Blockchain for Good Alliance Drives Global Digital Collaboration at UN IGF 2025

Mauritius President: Cooperation Key too AI Age, Internet Governance Takes Center Stage

Port Louis, Mauritius – July 24, 2024 – His excellency Dharambeer Gokhool, President of the Republic of Mauritius, underscored the critical need for collaboration and shared values as the world navigates the burgeoning era of Artificial Intelligence and new technologies. Speaking at the recent IGF 2025 event, President gokhool declared, “Cooperation and common values must be the cornerstones of our journey together to the age of AI and the new technologies. The IGF 2025 was not just a conference – it was a collective call to the conscience.”

The sentiment was echoed by Glenn Tan of BGA, who highlighted the necessity of building future-proof infrastructure. “As the blockchain of hype cycles develops into a fixed infrastructure on the Internet, we have to ensure that the systems built today serve to the common good of tomorrow,” Tan stated. He further emphasized the meetingS meaning as a “symbol of joint engagement for a future with the participation of all actors that is based on trust and innovation.”

Providing a regional and forward-looking outlook, Henry Wang, a founding member of the SGIGF, reflected on the 20th anniversary of the UN IGF’s commitment to shaping global internet governance. He viewed the recent gathering as a “contemporary memory of the next 20 years of sector, system and sovereignty,” calling for a harmonization of ethics to forge an “inclusive, decentralized and bright internet.”

the evening’s discussions reaffirmed the Blockchain for Good Alliance’s (BGA) commitment to fostering cross-border cooperation and steering responsible digital transformation. These crucial conversations are set to continue at the inaugural IGF conference in Singapore on October 1, 2025, where regional stakeholders will spearhead a global dialog on integrative and resilient Internet governance.

Evergreen Insights:

The Digital Imperative: As technological advancements accelerate, the principles of cooperation and shared values become paramount for ensuring these innovations benefit society broadly.
Infrastructure for Tomorrow: Proactive development of resilient and ethical digital infrastructure is essential to harness the potential of new technologies for the common good.
Global Internet Governance: Ongoing dialogue and collaboration are vital for shaping an internet that is inclusive,decentralized,and serves the needs of all its users,especially as we look towards the next two decades.
Ethics in Innovation: Integrating ethical considerations into the development and deployment of new technologies, especially in the AI and blockchain space, is crucial for building trust and ensuring responsible progress.

About the Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA):

The Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA) is a non-profit initiative dedicated to leveraging blockchain technology to address real-world problems and enhance societal well-being. By uniting leaders, innovators, and organizations within the blockchain community, the BGA aims to drive innovation, foster collaboration, and promote action for a more enduring and equitable world.

How can the B4GA’s digital identity project for refugees impact their access to essential services?

The UN IGF 2025: A Hub for Blockchain Innovation

The 2025 United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in kyoto, Japan, served as a pivotal platform for the Blockchain for Good Alliance (B4GA) to showcase its expanding initiatives and foster global collaboration around responsible blockchain technology implementation. This year’s focus centered on leveraging distributed ledger technology (DLT) for enduring growth goals (SDGs), with a particular emphasis on digital identity, supply chain clarity, and humanitarian aid. The IGF provided a crucial space for governments, NGOs, and the private sector to converge and discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by blockchain solutions.

B4GA’s Key Initiatives Highlighted at IGF 2025

The B4GA presented several key projects demonstrating the practical application of blockchain for social impact:

Digital Identity for Refugees: A collaborative project with UNHCR utilizing self-sovereign identity (SSI) on a permissioned blockchain to provide refugees with secure, verifiable digital identities, enabling access to essential services like healthcare and education. This addresses the critical issue of statelessness and empowers individuals.

Sustainable Supply Chains: Demonstrations of blockchain-based traceability systems for coffee and cocoa, ensuring fair trade practices and combating deforestation. These systems leverage smart contracts to automate payments to farmers upon verification of sustainable sourcing.

Transparent Humanitarian Aid Distribution: A pilot programme in Ukraine utilizing blockchain to track aid distribution, minimizing corruption and ensuring resources reach intended recipients efficiently. This initiative employed tokenization to represent aid packages, providing a clear audit trail.

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) for Financial Inclusion: Discussions around utilizing DeFi protocols to provide microloans and financial services to underserved communities,bypassing customary banking infrastructure. This included exploration of stablecoins and yield farming opportunities.

The Role of Interoperability and Standards

A recurring theme throughout the IGF sessions was the need for greater blockchain interoperability. The B4GA actively promoted the adoption of open standards and protocols to facilitate seamless data exchange between different blockchain networks. This is crucial for scaling blockchain applications and maximizing their impact. Key discussions revolved around:

Cross-chain communication protocols: Exploring solutions like cosmos and Polkadot to enable different blockchains to interact.

Standardized data formats: Developing common data schemas for supply chain information, digital identities, and other use cases.

Regulatory harmonization: Advocating for consistent regulatory frameworks across jurisdictions to foster innovation and prevent fragmentation.

Addressing Challenges to Blockchain Adoption

While the potential of blockchain technology is immense, several challenges remain. The IGF provided a forum to address these concerns:

Scalability: Current blockchain networks frequently enough struggle to handle high transaction volumes. Layer-2 scaling solutions, such as rollups and sidechains, were discussed as potential remedies.

Energy Consumption: Proof-of-Work (PoW) blockchains like Bitcoin have been criticized for their environmental impact. the B4GA emphasized the importance of transitioning to more energy-efficient consensus mechanisms like Proof-of-stake (PoS).

Data Privacy: Balancing transparency with data privacy is a key challenge. Techniques like zero-knowledge proofs and homomorphic encryption were explored as potential solutions.

Digital Literacy: Widespread adoption requires increased digital literacy and education about blockchain technology.

Case Study: Blockchain-Based Land Registry in Honduras

The Honduran land registry project, a long-running initiative supported by the B4GA, was presented as a triumphant example of blockchain implementation. By recording land titles on a blockchain, the project has considerably reduced fraud, increased transparency, and empowered landowners, particularly in rural areas. This project demonstrates the power of immutable ledgers to address real-world problems. The use of cryptography ensures the security and integrity of land records.

Benefits of the Blockchain for Good approach

The B4GA’s approach to blockchain development offers several key benefits:

Increased Transparency: Blockchain’s inherent transparency builds trust and accountability.

Enhanced Security: Cryptography and distributed consensus mechanisms protect against fraud and tampering.

Improved Efficiency: Smart contracts automate processes and reduce administrative overhead.

Greater Inclusivity: Blockchain can provide access to services for underserved populations.

Empowerment: Self-sovereign identity solutions empower individuals to control their own data.

Practical Tips for Implementing Blockchain solutions

For organizations considering implementing blockchain solutions, the B4GA recommends:

1. Start with a clear use case: Identify a specific problem that blockchain can solve effectively.
2. Prioritize interoperability: Choose platforms and protocols that support open standards.
3. Focus on user experience: Design solutions that are easy to use and understand.
4. Address data privacy concerns: Implement appropriate privacy-enhancing technologies.
5. Collaborate with stakeholders: Engage with governments, ngos, and the private sector.

The Future of Blockchain for Good

The UN IGF 2025 underscored the growing momentum behind the Blockchain for Good movement. With