Who it is for
- Emerging leaders across research, technology, policy, education, journalism, and community organising
- Those working to improve access to digital financial services
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Work on Real Financial System Challenges
The Interledger Fellowship is a 12-month program supporting emerging leaders who are researching, building, and advocating for more open, interoperable financial systems. Fellows work on projects they define, with funding and institutional support from the Interledger Foundation to carry them through. The program is open to researchers, developers, educators, policy advocates, journalists, and community organisers working at the intersection of technology and access to digital financial services.
Work on Real Financial System Challenges
The Interledger Fellowship is a 12-month program supporting emerging leaders who are researching, building, and advocating for more open, interoperable financial systems. Fellows work on projects they define, with funding and institutional support from the Interledger Foundation to carry them through. The program is open to researchers, developers, educators, policy advocates, journalists, and community organisers working at the intersection of technology and access to digital financial services.
The 2026 application window has closed. Sign up to our newsletter for future opportunities.
At a Glance
What it supports
- Independent research;
- technical development;
- policy advocacy;
- educational resources;
- community building.
How it works
- 12-month program.
- $72,000 stipend plus $20,000 project funding.
- Applications are closed for the 2026 grant cycle.
What Fellows Get
- $72,000 fellowship stipend across the program year
- $20,000 project funding to support research, development, or advocacy work
- Access to the Interledger Foundation’s global network of researchers, developers, policymakers, and institutions
- Peer learning and collaboration with the current fellowship cohort
- Opportunities to present work at the Interledger Summit and other Foundation events
- Institutional support and mentorship throughout the program
What Are We Looking For?
Strong proposals address real barriers that prevent people from participating fully in digital financial systems. These may include the cost of transactions, documentation requirements, absent or inadequate infrastructure, regulatory frameworks that exclude rather than protect, or a lack of accessible tools and knowledge.
We fund work across five areas:
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
"Mi objetivo es proteger esta tradición de confianza y, al mismo tiempo, utilizar la tecnología para reducir los costos, ampliar el acceso y facilitar la participación de las personas".
Ayden Férdeline
"Los pagos no son solo transacciones; son gobernanza hecha realidad".
Erica Hargreave
"Centrar la atención, la intención y el valor en asegurar que la accesibilidad se integre en el sistema desde el código".
Gavin Chait
"La exclusión financiera se produce porque las personas no tienen acceso a la economía formal".
Jeremiah Lee
"Unas pocas empresas no deberían controlar la esfera pública digital, ni el movimiento de dinero a nivel global".
Kokayi Walker
"La inclusión financiera tiene que ver con la dignidad y la capacidad de decisión. La capacidad de participar plenamente en la vida económica".
Lawil Karama
"Como artista que trabaja con comunidades de la diáspora y voces marginadas, vi cómo la exclusión financiera agravaba otras formas de exclusión".
Santosh Viswanatham
"Imagino un futuro en el que la inclusión financiera esté integrada de forma natural en la web".
Sheena Allen
"La inclusión financiera digital representa equidad, acceso y supervivencia económica para millones de personas".
Smriti Parsheera
“Comprender cómo las distintas comunidades, en especial los grupos marginados, acceden a los servicios financieros digitales e interactúan con ellos es una pieza importante del rompecabezas”.
Stephanie Perrin
"Existe una gran necesidad de seguir trabajando para explicar adónde van los datos, dónde se almacenan y qué protecciones existen para ellos".
Victoria Coker
"Para mí, el futuro de la inclusión financiera consiste en que todas las personas tengan acceso a los servicios financieros, independientemente de sus ingresos, su raza o su ubicación".
Xiaoji Song
"El futuro de la inclusión financiera es un futuro en el que se redistribuye el poder, no solo se mejoran las interfaces".
Ready to apply?
The 2026 Interledger Fellowship Program has closed. Stay informed about this grant program and grantee updated in our community forum and email newsletter.