Mercy Corps Ventures, Fonkoze Foundation, and Bousol launch a blockchain-based cash pilot in rural Haiti, disbursing $80,000 in USDC stablecoins to 200 extremely vulnerable women via Stellar-powered Bousol wallets. The pilot tests whether digital cash is safer, more efficient, and more transparent than physical cash or mobile money.
Mercy Corps Ventures, Fonkoze Foundation, and Bousol are testing blockchain-based cash transfers in Northwest Haiti, disbursing $80,000 in USDC to 200 extremely vulnerable rural women. The pilot addresses two intersecting crises: physical security (gang violence makes cash distribution dangerous for field staff and beneficiaries) and financial exclusion (remote locations leave women without access to formal banking). The solution combines Bousol wallets on Stellar, satellite WiFi infrastructure for reliable connectivity, and local vendor networks for converting digital funds back to cash. A parallel control group of 200 women continues receiving traditional cash assistance, enabling direct comparison of safety, efficiency, and outcomes. If results hold, the model could reshape how 52 Haitian humanitarian organizations delivering $56+ million annually structure cash assistance programs.