This is an Op-Ed piece written by Chris Lawrence, Head Chief Program Officer at Interledger Foundation.
The phrase “financial inclusion” is everywhere—but what does it mean?
At its core, the term suggests bringing the unbanked and underserved into existing systems. But these systems were never designed for their needs. Often, they reflect the priorities of legacy financial institutions or tech platforms built in and for the Global North. Inclusion, when framed this way, becomes assimilation—folding people into architectures that may not meet their needs, respect their realities, or allow them to build on top of them.
Fintech’s Shift—and Its Blind Spots
Fintech has transformed dramatically. We’ve moved from brick-and-mortar banks to embedded finance, where payments, lending, and insurance are stitched seamlessly into apps and platforms. But amidst this evolution, a critical question remains overlooked: who actually has access to the infrastructure needed to participate, innovate, or benefit?
For billions, the answer is: almost no one. Access to reliable internet, digital identity, affordable transaction networks, and interoperable wallets is still uneven and constrained. And this digital divide pushes people further away from the services that creates new opportunities for economic self determination, autonomy and growth.
Trust Isn’t Granted—It’s Earned
Many financial institutions and platforms ask for trust. But trust cannot be demanded; it must be earned through transparent, reciprocal relationships. People trust systems that respect their agency, that are accountable, and that offer tools to shape—not just use—the system.
Building trust means enabling participation at every layer. That includes giving people and communities the freedom to build their own financial tools, not just access pre-defined services.
Why Interoperability Matters
We are constantly out of sync. Technology advances rapidly—but the purpose of that technology often lags behind. Too many solutions are “innovative” without being inclusive, efficient without being empowering.
To correct this, we need to invest in open, interoperable financial infrastructure—rails that anyone can build on, regardless of geography or venture capital pedigree. A startup in the Global South should have the same access to payment systems, digital wallets, and monetization tools as one in Silicon Valley.
This isn’t just fair—it’s essential for global resilience. The solutions to our most pressing challenges will come from everywhere, not just the usual tech hubs.
Inclusion Should Mean Opportunity, Not Compliance
True financial inclusion is not about inserting people into broken systems. It’s about creating an open market for better systems, better ideas, and more diverse innovation. Inclusion should mean expansion of opportunity, not passive compliance with existing models.
We need infrastructure that does more than scale—it must empower. That includes web monetization technologies that let creators earn directly; open protocols like the Interledger Protocol (ILP) that connect payment networks across borders; and digital identity systems that work for people with little or no formal documentation.
Conclusion: Building Systems Worth Trusting
Financial inclusion needs a reboot. Not as a charitable add-on, but as a design principle. We must build ecosystems that are open by default, participatory by design, and global in scope.
Inclusion is not the finish line. It’s the starting point for a more equitable, innovative, and sustainable digital economy.
About the Author:
Chris Lawrence is the Head Chief Program Officer at Interledger Foundation, where he guides programs using open web technology to expand global access to financial services. He has 20 years of nonprofit experience and previously co-founded Loup consultancy, and built professional networks at Mozilla chis is passionate about making technology more fair and accessible, and is open to connecting with others working to build a more inclusive digital world.
