Blockchain Emerges as Catalyst for Systemic Change in Achieving Global SDGs: 2025 Forum Highlights

The Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA) concluded its 2025 Blockchain Impact Forum in Copenhagen last week, cementing blockchain's role in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hosted in collaboration with the UNDP Alternative Finance Lab (AltFinLab), the two-day event drew over 300 participants from 30+ countries, including policymakers, technologists, and impact leaders, to showcase innovative blockchain solutions addressing global challenges according to the forum's report.

The forum's highlight, the BGAwards, featured the SDG Blockchain Accelerator Showcase, which spotlighted projects leveraging distributed ledger technology to drive progress in financial inclusion, sustainability, and digital trust. Initiatives ranged from cross-border payment systems to supply-chain transparency tools, underscoring blockchain's potential to deliver measurable impact.

"Blockchain isn't just a technological leap—it's a catalyst for systemic change," said Helen Liu, BGA's co-founder and Bybit's co-CEO, during the event according to the forum's report.

The forum's outcomes align with a broader trend of blockchain adoption in sustainable finance, a theme echoed at COP30. As leaders gather to define the next era of climate action, tools like AI, big data, and blockchain are emerging as critical for transparency and accountability. For instance, blockchain's ability to track carbon credits and supply-chain provenance has gained traction, with platforms enabling real-time verification of emissions and deforestation claims. This aligns with the growing emphasis on data-driven sustainability metrics, as seen in SAP's Green Ledger and similar solutions that connect environmental performance to financial outcomes according to market analysis.

Real-world applications of these principles are already materializing. The Saudi Investment Bank (SAIB) recently reported that 100% of the USD750 million raised through a sustainability sukuk had been allocated to projects aligned with the SDGs, including renewable energy, water management, and MSME financing. Sustainable Fitch's post-issuance review confirmed the allocation's compliance with the bank's sustainability framework, reinforcing blockchain's role in ensuring traceability and accountability in green finance.

While the BGA forum focused on social impact, blockchain's financial applications are also gaining momentum. The debut of the XRPC ETF, offering direct exposure to XRP, saw a record $58 million in day-one trading volume, signaling investor appetite for blockchain-based assets. Such developments highlight the dual potential of the technology: enabling both sustainable development and new financial instruments according to market data.

As the world grapples with climate and equity crises, the convergence of blockchain innovation and institutional frameworks—exemplified by the BGA-UNDP partnership—offers a blueprint for scalable, transparent solutions. With global clean energy investments now surpassing $2 trillion annually, the integration of blockchain into sustainability finance could prove pivotal in closing the funding gap for the SDGs.