Can Blockchain Technology Be the Solution to Economic Exclusion?
Economic exclusion remains a global challenge when centralized institutions determine who may or may not participate in the economy. While many initiatives aim to broaden access, most still depend on centralized gatekeepers, leaving billions of people under‑banked or un‑banked. By contrast, blockchain offers a re‑defined model of trust, one that can shift power and access by reducing reliance on opaque intermediaries.
The Status Quo
The world has made measurable progress: according to the World Bank’s most recent data, about 79% of adults now have an account at a bank or mobile provider, up from ~74% in 2021. Yet even with that, roughly 1.3 billion adults remain without a formal financial account. And for many more, "having access" doesn’t equate to meaningful economic agency: high fees, lack of credit history, burdensome documentation, and geographic or identity constraints still limit participation (JMD Associates). This dynamic highlights why incremental access isn’t always enough.
What’s needed is a disruptive architecture that changes how participation works, not just who gets access.
Why Now?
We’re at a moment of confluence: persistent cost-of-living pressure, widening wealth/gender/geographic inequality, and rising skepticism of legacy institutions combine to create openness to new models. Digital-trust technologies like blockchain can offer alternatives that don’t depend solely on intermediaries. And increasingly, these aren’t just theoretical: adoption is growing, infrastructure is improving, and regulatory clarity is emerging.
Why Blockchain?
At its core, blockchain is a distributed trust model: a design that creates transparency, immutability, and permission-flexibility without needing a single central authority. But in practice, blockchain’s promise for inclusion is deeper:
Inclusive payments: Mobile-first chains, tokenized instruments, and peer-to-peer models are lowering the cost of payments and remittances in underserved regions.
Digital identity and agency: Blockchain can give individuals ownership of a portable, verifiable identity, which opens doors to jobs, benefits, and financial services where traditional identity infrastructure is weak.
Alternative credit & underwriting: In a world where formal credit history doesn’t exist, blockchain-based reputation, tokenized collateral, or peer networks can offer a new path to lending.
Social-impact infrastructure: Beyond purely financial use-cases, blockchain can support systems for social services, land-rights, climate-finance and community governance that shift inclusion from access to empowerment.
What the Data & Trends Show
Global crypto-asset ownership recently reached ~559 million users which represents ~9.9% of the internet population in 2025 (DemandSage) .
Financial inclusion, via formal accounts, has improved significantly; however, gaps remain, and digital connectivity is now a key constraint (World Bank).
Access alone isn’t enough: metrics like usage, savings, credit participation and digital-agency are increasingly important to measure true inclusion.
Lasting Change Takes Time
Blockchain is still early. Scalability, user-experience (especially for non-technical users), regulatory ambiguity, and meaningful uptake in underserved markets are real headwinds. But the momentum is real, and the potential remains strong: building infrastructure, standards, wallets, identity-systems and regulatory frameworks that serve inclusion as much as they serve yield.
For us at Access Ventures, blockchain is not simply a financial tool — it’s a piece of the infrastructure for human flourishing. We see investment as tied to values and agency: systems must reflect human dignity, not just access.
What You Can Do?
Inclusion isn't just about systems — it's about participation.
If blockchain is to serve the billions excluded from today’s financial architecture, it needs more than code, it needs intentional design, diverse input, and early adopters who value purpose alongside performance. Whether you're an investor, builder, or curious observer, here are ways to engage:
Start hands-on: Create a non-custodial wallet (like MetaMask or Coinbase Wallet), transfer a small amount (~$10), and explore how it feels to send, receive, and manage digital assets.
Try an inclusion-focused tool: Use a stablecoin or explore projects like Celo that are building financial tools for underserved communities.
Engage with values-first communities: Join Web3 groups focused on social impact, attend a local or virtual event, or contribute your perspective in discussions around access and fairness.
Set aside "learning capital": Allocate a small slice (1–2%) of your portfolio or charitable giving budget to explore experiments in inclusive finance — not for maximum return, but for maximum learning and impact.
Share your journey: Transparency builds collective confidence. Consider writing a short blog or LinkedIn post on what you tried, what surprised you, and what still feels hard.
This isn’t about jumping into crypto. It’s about shaping what comes next and ensuring the future of finance includes everyone.
Learn More
Why Blockchain (AV Whitepaper)
Defines blockchain as “a proxy for trust between entities” and positions it as infrastructure for inclusive economies – a cornerstone of Access Ventures’ long-term vision of human flourishing.
One-Pocket Investing: Aligning Return and Values (AV Whitepaper)
Reinforces values-driven investing and helps to bridge blockchain’s promise with the moral architecture of finance and the one-pocket mindset that unites profit and purpose.
Blockchain for Good: Building Trust in the Digital Economy 🎧
Explores blockchain as infrastructure for inclusion and social transparency.
How DeFi Can Be Used For Social Good 🎧
Explores how blockchain can unlock credit access in underserved regions by reimagining trust and participation in finance. A practical example of how decentralized technology can expand agency and not just access.
This was originally published in September 2018 and has been updated with new content in November 2025.