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Study Overview

How can managers, social entrepreneurs, and policymakers seeking to use stablecoins find guidance to advance shared prosperity?

Study Results

Drawing on case studies of Mercy Corps Ventures, Coala Pay, Endaoment, and Regen Foundation, this article demonstrates that stablecoins are most effective when they solve specific coordination and payment problems. The cases illustrate how stablecoins can improve access, reduce transaction costs, strengthen transparency while preserving privacy, and sustain credibility, but only when leaders select high-quality stablecoins and build complementary implementation capabilities, such as digital literacy initiatives and local partnerships for off-ramping. These examples offer a framework for deploying stablecoins in ways that build resilience.

Research Partner: Emory University

Journal Publication: Grennan, J., & Sturdy, J. (2026). Deploying Stablecoins for Good: Paths to Shared Prosperity with Blockchain. California Management Review, 0(0).

IBSI Research Brief: Stablecoin-Research-Brief-ADA-check.pdf

IBSI Initiative or Center: Lab for Inclusive FinTech (LIFT)

News & media

Beyond the Classroom: Learning about stablecoins for good

July 16, 2026

This paper and these interviews reshaped how I look at the space. In the tech bubble, it’s easy to view crypto through the lens of speculative DeFi. However, looking at regions like Myanmar or Afghanistan, where financial infrastructure hovers around just 25%, completely changes the narrative. Stablecoins aren’t just a cool fintech trend. Instead these assets can support organizations to bypass broken local banking, heavy-handed levies, and exploitative regimes to actually retain their money’s value.