Circle Foundation has launched a new partnership with United Nations aid agencies to modernize shared financial infrastructure worldwide. The agreement focuses on how humanitarian funds move across the UN system each year.
More than $38 billion in annual aid still runs on slow, expensive legacy payment rails. The new effort aims to replace parts of this system with digital tools that move money faster and with clearer records.
Stablecoins At The Center Of The Upgrade
Circle will support the UN’s Digital Hub of Treasury Solutions, a platform that tests and scales new payment technologies. The plan includes using regulated stablecoins such as USDC for program payments and cross-border transfers.
Early pilots by the UN Refugee Agency show that blockchain-based banking can reduce delivery costs by up to 20%. These pilots also offer full transaction traceability, which can strengthen accountability to donors and governments.
Circle Enables Faster Aid For People In Crisis
The partnership builds on earlier work where UNHCR used USDC stablecoins to send aid directly to Ukrainian refugees. People received digital dollars on their phones and could convert funds to local currency when needed.
The upgraded infrastructure will support near-instant cross-border transfers to local banks, mobile money providers, and fintech firms. This design helps reach people in fragile or remote areas where traditional banking is weak or absent.
UN leaders say the goal is to make every aid dollar work harder amid tight budgets. They also want systems that protect personal data, respect each country’s monetary rules, and support long-term resilience.
Circle’s grant is the foundation’s first international commitment and is funded from the company’s pledged equity. The project is meant to upgrade shared UN infrastructure, not just one agency, so improvements can spread across many programs.
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