- The goal of this initiative is to provide UNDP staff and partners with the skills, resources, assistance, and guidance they need.
- This multi-year accelerator, which focuses on capacity building, solution development, and ecosystem expansion, will onboard two cohorts every year.
Together with EMURGO Labs and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the global non-profit Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA) has launched the SDG Blockchain Accelerator, a global initiative to leverage blockchain-powered social impact endeavors across the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The goal of this initiative is to provide UNDP staff and partners with the skills, resources, assistance, and guidance they need to create, test, and expand blockchain-based solutions that tackle real-world economic development problems.
This multi-year accelerator, which focuses on capacity building, solution development, and ecosystem expansion, will onboard two cohorts every year, each lasting four months, and is backed by a worldwide network of industry experts. With the help of EMURGO Labs’ experience and Cardano’s infrastructure, the initiative will provide up to 40 SDG-aligned blockchain solutions, establish an open-source resource center, and encourage cross-chain cooperation to increase blockchain’s influence in the development sector.
The partnership, which will cover five worldwide regions and be led by BGA Managing Partner Glenn Tan and UNDP AltFinLab members, will provide finance and strategic assistance to blockchain initiatives that address issues related to the 17 SDGs.
Teodor Petricevic, UNDP Accelerator Lead stated:
“At UNDP, we believe blockchain is not just a technology — it is a transformative force capable of reshaping how we address humanity’s most pressing challenges. This accelerator program is more than an initiative; it is a call to action for innovators worldwide to harness blockchain’s power to drive sustainable development. By fostering bold collaboration and leveraging its transparency and efficiency, we are paving the way for groundbreaking solutions that can uplift communities globally.”
Bybit, a founding supporter of the Blockchain for Good Alliance, has collaborated closely with BGA on a number of endeavors aimed at advancing the use of blockchain technology for the benefit of society. The cryptocurrency exchange has pledged US$1 million in funding via its “Bybit Pool” effort to promote EthicHub, a blockchain platform that empowers and enables smallholder farmers. This contribution demonstrates how blockchain may be used to create transparent supply chains and supports ethical financing models.
Expanding Impact Across Europe
By formally entering the UNDP Brussels Roundtable “Empowering the Future: A Strategic Dialogue on Emerging Technologies and Impact Entrepreneurship in the Western Balkans,” BGA achieved a major milestone in January 2025. Including the Ethereum Foundation, Solana Labs, Stellar Development Foundation, Algorand Foundation, Cardano Foundation, Celo, Metis, Cotrugli Business School, Science Technology Park Belgrade, BlackVogel, and the World Metaverse Council, the roundtable included 30 key delegates from the UNDP, European Commission, leading Web3 foundations, tech hubs, and policy think tanks.
BGA is actively participating in grassroots initiatives, establishing strategic alliances, and contributing to high-level policy discussions as part of its larger European strategy. With blockchain increasingly recognized as a driver for transparent, inclusive, and sustainable development, BGA encourages cooperation with like-minded organizations to promote real-world solutions and establish blockchain as a cornerstone of digital equity and innovation throughout the continent.
