TWIN Foundation Launches in Lusaka, Revolutionizing Global Trade with IOTA Blockchain

The TWIN Foundation, a pioneering initiative powered by the IOTA blockchain, was officially launched on May 8 in Lusaka, Zambia. This groundbreaking project aims to revolutionize global trade by introducing a decentralized, open-source infrastructure that facilitates seamless and transparent trade across borders. The foundation is backed by several world-renowned institutions, marking a significant step toward the digital future of international commerce and bridging the gap between emerging and established economies.

The TWIN Foundation is the result of a global collaboration involving powerful players such as IOTA, the World Economic Forum, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, TradeMark Africa, the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, and the Institute for Global Change. These partners are working together to create a network that removes trade barriers, simplifies logistics, and builds trust between stakeholders using blockchain technology and secure data protocols.

Traditional trade systems are often slow, expensive, and vulnerable to fraud. TWIN addresses these issues by offering a decentralized infrastructure that eliminates intermediaries, real-time data sharing between governments, exporters, importers, and logistics firms, greater transparency, reduced paperwork, and fee-less and scalable transactions powered by IOTA’s Tangle technology. This solution is particularly relevant given the current pressures on global supply chains and the increasing demand for secure, interoperable systems.

The decision to launch TWIN in Lusaka is strategic. Africa is emerging as a leader in digital innovation, and Zambia's forward-thinking policies make it an ideal starting point. This launch underscores Africa's readiness to lead in global trade transformation and reflects a broader commitment to empowering developing economies through technology and inclusive digital policy frameworks.

In practice, TWIN’s system allows all trade actors—from customs agents to freight companies—to interact on a shared digital platform. This ensures secure data exchange, end-to-end traceability, faster trade facilitation, and better compliance with international regulations. As an open-source system, TWIN can evolve with contributions from developers worldwide, making it adaptable to local trade needs while maintaining global standards.

The launch of TWIN has generated significant buzz in both the crypto and trade communities. The initiative has been praised as visionary, with experts highlighting the involvement of high-level institutions. However, the challenge now lies in adoption, regulation, and implementation. Over the coming months, TWIN is expected to pilot integrations with trade authorities, launch user-facing platforms, and onboard more countries. The foundation will also engage with policymakers to build a robust regulatory framework that supports its mission.

The TWIN Foundation is more than just another blockchain project; it is a carefully designed global solution that addresses real-world trade problems with cutting-edge technology. If successful, it could become a blueprint for future trade infrastructure worldwide, all beginning in Lusaka. The foundation's approach to leveraging IOTA's distributed ledger technology for secure and tamper-proof transactions can streamline supply chain management, reduce costs, and enhance the overall efficiency of global trade. By providing a decentralized platform, the foundation aims to eliminate intermediaries, thereby reducing transaction fees and increasing the speed of trade settlements. This decentralized model ensures that all parties involved in a transaction have access to the same information, promoting transparency and trust.