The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched the Blockchain Advisory Group (BAG) on 3 June 2026 in Paris during Proof of Talk 2026, bringing together senior leaders from across the blockchain ecosystem to explore how blockchain technologies can help address development challenges, support digital public infrastructure, and strengthen public systems. 

Chaired by UNDP Associate Administrator Haoliang Xu, the inaugural meeting focused on financial inclusion and digital finance as its first deep-dive theme. Discussion centered on barriers to access, including fragmented payment systems, digital identity constraints, interoperability challenges, and institutional readiness , and how blockchain may complement existing infrastructure to expand access, improve efficiency, and strengthen transparency. 

“Blockchain technologies are evolving rapidly, but the key question is how these innovations can meaningfully contribute to stronger public systems and better development outcomes for people and planet,” said Haoliang Xu. “UNDP is creating a space for practical collaboration and strategic exchange between development actors and the blockchain ecosystem to better understand where blockchain technologies can deliver public value.” 

The launch of BAG builds on UNDP's broader work on blockchain for sustainable development, digital public infrastructure, and stronger public systems. Across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, Europe and Central Asia, and Asia-Pacific, UNDP is working with governments and ecosystem partners to explore applications ranging from digital payments and financial inclusion to climate finance, digital identity, traceability, public procurement, and public service delivery. This work is documented in UNDP's recent publication, New Tech, New Partners: Transforming Development in the Digital Era. 

Alongside the inaugural convening, UNDP's AltFinLab, a flagship UNDP initiative working at the intersection of innovation, finance and emerging technologies, organized a broader series of events under the banner Scaling Blockchain for Public Good. These included the SDG Blockchain Accelerator Impact Showcase, featuring blockchain and decentralized AI solutions already moving toward implementation in development contexts. A public dialogue, held in collaboration with Sciences Po Tech & Global Affairs Innovation Hub, brought together governments, researchers, ecosystem leaders, and development practitioners to discuss blockchain adoption in public systems and financial inclusion. 

Looking ahead, the Blockchain Advisory Group will convene twice annually to explore how blockchain technologies can address key development priorities: public trust and digital governance; inclusive society and legal identity; financial inclusion and digital financial services; sustainability, climate and trackable responsibility; and digital labour and future of work. Each convening will take a different theme as its focus, bringing together UNDP and the blockchain ecosystem to move from dialogue to concrete opportunities for collaboration and action. 

The Blockchain Advisory Group currently includes 26 member organizations representing a broad cross-section of the blockchain ecosystem: Algorand Foundation, Arbitrum Foundation, Avalanche Foundation, Blockchain for Good Alliance, Blockchain for Impact, Cardano Foundation, Celo Foundation, Cointelegraph, Interchain Foundation (Cosmos), Dfinity Foundation, Dubai Blockchain Centre, Ethereum Foundation, Exponential Science Foundation, Filecoin Foundation, FLock.io, Funding the Commons, Giveth, InfStones, Kraken, NEARWeek, Nordic Blockchain Association, Partisia Blockchain Foundation, Stellar Development Foundation, Sui Foundation, The Blockchain Center Abu Dhabi, and Web3 Foundation.