Circle Foundation and UN Partner to Modernize $38B Humanitarian Aid System with Blockchain

TLDR:

• Circle Foundation’s first international grant supports UN’s Digital Hub of Treasury Solutions platform
• UNHCR blockchain pilots demonstrate up to 20% cost savings compared to traditional banking methods
• Digital Hub expands from UNHCR to 15 UN agencies including UNDP, IOM, WMO, OECD, and ICAO partnerships
• Regulated stablecoins enable near-instant cross-border transfers with full traceability and accountability

Circle Foundation has committed its first international grant to support the United Nations’ Digital Hub of Treasury Solutions in modernizing humanitarian aid delivery infrastructure. 

The announcement came during the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos on January 21, 2026. 

The partnership aims to transform how $38 billion in annual humanitarian funds moves through the global system using blockchain-based financial infrastructure and regulated stablecoins.

UNHCR-Led Platform Expands to 15 UN Agencies

The Digital Hub of Treasury Solutions represents a collaborative effort founded by UNHCR in 2021. The platform now includes 15 agencies working to create an integrated Financial Gateway. 

These agencies include the United Nations Development Programme, the International Organization for Migration, and the World Meteorological Organization. 

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Civil Aviation Organization have also joined the initiative.

Circle Foundation’s grant builds on previous work between Circle and UNHCR from 2022. That collaboration pioneered USDC-based aid payouts for displaced Ukrainians during the crisis. 

The earlier project established new standards for digital financial infrastructure in humanitarian cash assistance programs. 

Elisabeth Carpenter, Chief Strategic Engagement Officer at Circle and Founding Chair of Circle Foundation, emphasized the transformative potential of the initiative.

“Modern humanitarian finance needs modern infrastructure,” Carpenter stated. She explained that helping DHoTS integrate digital financial infrastructure, including regulated stablecoins, can make aid faster and more transparent. 

The systems-level upgrade could unlock recurring savings year after year while strengthening trust in global aid. 

UNHCR pilots since 2022 have demonstrated measurable results from this approach, showing initial cost savings of up to 20 percent.

Barham Salih, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, highlighted UNHCR’s pioneering role in blockchain-based assistance. 

He noted the agency has been delivering aid faster, more securely, and at lower cost. “This is about using technology to uphold dignity and choice for people forced to flee,” Salih explained. 

The approach also maximizes impact for every dollar entrusted to humanitarian organizations through improved efficiency and accountability.

Transforming Legacy Systems with Digital Infrastructure

The global humanitarian aid system currently relies on legacy financial rails that create delays and inefficiencies. Traditional correspondent banking processes can be time-intensive and costly for international transfers. 

Alexander De Croo, Administrator of the UN Development Programme, addressed the urgency of modernization efforts. 

He emphasized that tight budgets require making every dollar work harder for people today and countries’ development tomorrow.

De Croo outlined how the partnership between UNDP, UNHCR, and Circle will improve digital payment security and efficiency. “By using regulated stablecoins for program payments and cross border transfers, we can reduce costs,” he stated. 

The approach also aims to improve transparency and build more inclusive financial systems. These systems protect people’s data, respect monetary sovereignty, and support long-term resilience in vulnerable communities.

Near-instant cross-border transfers through the Digital Hub of Treasury Solutions will reduce delays associated with traditional banking. 

The new infrastructure enables conversion into local currencies through partnerships with banks, mobile-money operators, and fintech companies.

 Greater transparency and accountability emerge from streamlined and interoperable financial systems that provide full traceability. 

Programmable disbursements automate manual steps that previously created operational burdens for aid workers.

Circle Foundation’s support enables a system-wide impact by upgrading core shared infrastructure across UN operations. 

The integrated approach maximizes impact for every donor dollar contributed to humanitarian causes. More aid reaches the people who need it most by reducing friction in the delivery process. 

The partnership demonstrates how next-generation digital financial infrastructure can deliver human-centered aid faster and more efficiently than conventional methods.

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