Leading Trade Transformation for Good
TL;DR:
The IOTA Foundation and five global partners have officially launched the TWIN Foundation. With a focus on responsible governance, technical standards, and ecosystem growth, the Foundation will steward the Trade Worldwide Information Network (TWIN), a decentralized, open-source infrastructure designed to make global trade more efficient, transparent, and inclusive.
We’re excited to announce the formation of the TWIN Foundation, unveiled today, May 8th at the AfCFTA Digital Trade Forum in Lusaka, Zambia. This marks a major milestone for the Trade Worldwide Information Network (TWIN) initiative and a leap forward in the development of a more inclusive, efficient, and transparent global trade ecosystem – one powered by open-source technology and decentralized infrastructure.
Why the TWIN Foundation?
Global trade is long overdue for modernization. Despite technological progress in many sectors, the systems underpinning international trade remain fragmented and inefficient, especially for small exporters and developing markets. TWIN was created to change that by providing an open, interoperable, and inclusive foundation for data sharing and collaboration across borders.
For governments, TWIN offers improved visibility and smarter border management. For the private sector, it unlocks new efficiencies and business models. And for innovators, it creates a framework upon which new digital trade services can be built. For a deeper dive into TWIN, check out our upcoming blog post, “Introducing TWIN”, due out May 12th.
Today’s launch of the TWIN Foundation cements this mission with the governance and leadership needed to make TWIN a lasting, global public good. It ensures that TWIN’s infrastructure is stewarded responsibly, remains publicly accessible, and can scale sustainably. With neutral oversight and a commitment to transparency, the Foundation supports global stakeholders in building the next generation of digital trade infrastructure – one that fosters trust, reduces friction, and creates new opportunities for innovation.
Who’s Behind the TWIN Foundation?
The TWIN Foundation was established by six organizations: TradeMark Africa, the IOTA Foundation, the World Economic Forum, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, and the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade. Together, these founding partners bring expertise across policy, technology, trade facilitation, and development, and will jointly oversee the direction and sustainability of the initiative.
The TWIN Foundation is formally launched today, May 8th 2025, at the AfCFTA Digital Trade Forum in Lusaka, Zambia – a fitting stage, as Africa continues to lead in trade innovation and digital transformation. This milestone follows the signing of a Collaboration Agreement in February 2024, after which the founding partners worked intensively to shape the initiative’s vision, governance, and technical foundations. The Lusaka launch marks the beginning of the Foundation’s public phase, with further developments and implementations to follow in the months ahead.
The Role of the TWIN Foundation
The TWIN Foundation will steward TWIN’s open-source infrastructure, managing its technical development, standardization, and ecosystem growth. It will focus on the following key areas:
- Non-profit and open-source: TWIN technology will be made available as an open-source digital infrastructure for the public good, in alignment with the not-for-profit principles of the TWIN Foundation.
- Custodianship of core infrastructure: Overseeing the technical and operational design, innovation, and maintenance of TWIN’s infrastructure.
- Standards and best practices: Developing and implementing standards applicable to distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) and allied innovations.
- Building networks of success: Pursuing partnerships with organizations and institutions that align with the Foundation’s mission.
- Ecosystem support: Sharing knowledge and best practices with ecosystem builders to improve the implementation and management of TWIN ecosystems.
- Sustainable models: Implementing fundraising and cost recovery strategies to ensure the Foundation’s operations are financially sustainable.
Firm Ground for a Digital Future
The creation of the TWIN Foundation sets a new precedent: a governance-first approach to building digital public infrastructure that transcends borders and sectors. For the IOTA Foundation, this is a proud moment – proof that scalable, secure, and open DLT can be the bedrock for fairer, faster, and more transparent trade.
As we move forward, the TWIN Foundation will be instrumental in enabling the global adoption of TWIN and in reshaping the way the world trades.
Stay tuned for more updates in the lead-up to the Foundation’s operational rollout.
