Today, more than $38 billion in humanitarian aid flows through the traditional banking system, often taking several days to cross borders and incurring fees along the way.
But on Wednesday, the Circle Foundation announced it was expanding a blockchain-based financial platform to 15 United Nations agencies — a venture that could completely reshape the way aid reaches people in need.
“The reality is that the movement of value happens on traditional rails,” said Elisabeth Carpenter, director of strategic engagement at financial technology company Circle, which created the Circle Foundation in 2025. “And for anyone here who has ever tried to make cross-border payments, for example, it’s fraught with friction.
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