The Financial Services Provider Grant application process, first phase, the Expression of Interest (EOI) opens on Monday, November 2, 2026, and closes on Friday, December 11, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.

The EOI is the first phase of the application process and is intended for financial institutions and financial service providers that are positioned to integrate interoperable payment infrastructure and pilot a real-world digital financial service. At this phase, we want to understand your organization, the financial service or payment challenge you are seeking to address, the relevance of interoperable payment infrastructure to your proposed work, and your organization’s readiness to undertake a meaningful integration and pilot.

Applicants are not expected to submit a fully developed technical architecture or detailed implementation plan at the EOI stage. The purpose of this initial application is to help the Interledger Foundation identify organizations and concepts with strong potential to advance to Phase 2: Full Proposal.

Before submitting, we strongly encourage applicants to review the Program Resource Kit, which provides detailed guidance on the application process, program objectives, and expectations, along with additional information and resources to help applicants prepare and submit their applications.

Submission of an EOI does not guarantee advancement to Phase 2. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a Full Proposal with additional technical, implementation, regulatory, budget, and organizational details.

If you have questions or need clarification as you prepare your submission, please contact us at financialservices@interledger.org.

The Interledger-NextGen Higher Education program supports universities in building the next generation of leaders, innovators, and advocates for inclusive, open, and interoperable digital finance. Through partnerships with higher education institutions, the Interledger Foundation (ILF) creates opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to explore real-world financial inclusion challenges, engage with open-payment technologies such as the Interledger Protocol, and design more equitable payment systems.

The program aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ILF’s broader commitment to expanding digital financial access for underrepresented groups and vulnerable populations. Through NextGen, ILF invests in diverse talent pipelines and supports universities in creating educational, technical, and community-based pathways that prepare students to contribute to a more inclusive digital economy.

This application is the first stage of the Interledger–NextGen Higher Education Grant application process. At this stage, institutions are not required to submit a full project proposal. Applicants should submit a concise Letter of Intent (template available) that introduces the institution and proposed project at a high level, including the intended participants, proposed activities, anticipated outcomes, and overall alignment with the objectives of the NextGen Higher Education Grant. The LOI must be submitted on the institution’s official letterhead and signed by an authorized university representative. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to proceed to Phase 2 and submit a more detailed full proposal.

Before starting your application, please review the Program Application Resource Kit carefully for information on eligibility, selection criteria, program expectations, and application guidance.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at nextgen@interledger.org. 

Applications close on Monday, December 14, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT. We encourage you to submit ahead of the deadline to avoid last-minute issues.