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Cambodia to pilot innovative blockchain-based fintech platform
Cambodia has been chosen to pilot an innovative blockchain-based fintech platform called Universal Trusted Credentials (UTC), a digital credential system that leverages the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) blockchain technology. The initiative is being developed by an international development organization in collaboration with global partners, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced.
The goal of this new technology is to establish a more secure and accessible digital credential system, aimed at promoting sustainable development and economic growth. Project representatives highlighted the potential of UTC to have a significant impact on the financial sector.
UNDP will partner with Dfinity Foundation for the Cambodian pilot. Dfinity Foundation, based in Switzerland, specializes in blockchain technology research and development (R&D). According to a UNDP report, UTC functions as a global indicator framework designed specifically for businesses. Data points within this framework are sourced exclusively from authoritative data sources and are selected based on their relevance and usefulness for financial institutions to assess a business’s intent and ability to pay.
The framework is designed to facilitate more efficient, affordable and higher levels of financing and financial services. This is particularly beneficial for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which often face difficulties in accessing finance or are subject to higher collateral requirements due to a lack of verified data.
Global trials and expansion plans
UTC was initially launched in November 2023 by the UNDP and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Prior to the announcement of the Cambodian pilot, MAS and the Bank of Ghana conducted a trial of the UTC system in Ghana in May. The Ghanaian project used a semi-fungible token (SFT) to transfer business licenses and records into the UTC system. The first pilot of the technology also demonstrated the inclusion of a Know Your Customer (KYC) verification within an SFT.
UNDP has described Ghana’s UTC system as a proof of concept, indicating its potential for further international expansion. The organization aims to implement UTC in ten partner countries around the world.
Marcos Neto, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Director of the Office for Policy and Programme Support at UNDP, noted that leveraging advanced technology could lead to the creation of a more secure and accessible digital credential system, driving sustainable development and economic growth. Dominic Williams, Founder of the Dfinity Foundation, noted that using Internet Computer’s blockchain technology would allow the UTC initiative to benefit from extensive research and development, supported by leading cryptographers and digital identity experts.
Dfinity Foundation’s decentralized ICP blockchain Internet Identity solution will ensure the secure storage and management of digital credentials during the UTC pilot project in Cambodia, as highlighted in the UNDP statement.
Cambodian Financial Sector and SME Support
Ahead of the recent announcement of the launch of the UTC project in Cambodia, Rath Sovannorak, Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), attended a panel discussion in Zurich, Switzerland. The forum, titled “Launching Universal Trusted Credentials (UTC): Experiences and Challenges,” was part of the Point Zero Forum, a three-day fintech event held July 1-3.
During the meeting, Rath Sovannorak discussed the current situation of SMEs in Cambodia and their significant role in socio-economic development. He highlighted that SMEs face particular challenges in accessing financial services. The Deputy Governor also highlighted the progress made by the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) and the NBC in supporting the growth of SMEs through policies that promote local manufacturing and increase employment in the sector. He confirmed that the UTC project in Cambodia aims to create a robust database to help SMEs overcome challenges, especially in accessing financial services from banking and financial institutions.
In 2020, NBC launched the Bakong app, a tokenized currency payment and deposit system that leverages central bank infrastructure, to support SMEs’ access to finance and reduce physical transactions during the Covid-19 pandemic. Developed jointly with Soramitsu, a Tokyo-based blockchain technology startup, the digital currency went live in October 2020. The blockchain-based open API payment system facilitates instant QR-based transactions and links to bank balances in both riel and dollars, although users do not need a bank account to use the app.
Bakong has also been used for cross-border payments and can facilitate QR code-based transactions between Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and China’s UnionPay. NBC has signed several memoranda of understanding with other national banks and payment system authorities around the world to expand the app’s cross-border payment capabilities. According to NBC Governor Chea Serey, the system hosts about 10 million wallets, as reported in an interview with Nikkei Asia in December 2023.