BGA and UNDP Join Forces to Enhance Digital Safety Over Two Years

BGA and UNDP Team Up for Cybersecurity Enhancement

In a significant move for digital safety and development, the Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA), founded by Bybit, has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This collaboration was officially announced in Dubai on October 19, 2026, during a summit organized at the UNDP Global Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Development in Singapore. The two-year initiative aims to bolster cybersecurity knowledge and capabilities, specifically focusing on the responsible use of digital technologies for development purposes.

The agreement between BGA and UNDP was signed by Edward Vrkić, the UNDP's Resident Representative for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam, and Helen Liu, the founder of BGA. Following the signing, a panel discussion happened which featured significant industry leaders, including Robert Pašičko from UNDP's Alternative Finance Lab and Mykolas Majauskas from Bybit, highlighting the critical issue of cybersecurity as a developmental concern. Moderator Glenn Tan guided discussions on various topics, including the comparison of Singapore’s regulatory practices to those of other regions and the sharing of best practices between public institutions and frontline operators through public-private partnerships.

Robert Pašičko noted the growing complexities and challenges that governments face regarding cybersecurity. The ongoing conflicts, advanced fraud schemes powered by AI, and increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks intensify these challenges. He emphasized that enhancing cybersecurity capacities and establishing resilient digital systems are vital to mitigate risks. The collaboration with BGA is viewed as an opportunity to leverage its expertise and experience in addressing these pressing concerns.

As digital systems become more integrated into public services, including identity management and payment systems, cybersecurity becomes essential for operational continuity, the safeguarding of public funds, and the maintenance of public trust. The rapid evolution of AI exacerbates the security landscape, making cyber threats more severe and necessitating skilled technical expertise and robust governance to defend against them. The BGA-UNDP partnership is poised to develop these much-needed capabilities to protect vital governmental services and ensure the safety of citizens.

Helen Liu, the BGA founder, remarked on the significance of launching this initiative in Singapore with a committed group that possesses firsthand knowledge of the challenges related to cybersecurity and digital safety. Liu noted, "The industry from which BGA emerges has encountered the harsh realities of cybersecurity. This partnership’s objective is to translate those lessons into public benefits."

UNDP’s Alternative Finance Lab will facilitate the execution of the program in collaboration with BGA. Over the next two years, the program will utilize cybersecurity expertise from BGA’s extensive network to promote learning through initiatives like the SDG Blockchain Accelerator, which creates solutions powered by emerging technologies to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). The program will also include capacity-building sessions for public officials via the Government Blockchain Academy and sessions tailored for interested UNDP Country Offices and relevant governmental bodies. The focus will include data protection, secure digital transactions, and enhancing the security of public digital services.

Glenn Tan further elaborated on the three core pillars of cybersecurity—prevention, response, and recovery—highlighting their importance for public institutions. He pointed out that while the private sector possesses a wealth of expertise in these areas, public organizations often lack direct channels to collaborate and access that expertise. This partnership aims to bridge that gap.

The forming of this partnership also strengthens BGA’s role as a Strategic Partner of the UNDP SDG Blockchain Accelerator, which is now approaching its third cohort. BGA is also a member of the Blockchain Advisory Group (BAG), providing a platform for leaders across the blockchain community to discuss how blockchain technologies can be utilized in sustainable development and to enhance digital public systems.

This collaboration signals a pivotal development in the realm of digital safety and is expected to yield substantial benefits for public institutions and the communities they serve, fostering an environment of trust and resilience in an increasingly digital age.