Your Quarterly Grantee Roundup is here! Learn how we are working together to construct a more inclusive and equitable digital financial landscape. Read progress reports from Fliqa and miPlata, alongside final reports from BessPay and Paysys Labs. Plus, meet our newest NextGen Higher Education grantees!
Grant Reports
FLIQA is utilizing open banking to streamline account-to-account payments, focusing on reducing costs and increasing transparency through the Interledger Open Payments standard. Their project integrates the Interledger Protocol (ILP) to provide inclusive financial services for migrant workers and unbanked populations in the UAE/GCC region and Latin America. By addressing barriers like high remittance costs and lack of infrastructure, FLIQA aims to support underserved individuals and SMEs in cash-dependent economies.
To learn more about Fliqa, you can read the full report here
Since their initial report in January 2026, miPlata has successfully transitioned from sandbox testing to operating a live Rafiki node on the Interledger network. This technical milestone supports their mission to provide a digital payroll alternative for SMB employers in the construction, hospitality, and agriculture sectors who staff unbanked Latino workers. The urgency for this digital solution has been underscored by US legislation effective January 1, 2026, which increased costs for cash-based remittances.
Read miPlata's latest grant report here
The BessPay Plugin leverages Interledger Open Payments to provide MSMEs in the Global South with affordable, fast cross-border transaction infrastructure. Developed under the ILF Digital Financial Services Grant, the solution allows entrepreneurs to launch digital marketplaces and receive funds via Interledger-compliant wallets. This initiative addresses a critical gap in global commerce, as traditional platforms like Stripe and PayPal often have limited reach or high fees that hinder small businesses in emerging markets.
Read BessPay's final report to learn about the outcomes of this project.
RafikiRemit is a partnership between Paysys Labs and Allied Bank Limited (ABL) designed to modernize cross-border remittances in Pakistan through the Interledger Protocol (ILP). By utilizing a Rafiki node, the project replaces traditional banking delays and high fees with instant, low-cost, and transparent transfers. The system uses a microservices architecture consisting of the ABL Core Banking Service for account and transaction management, OpenConnect Middleware as an API gateway, and an Internet Banking Service for user interaction. This infrastructure creates a production-ready pipeline that links a regulated commercial bank to the Interledger network.
Read Paysys Labs final report to discover what's next for their project.
New Grantee Introductions
Covenant University, an African tech campus, is partnering with the Interledger Foundation to integrate open payments into its curriculum. This initiative aims to equip students with practical skills through new courses on financial inclusion and the Interledger Protocol (ILP). Key components include innovation labs, hackathons, and an incubator program to transform student projects into market-ready fintech startups. Additionally, the university will launch a student microgrant program and host the country's first Open Payments conference.
Western Sydney University (WSU) has proposed the "Next-Gen Secure FinTech for Digital Financial Inclusion Using Interledger" initiative. This program focuses on education, innovation, and community empowerment through the Interledger Protocol (ILP). By leveraging the Interledger Architecture, WSU aims to become a regional leader in open payments education, aligning its goals with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including quality education, gender equality, and reduced inequalities. The project will use interdisciplinary curriculum development and student-led innovation to create a new generation of secure and inclusive FinTech applications.
Explore the impactful work of our grantees and share your thoughts, questions, or comments with us!
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