The island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe has launched an innovative citizenship-by-investment (CBI) program, leveraging blockchain technology through a partnership with the United Arab Emirates-based tech firm IOPn. The initiative aims to attract tech-savvy global investors by offering a streamlined and secure path to citizenship.

Unlike traditional CBI programs that grant citizenship in exchange for a significant economic investment, São Tomé’s new offering integrates Web3 technology for identity verification and tracking. The system is built on IOPn’s proprietary OPN Chain and ATLAS platform, incorporating cloud services and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the process.

A Strategic Alliance for Digital Innovation

The collaboration between São Tomé and Príncipe and IOPn is set for an initial five-year period under a joint governance framework. Officials state that using blockchain’s immutable ledger will significantly reduce the risk of fraud while accelerating application processing times. There are also indications that the platform could eventually incorporate Web3 payment functions.

Disney Ramos, Director of São Tomé and Príncipe’s CBI unit, said the partnership ensures transparency, efficiency, and international credibility. He added that it also “opens new doors for cooperation with the Emirati innovation ecosystem.” The program is designed to attract a new class of investors by minimizing the bureaucracy often associated with such initiatives.

A New Benchmark for Digital Sovereignty

This initiative highlights the UAE’s growing influence in developing sovereign digital infrastructure for emerging economies. The demand for Emirati expertise in AI and blockchain has seen a notable increase across Africa and Asia, with the UAE establishing itself as a regional leader in fields like asset tokenization and cross-border payments.

Mojtaba, the Chief Executive Officer of IOPn, called the partnership historic. “By introducing the world’s first Citizenship-by-Investment program on blockchain, São Tomé and Príncipe is setting a global benchmark for digital sovereignty, and the UAE is proudly at the heart of this transformation,” he stated.