blockchain for good: vaccines, microloans + the tech powering humanitarian work

Blockchain has been a buzzword for years, but what does it actually look like when it is used to solve real problems in the real world? In this episode of patchperfect, I sit down with Arun Maharajan⁠, blockchain technology lead at UNICEF’s Office of Innovation⁠, to talk about how his team uses blockchain to support humanitarian work.Arun walks us through real examples, from tracking cold chain vaccine data in Bangladesh, to helping youth entrepreneurs in Burundi access microloans, to how blockchain has evolved from Bitcoin into more privacy preserving systems today. We also talk about what it takes to bring cutting edge technology into on the ground field work in some of the most complex environments.This is the patch:how blockchain is being used in vaccine delivery and microfinancewhy transparency and traceability matter in humanitarian aidhow modern blockchain systems differ from early cryptocurrency modelsAt its core, this episode is about understanding how technology can be designed to serve people, not just markets.We close with a lifestyle segment on Arun's Italy trip, playing with Rockin’1000⁠, why travel has become his reset ritual, and his winter goal of taking a very, very cold plunge.If you have ever been curious about blockchain beyond the headlines and hype, this conversation will give you a grounded and surprisingly human perspective.All views expressed are my own.