By: Bharath Chari, Board Member, InFTF
At InFTF we are focused on what lies ahead. We stand at the cusp of a new chapter, where the work of the past years is about to translate into real change for people who need it.
Our mission has always been about inclusion. Not inclusion in theory, but inclusion in practice: the worker sending part of their earnings home and keeping more of it in their family’s hands, the community gaining access to fair financial services, the young person being given opportunity instead of barriers. These are the outcomes that drive us.
The real-world need is urgent. Families cannot wait for lower costs. Communities cannot wait for fair access. Young people cannot wait for opportunity. That is why we are focused on near-term impact. The foundations are already laid, the partnerships are already in place, and the first results will not arrive years from now but in months.
To achieve these objectives, we use Xahau as the rails on which we build. But the rails are not the destination. They are infrastructure, essential but not ultimate. The destination is the people and the lives that are changed when access is widened and costs are lowered.
As the largest beneficiary of XAH, we have also become its de facto steward. And stewardship by a true non-profit foundation is very different from stewardship by a for-profit company. A company is built to maximise financial returns for its owners. A non-profit is built to maximise social impact for the communities it serves. Our focus begins with inclusion, resilience, and trust. Yet by strengthening the credibility and adoption of the network, this approach also creates the conditions for lasting confidence among all who support it.
This is why independence matters. True independence from vested interests is rare, and sometimes what looks like independence is only a veiled form of control. For us, independence is not a label, it is non-negotiable. It is what allows us to work with partners across sectors, to sit with regulators and innovators, and to ensure that our mission is guided only by impact, not by private agendas. Independence strengthens trust, and trust is what sustains both our mission and the network itself.
We also recognise that those who support Xahau value their investments. At the same time, we believe most share the vision that lasting success comes from real utility and broad adoption. By keeping our focus on impact and using resources responsibly, we strengthen the credibility of the network and create the conditions where both the mission and the community can thrive together.
We are grateful for the journey so far, humbled by the responsibility we carry, and filled with energy for what comes next. This is only the beginning, and Xahau is where it begins.