Engage new voices

The Interledger Fellowship Program funds researchers, advocates, educators, and technical developers working to address barriers that prevent people from fully participating in digital financial systems.

The 2026 Interledger Fellowship Program is now open. Applications will be accepted until June 15th, 2026, 11.59 EDT.

About the Program

The Interledger Fellowship Program is a 12-month initiative supporting individuals who are researching, advocating for, and building solutions to help underserved populations access and meaningfully engage with digital financial systems.

Fellows’ work will address the real barriers people face: prohibitive transaction costs, documentation requirements, lack of financial literacy resources, regulatory frameworks that exclude rather than protect, and infrastructure that doesn’t reach or serve their communities. This program is ideal for researchers, developers, open-source contributors, entrepreneurs, educators, policy regulators, open-standards enthusiasts, digital and financial rights advocates, creators, and artists working at the intersection of technology and community.

We are looking for proposals that will focus on:

Research: Studies the regulatory, economic, technical, or social obstacles that prevent people from using digital financial services effectively
Builds knowledge and capacity: Creates educational resources, curricula, or training programs for communities with limited exposure to digital financial tools
Advances policy and standards: Advocates for regulatory frameworks and technical standards that enable rather than restrict participation
Develops solutions for underserved markets: Creates technical infrastructure, products, or services designed for populations currently excluded or poorly served
Strengthens ecosystems: Builds communities, networks, or support systems that help people navigate and benefit from digital financial services

Fellows will be compensated a total of $72,000 for their participation in the program. Additionally, a $20,000 stipend will be provided to support the research, development, organizing, and advocacy efforts associated with their project.

Get Inspired by Past Fellows

The Interledger Foundation Fellowship program is a pilot initiative that builds upon the success of the preceding Interledger Ambassadorship program. Since 2020, the Interledger Ambassadorship program has supported researchers, advocates, educators, technical developers, and journalists in our ongoing areas of interest: open-source technology, community engagement, advocacy, accessibility, education, and research. These areas will remain central to the Fellowship. This initiative is designed to remove barriers to economic participation worldwide.

Here are some of their stories.

Andria Barrett

"My goal is to protect this trusted tradition while using technology to reduce costs, expand access and make it easier for people to take part."

Ayden Férdeline

"Payments are not just transactions; they are governance made tangible."

Erica Hargreave

"Placing focus, intention and value in ensuring we are building accessibility into the system, starting with the code."

Gavin Chait

"Financial exclusion arises because individuals don’t have access to the formal economy."

Jeremiah Lee

"A handful of companies should not control the digital public square, nor should a handful of companies control global money movement."

Kokayi Walker

"Financial inclusion is about dignity and agency. The ability to fully participate in economic life."

Lawil Karama

"As an artist working with diaspora communities and marginalized voices, I saw how financial exclusion compounded other forms of erasure."

Santosh Viswanatham

"I envision a future where financial inclusion is naturally embedded into the web."

Sheena Allen

"Digital financial inclusion represents equity, access, and economic survival for millions of people."

Smriti Parsheera

"Understanding how different communities, particularly marginalized groups, access and engage with digital financial services is an important piece of the puzzle."

Stephanie Perrin

"There is a great need for more work on explaining where data is going, where it is being stored, and what protection exists for it."

Victoria Coker

"The future of financial inclusion, to me, looks like access to all regardless of income, race, or location."

Xiaoji Song

"The future of financial inclusion is one where power is redistributed, not just interfaces improved."