UNICEF Digital Wallet: Financial Inclusion for 4M+ People

The Challenge

Financial exclusion affects over 1.4 billion adults worldwide. UNICEF's Innovation Fund recognized that blockchain technology could provide a path to financial inclusion — but only if the technology was accessible, secure, and designed for users who may have never interacted with digital financial services before.

The challenge was multifaceted: build a wallet that handles real financial value with bank-grade security, works on affordable Android devices with limited storage and processing power, operates in regions where internet connectivity is intermittent, and provides an experience simple enough for first-time digital financial service users.

Our Approach

We approached this project with the understanding that user experience and security are not competing priorities — they're complementary. Every security decision was made with the end user in mind, and every UX decision was validated against security requirements.

Non-Custodial Architecture

We chose a non-custodial architecture where users maintain full control of their private keys. This eliminates single points of failure and ensures that no central authority can freeze or seize user funds. The key management system uses industry-standard BIP39 mnemonics with additional security layers for key derivation.

Multi-Chain Support

The wallet supports Ethereum, RSK, and Polygon networks, allowing users to interact with different blockchain ecosystems. The abstraction layer we built means adding new networks requires minimal code changes, making the platform adaptable to evolving blockchain infrastructure.

Offline-First Design

Recognizing that many target users have unreliable internet access, we implemented offline-first patterns. Transaction preparation and signing happen locally, with synchronization when connectivity is available. This ensures users can always access their balance information and prepare transactions.

Results

The wallet has reached over 4 million people across more than 167 countries. It has been recognized as a Digital Public Good by the DPGA, making the codebase available for other organizations to build upon. The project demonstrated that blockchain technology, when properly implemented with user-centered design, can meaningfully contribute to financial inclusion.

Client Testimonial

"Congratulations to Xcapit for their excellent work. Their technology is bringing digital assets closer to those who need them most, helping UNICEF Innovation bring the benefit of technology to the last mile." — Shane O'Connor, Innovation Manager, UNICEF

Key Takeaways

• Non-custodial architecture provides the strongest security guarantees for end users
• Offline-first design is essential for products targeting underserved populations
• Open-source development accelerates adoption and builds trust with international organizations
• Multi-chain support future-proofs the platform as blockchain infrastructure evolves
• User research in target markets is critical — assumptions from developed markets often don't apply