ISO approves China-led global blockchain standard

The International Organization for Standardization has approved a new project led by China to develop a global technical standard for Blockchain as a Service, according to a report from China Central Television. The initiative marks a step toward establishing common technical ground in a blockchain services sector that has grown rapidly but remains fragmented across vendors and jurisdictions.cryptonews+1

The proposed standard will define technical requirements across three areas: infrastructure and network construction and operation; service management and smart contract lifecycles; and data interoperability and security. Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, Portugal, and Uganda have confirmed participation in the standard-setting process.sandmark+2

What the Standard Covers

Blockchain as a Service is a cloud-based model that allows organizations to use blockchain technology without building or maintaining their own infrastructure, comparable to how Software as a Service works for other enterprise applications. The proposed ISO framework aims to create unified technical benchmarks that could reduce market fragmentation and provide enterprises with clearer criteria when selecting and integrating blockchain services.bitcoinworld+1

The infrastructure component will establish baseline requirements for system architecture, network deployment, and operational reliability. The service management portion will define how blockchain services are administered and how smart contracts are deployed across platforms. The data interoperability section will address methods for secure data exchange between different blockchain systems.cointrust+1

International Context and Next Steps

The initiative arrives as blockchain technology expands beyond cryptocurrency into supply chain monitoring, digital identity, financial services, and government applications. The absence of widely accepted technical standards has created integration challenges for organizations working across platforms or national borders, potentially increasing costs and limiting collaboration.bitcoinworld+1

The project remains in its early stages, and no completion timeline has been announced. ISO standards typically require several rounds of drafting, expert review, and voting before final publication, a process that can take several years. Industry observers will be watching how the standard addresses data sovereignty and cross-border data flows, which remain sensitive policy issues across participating jurisdictions.cointrust+2