SBIR Phase II: International Blockchain-Backed Financial Transactions in Low-Bandwidth Environments

这项小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是，即使在互联网接入有限的情况下，也可以通过使用区块链/分布式账本技术促进银行服务的获取。所提出的技术可以使转账更实惠、更方便。数字化转账提高了速度，降低了兑换和转账费用，并降低了携带现金的风险。这项拟议的技术使目前金融行业服务不足的1300万人能够获得服务。如果成功，这项技术可以提高全球转移的效率和弹性。与传统的传输系统相比，该项目的预期结果包括成本降低60%，交易完成时间为30秒，预计欺诈率为0%。这个SBIR第二期项目提议研究和开发一种基于区块链的解决方案，在没有智能手机或互联网的情况下进行存储、发送和转账。提议的核心技术包括一个区块链后端，为非结构化补充服务数据（USSD）前端提供动力，允许移动设备在没有互联网连接的情况下安全地发送和接收数据。该项目的智力优势在于：(1)开发了首个基于区块链的国际交易系统，即使在低带宽/无带宽环境下也可以访问；(2)创建分布式的、离线访问的、任何实体都可以使用的数字身份协议，而不会暴露个人身份信息（PII）；(3)开发首个基于机器学习的小额贷款算法，使用离线行为来预测、提示和自动化操作。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to facilitate access to banking services through use of blockchain/distributed ledger technology, even with limited internet access. The proposed technology can make transfers more affordable and convenient. Digitizing transfers increases speed, reduces exchange and transfer fees, and lowers the risk associated with carrying cash.  This proposed technology enables access for the 13 million people currently underserved by the financial industry. If successful, this technology could improve efficiency and resilience of transfers worldwide. The project's anticipated results include 60% cost reduction compared to traditional transfer systems, 30 second transaction completions, and an anticipated 0% fraud rate.This SBIR Phase II project proposes to research and develop a blockchain-based solution to store, send, and make transfers without a smartphone or internet. The proposed core technology includes a blockchain back-end that powers an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) front-end, allowing mobile devices to securely send and receive data without an internet connection. This project’s intellectual merit lies in (1) developing the first-of-its-kind blockchain-based system for international transactions with access even in low bandwidth/no bandwidth environments; (2) creating a digital identity protocol that is distributed, accessible offline, and usable by any entity without exposing personally identifiable information (PII); and (3) developing the first machine learning-based microlending algorithms using offline behaviors to predict, prompt, and automate actions. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.