The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has revealed plans to roll out a Government Blockchain Academy in 2026. The program will train government officials and institutions worldwide on cryptocurrency, blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and other advanced technologies that can be integrated into government systems.
The crypto industry is global, and many governments are still figuring out how to regulate it and add it to their systems. As more people use crypto, there’s a growing need for clear education and rules to guide both individuals and organizations. Just like a crypto launchpad helps new blockchain projects get started by giving them tools and support, this academy is designed to help governments quickly learn, plan, and use digital assets in a safe and effective way.
The UNDP, which was previously tasked with helping countries develop long-term plans to sustain economic growth and tackle poverty, announced on Monday, 16 September 2025, that it would be partnering with Exponential Science Foundation, a blockchain and artificial intelligence non-profit, to launch the government blockchain academy next year.
The agency explained that the academy will offer hands-on programs to teach governments how to use AI, blockchain, and other advanced technologies to create meaningful change. According to the latest reports, crypto is considered legal in 119 countries, as well as in four territories under British administration. Countries like India, Vietnam, and Pakistan, which have seen strong growth in cryptocurrency use this year, are expected to benefit from this academy.
According to Irena Cerovic, who serves as the head of innovation for the UNDP in Europe and Asia, the academy is expected to help countries find new ways to solve complex developmental problems and also move from experimenting with new ideas to implementing them, and in ways that would ensure transparency and inclusion. Through the academy, many countries can rely on blockchain technology to solve their problems.
The blockchain academy would also focus on how governments can use blockchain to promote financial products and ensure transparency in climate change financing through smart contracts and tokens. The academy will also educate on how to improve digital identification and ensure government processes are transparent in a bid to combat corruption.
While the UNDP didn’t announce the exact timeline for the academy, the first educational programs are expected to begin by 2026 in some countries. The educational programs will feature online courses, physical workshops, and forums, which will have topics tailored to the needs and challenges of each country’s public sector. The UNDP will also provide structured support for all the government teams involved in the program.
The UNDP will officially announce the blockchain academy at the TOKEN2049 conference, which will be held in Singapore on the 1st and 2nd of October.
The plans for the blockchain academy initially began in 2024, when the UNDP partnered with the Algorand Foundation to launch a similar program. In that partnership, the UNDP aimed to train its 24,000 staff on blockchain technology. At the end of the programme, the staff were expected to use the knowledge to educate their governments on how to leverage blockchain technology for sustainable growth.
The executive chairman of the Exponential Science Foundation, Professor Paolo Tesca, said that the blockchain academy is a collective blueprint that will drive public innovation. Through the academy, governments can integrate crypto into their operations and embrace the new wave of digital technology.
