Dr. Jim Kim, former World Bank president, discusses how blockchain and Stellar can address global challenges like financial inclusion, remittances, and poverty reduction. He shares insights on global governance, policy-making, and the importance of engaging multilateral institutions to advance blockchain adoption.
At Meridian, Dr. Jim Kim, the 12th president of the World Bank, delivered a keynote on blockchain's potential for social impact. He highlighted three key areas where Stellar could make a difference: universal access to financial services, reducing remittance costs (which represent 5-40% of GDP in developing nations), and supporting entrepreneurs. Kim shared case studies on global governance successes, including the Paris Agreement and G20 coordination, emphasizing that blockchain advocates must engage policymakers strategically. He noted that seven of the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals require greater financial access, positioning blockchain as aligned with global development priorities. Kim also discussed rapid digital currency adoption in Kenya and other emerging markets, and identified multilateral institutions' need for cross-border money transfer solutions as a major use case for blockchain technology.