reBlue

In fragile states and frontier markets, informal value transfer (IVT) systems are critical infrastructure, moving hundreds of billions annually where formal finance cannot operate. Despite their efficiency and deep local trust, these networks are often excluded due to their opacity to institutional oversight and a lack of confidence that resources reach intended recipients. Yet attempts to bypass or replace them - as seen in Afghanistan and elsewhere - have proven self-defeating, as evidenced by the litany of failed interventions. Nonetheless, without a way to verify transactions, accountability breaks down and donor engagement stalls. reBlue offers a middle ground: a verification layer that respects the realities on the ground, but meets the AML and KYC standards of international stakeholders. Military jargon for “renew” or “refurbish”, the roots of reBlue took hold in August 2021’s “Digital Dunkirk”, when tens of thousands of veterans and volunteers created a decentralized and effective humanitarian network following the collapse of Afghanistan. It has since stuck with us that one does not need a humanitarian or INGO background to have an impact on the world: just the right access.