Blog

Crypto Lab Astrid Insignares Crypto Lab Astrid Insignares

Pilot Insights | Improving micro merchant incomes in Cameroon through stablecoin cross-border payments

In Cameroon, Mercy Corps Ventures and REasy piloted a stablecoin-based cross-border payment solution for micro-merchants. Reaching over 900 traders, the pilot enabled them to move more than US$5 million in inventory purchases from Asia while reducing transaction costs by 75%. Sixty-four percent of participants reported higher revenues, with nearly a quarter seeing profit increases above 20%. Results point to strong demand for faster, more affordable payment rails that can strengthen small business resilience amid climate and market shocks.

Read More
Crypto Lab Astrid Insignares Crypto Lab Astrid Insignares

Pilot Insights | Microfinance onchain: Unlocking credit in Ghana using stablecoins and reputation-based lending

In Ghana, Mercy Corps Ventures partnered with Haraka and Grameen Foundation to test blockchain-powered microloans for women’s savings groups. No apps, no crypto wallets, no collateral. The result? Faster, cheaper credit in local stablecoins helping over 500 borrowers — 90% of them women — grow businesses and build resilience.

Read More
Crypto Lab Astrid Insignares Crypto Lab Astrid Insignares

Pilot Insights | Unlocking DeFi-powered Credit for Microentrepreneurs in Colombia

Mercy Corps Ventures partnered with Quipu and Anzi Finance to pilot a DeFi credit solution for Colombian microentrepreneurs. Using AI‑driven credit scoring and decentralized stablecoin capital, the pilot issued 313 loans averaging $108 to underserved entrepreneurs—86% reported better climate resilience, and 80% saw income growth.

Read More