EDT Meta has fallen afoul of India, after the platform temporarily removed a video posted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi...

FreedomPay's Gateway to Giving programme has generated over $75,000 in donations for the Cincinnati Reds Community Fund through the first half of the baseball season. The system allows fans to make optional charitable contributions during purchases at concession stands and retail locations across the ballpark. The programme integrates donation requests into existing payment flows, enabling quick contributions without disrupting the checkout experience. FreedomPay, a global commerce technology provider, positions Gateway to Giving as a scalable fundraising channel for sports teams, entertainment venues, retailers and restaurants. The Reds Community Fund uses baseball and softball to support youth education and community development programmes. FreedomPay says the results demonstrate how everyday transactions can generate meaningful funding for local communities across various industries.

Ordr, an AI-powered payments intelligence platform for sports and entertainment, has partnered with FreedomPay, a global commerce technology leader, to create a unified payments ecosystem for live experience operators worldwide. The partnership integrates FreedomPay's PCI-validated point-to-point encryption payment gateway into Ordr's Connect Layer, enabling seamless connections across CRM, ticketing and point-of-sale platforms. Ordr's partners, including the Vegas Golden Knights, Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers, will benefit from enhanced payment security and transaction data intelligence. The collaboration combines FreedomPay's global payment processing infrastructure, which handles billions in transactions with 1,500-plus integrations, with Ordr's AI platform that converts purchase data into customer insights. Founded to serve sports, entertainment and hospitality sectors, Ordr has raised $295 million to date.