- TWIN mainnet testing begins as IOTA confirms live transactions ahead of Q3 2025 launch.
- TLIP drives trade progress in Kenya with faster document delivery and increased SME participation.
IOTA is moving closer to launching its Trade Worldwide Information Network (TWIN) in the third quarter of 2025, with testing already active on its mainnet, and strong partnerships taking shape. The protocol is setting its sights on transforming the global trade landscape, beginning with East Africa.
Mainnet Testing Begins as IOTA Prepares for Global Rollout
In a recent report, we covered the IOTA Foundation, World Economic Forum (WEF), and four other entities joining hands to launch the TWIN Foundation to set best practices and standards for global trade.
A recent social media post disclosed that Mainnet testing for TWIN is already underway. This marks a major step for IOTA as it prepares for the Q3 launch.
In his latest post on X, Dominik Schiener, co-founder of the IOTA Foundation, confirmed that test transactions have started, building confidence ahead of the production release.
TWIN is being developed as a digital platform to help global supply chains share data in real time, while reducing cost and delays. A key part of this rollout is the Trade Logistics Information Pipeline (TLIP), which is tied to East Africa.
It is worth noting that results are being seen in Kenya, where TLIP has shortened document delivery time from several weeks to just three to five minutes. This improvement has made trade faster and cheaper, with transaction costs dropping by 80%. Small and medium businesses in the region have also reported a 35% increase in participation.
IOTA plans to begin with 10,000 to 100,000 transactions daily through TWIN, but the network has been built to scale to millions. This could eventually lead to a deflationary effect, as increased usage helps balance out token inflation caused by staking rewards.
Beyond the TWIN partnership, CNF recently highlighted that the protocol announced IOTA Identity v1.6 Beta, a major update to IOTA’s decentralized identity system.
Partnerships Strengthen IOTA’s Presence in Trade Finance
The IOTA Foundation collaborates with various partners to integrate real-world assets into the digital realm.
These include commodities and trade receivables, which will be included in the tokenization framework for the TWIN platform. The goal is to make these assets easier to track, manage, and verify across borders.
TLIP is being developed in East Africa in collaboration with organizations such as TradeMark Africa, the Kenya Revenue Authority, and KenTrade. At the IOTA East Africa Web3 Innovation Summit, which took place in Nairobi on May 30, 2025, Antony Magayu of the IOTA Foundation explained the role of TLIP in the region.
According to him, the system is designed to link different parts of the trade chain, including producers, customs officials, and exporters. In the same conference, IOTA introduced a significant upgrade with its Identity v1.6 Beta rollout. This aims to improve how people and businesses manage digital identities.
This includes producers, customs, and exporters. The result is a 96% faster cross-border transaction process, helping fix long-standing trade logistics problems. By focusing on real problems with real solutions, IOTA shows how blockchain can move beyond theory and into everyday impact.
As mentioned in our previous news brief, Governments in Africa, Europe, and Asia are embedding IOTA tech in customs, trade, and public services.
