The State of Crypto 2025 report shows that crypto has moved out of its adolescence and is entering adulthood. For those concerned with vulnerable populations, financial inclusion, and humanitarian aid, the maturation of crypto has real potential to lower barriers, increase transparency, and expand access to previously excluded groups.
For most people, crypto is associated with trading and speculation, however for vulnerable populations in emerging markets, the story is different – crypto could provide access to financial tools, faster remittances, and transparent humanitarian aid, potentially changing lives where traditional banking is limited or unreliable.
Check out a summary below of the a16zcrypto’s report along with a discussion on how this may translate into humanitarian possibilities.
Emerging Markets Leading the Way
The report highlights that the rapid adoption of mobile wallet usage is skyrocketing in emerging markets. Countries like Argentina, Columbia, India, and Nigeria, are utilizing crypto to break barriers that exist in traditional banking methods such as lack of access or information.
- In Argentina, crypto mobile wallet usage has increased 16x over the past three years, largely as a response to currency instability.
- In developed countries, the adoption of mobile wallets is slower and more focused on trading than practical use, because traditional banking methods are more heavily institutionalized in these regions.
This adoption trend matters because people who are in need of access to secure, low-cost financial tools are already engaging with crypto making it easier to transition to using stablecoins and other crypto currencies as a direct channel for aid, remittances, and disaster relief, bypassing slow or expensive banking systems.
Stablecoins: The Bridge to Faster, More Transparent Aid
The report notes that stablecoins are becoming mainstream for payments, not just trading – as was the traditional notion. Stablecoins are faster, cheaper, and transferable globally which make them a powerful tool for humanitarian transfers. Donors in developed countries can send aid without intermediaries and blockchain transparency will allow donors to see exactly where their funds go. Companies like Stellar, Ripple, and Filecoin have paired with world renowned institutions such as the United Nations, International Rescue Committee, or Food for Crisis initiative to deliver funds quickly, transparently, and efficiently.
Institutional Adoption: Bringing Legitimacy and Scale
Financial giants like JPMorgan, Fidelity, Visa, and Mastercard have adopted crypto currencies and are actively participating in this space which reduces the perceived risk for charities and donors across the globe. Large financial networks can extend crypto access to vulnerable populations previously excluded from banking. Many initiatives remain profit focused, so intentional strategies are needed to ensure that inclusion and aid drive deployment.
Infrastructure and On-Chain Growth
Blockchain infrastructure has improved dramatically with lower fees, faster transactions, and better scalability. This means that the opportunity for humanitarian aid to grow on chain is becoming easier because:
- The possibility of low cost, instate transfers of rapid cash aid becomes more realistic.
- Tokenized infrastructure projects and decentralized networks (DePINs) allow vulnerable communities to participate in value creation, rather than just receive aid.
- Projects like Helium demonstrate how grassroots networks can expand across to services, showing the potential for crypto-based infrastructure in underserved regions.
Barriers to Adoption for Vulnerable Populations
While the potential for expansion and normalization of crypto for humanitarian aid is promising there are challenges that remain.
- Access does not = use: Wallets and infrastructure do not guarantee safe or effective use.
- Digital literacy gaps: Many recipients may lack devices, internet, or literary skills to operate and use digital wallets.
- Volatility and fraud: Even with stablecoins, safeguards are necessary to ensure safety and security.
- Regulatory gaps: Global disparities in crypto regulation can hinder adoption outside of major markets.
Next Steps: Scaling Crypto for Humanitarian Impact
In order to move from potential to reality we should:
- Pilot targeting crypto cash transfers in regions with high wallet adoption.
- Develop tokenized infrastructure projects where communities can participate and earn value.
- Partner with regulated institutions and charities to leverage crypto rails safely and transparently.
- Invest in digital literacy in developed and developing countries to ensure adoption is inclusive and people are well informed.
- Push for regulatory clarity in vulnerable regions to protect recipients of aid and ensure compliance with regulations that do exist on a global scale.
Conclusion
The report demonstrates that crypto is no longer a niche market; it is becoming fast, scalable, and institutionally supported. For humanitarian aid, this creates a unique window to provide fast, cheaper, and more transparent support to vulnerable populations.
By leveraging stablecoins, mobile wallets, tokenized infrastructure, and interoperable blockchain networks, charities and development organizations can reach underserved communities more efficiently and securely. Success will require careful attention to access, digital literacy, regulatory compliance, and community engagement. As blockchain adoption continues to grow, the real potential lies not in the technology itself, but in how it is applied: to create meaningful, measurable impact for those who need it most.
