🚀 Ripple’s Humanitarian Blockchain Mission
Ripple has wrapped up a groundbreaking blockchain-based drought insurance pilot in Laikipia County, Kenya, offering smart contract-powered relief to 517 pastoralists, with 70% of them women. In partnership with Mercy Corps Ventures and DIVA Donate, Ripple utilized its Ethereum-based RLUSD stablecoin to deliver programmable, data-driven support to vulnerable communities during dry periods.
While no payouts were triggered this cycle—thanks to favorable vegetation conditions—the funds will be rolled over for the next high-risk dry season.
📡 How the Smart Insurance System Worked?
📍 Location: Northern Laikipia, Kenya
🌾 Tech Used: NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index)
NDVI is a satellite-derived metric that measures the health and greenness of vegetation by comparing reflected light in the red and near-infrared spectrum.
It helps identify areas suffering from drought or vegetation stress in real time.
🤖 Trigger Mechanism: Smart contracts based on NDVI thresholds
💵 Payout Logic:
NDVI < 0.55 → Full payout
NDVI 0.55–0.61 → Partial payout
NDVI > 0.61 → No payout
Though Laikipia has suffered multiple dry periods (2014–2019, 2022), 2025 saw healthy vegetation, avoiding the need for emergency aid. RLUSD allocated for the pilot will remain available for future conditions.
💰 Funding & Community Impact
Ripple-backed donations helped the project raise $40,000, covering 533 herders with $75 each—enough to support one livestock animal for six months.
🚨 According to Kenya’s NDMA, 23 counties still face severe climate risk, with 8 counties on alert and millions at risk of hunger.
🌐 RLUSD’s Global Rise
Ripple’s stablecoin RLUSD has surged to over $500 million in market cap just 7 months post-launch. Its reserves are now secured by BNY Mellon, one of the world’s top asset custodians with $52 trillion under administration.
This strengthens RLUSD’s credibility and liquidity as it expands in global markets.
✅ Conclusion: DeFi Meets Humanitarian Aid
Ripple’s initiative in Kenya shows how decentralized finance, smart contracts, and stablecoins can play a vital role in addressing climate-related crises. By combining technology, donations, and community-focused partnerships, Ripple is charting a course for humanitarian blockchain solutions that can scale globally.
🌱 A smart future for aid is here—and it runs on blockchain.