UN, Circle Foundation Partner to Speed Aid via Stablecoins
Key TakeawaysCircle Foundation announced 2 grants on September 25, 2026, to fund UNDP and WFP digital payment initiatives.Regulated USDC stablecoins are being integrated into 15 UN agencies via DHoTS to lower aid distribution costs.WFP will test stablecoin payment corridors across 2 to 3 countries over the next 3 years to establish benchmarks. Accelerating UNDP Program Delivery The Circle Foundation announced two new grant initiatives in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the World Food Program (WFP) to modernize digital payments for international development and humanitarian relief. The joint effort aims to explore how regulated payment stablecoins and digital financial infrastructure can lower costs, reduce delays, and improve financial resilience for communities receiving aid in crisis zones. Elisabeth Carpenter, Chief Strategic Engagement Officer at Circle and Founding Chair of the Circle Foundation, said that while the need for humanitarian aid is ever-growing, the resources for this are stretched thinner than ever. “If we can help humanitarian and development institutions move value faster, more transparently, and at lower cost, we can ensure more of every aid dollar actually reaches the people who need it,” Carpenter said. Discover more investments Digital Currencies Currencies low-connectivity transfers in Haiti; community investments in Guatemala; and mobile wallet integration in The Gambia. Robert









