Circle Backs UN Stablecoin Hub to Speed Up Global Aid

Ben Graham · January 23

The Circle Foundation recently announced a significant grant to support the United Nations’ Digital Hub of Treasury Solutions (DHoTS). Circle stablecoin will be used to deliver aid. This initiative aims to use regulated stablecoins to make humanitarian aid payments faster, cheaper, and more transparent.

This announcement took place at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos on January 21, 2026, shining a light on how cryptocurrency technology can contribute to global humanitarian efforts.

By incorporating digital financial tools like stablecoins such as USDC, the partnership seeks to improve efficiency in a global aid system that handles over $38 billion annually, ensuring more funds reach those in need for essentials like food, medicine, and shelter.

“Modern humanitarian finance needs modern infrastructure – and we’re here to help make that happen.”

At @wef, Elisabeth Carpenter, Founding Chair of Circle Foundation, announced the foundation’s first international grant to support the @UN's Digital Hub of Treasury Solutions, a… pic.twitter.com/C49LyRk4jy

— Circle (@circle) January 22, 2026

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About Circle and the Circle Foundation: Aid Delivered Thanks to Stablecoin

Circle is a major financial technology company founded in 2013, known for issuing USDC, one of the world’s leading regulated stablecoins. USDC is a digital dollar designed to maintain a stable value of $1, fully backed by reserves including cash and short-term U.S. Treasuries, with regular transparency through audits. It enables fast, borderless payments while meeting strict regulatory requirements, supporting trillions in economic activity worldwide.

The Circle Foundation, launched in 2025 as the company’s philanthropic arm, draws from Circle’s commitment to donate a portion of its equity. It focuses on grants and initiatives to promote financial inclusion and resilience. This UN grant represents the Foundation’s first major international effort, applying Circle’s expertise in digital assets to improve humanitarian systems. It already connects 15 agencies, including UNHCR and UNDP.

The goal is to use regulated stablecoins like USDC, which are digital dollars backed by real reserves. UNHCR has already sent over $5 million in USDC to displaced Ukrainians in early pilots. Payments settled faster, and every dollar left a public trail.

(Source: DefilLama)

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How Stablecoins Change How Aid Money Moves

Traditional cross-border payments move like international mail. Each stop adds time and fees. Stablecoins move more like email, reaching wallets in minutes.

Early UN pilots cut transfer costs by up to 20%, and some programs saw savings near 40% . On a $38 billion global aid system, those savings free up real food, medicine, and shelter.

Complete transparency through blockchain tracking increases donor trust.
Easier access for recipients, including in remote or underbanked areas via mobile wallets and local partners.
Automation of payments to cut administrative overhead.
Built-in tools for regulatory compliance and fraud prevention.

For crypto investors, this supports a bigger story. Stablecoins now power payrolls, remittances, and aid, not just trading pairs. That trend also shows up in private markets, like Visa testing stablecoin payment infrastructure with partners.

Does this make stablecoins “safe” for everyone?

Not automatically. One key risk of stablecoins is depegging, where the coin temporarily or permanently loses its $1 value due to market panic, reserve issues, liquidity problems, or flawed mechanisms.

The UN only uses regulated stablecoins and approved partners.

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