The Circle Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Circle Internet Group, announced grants on September 25, 2026, to partner with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the World Food Program (WFP) on modernizing international aid delivery using regulated stablecoins.
The initiative seeks to explore how regulated payment stablecoins and digital financial infrastructure can lower distribution costs, reduce delays, and improve financial access for aid recipients in crisis zones.
Expanding UNDP's Digital Payment Capacity
A Circle Foundation grant will fund the establishment of UNDP's Digital Asset Innovation Pool, designed to help UNDP country offices scale blockchain-based payment initiatives beyond pilot projects into full-scale operations.
The pool builds on trials conducted by UNDP's Alternative Finance Lab, which tested payment initiatives including cash-for-work disbursements in Aleppo, Syria; low-connectivity transfers in Haiti; community investments in Guatemala; and mobile wallet integration in The Gambia.
According to UNDP Alternative Finance Lab Team Lead Robert Pasicko, the tool is intended to complement rather than replace traditional banking systems, enabling faster and more affordable last-mile program payments.
WFP Testing Three-Year Corridor Program
A separate grant to World Food Program USA will fund governance, risk, compliance, and treasury reconciliation frameworks for digital asset distribution.
Over the next three years, WFP plans to test stablecoin payment corridors across two to three countries, connecting international aid funds directly to local financial service providers and market merchants. The program will also fund independent research to establish operational benchmarks for stablecoin speed, efficiency, and cost effectiveness in humanitarian contexts.
Expanding UN Digital Infrastructure
The grants expand the Circle Foundation's involvement with UN financial technology initiatives. The foundation previously supported the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' Digital Hub of Treasury Solutions (DHoTS), a shared platform used by 15 UN agencies to streamline cross-border transfers.
