Europe’s blockchain landscape has entered a new phase of maturity, shifting from early experimentation toward practical, real-world applications that are reshaping industries and public governance. This transition was the central theme of the European Blockchain Convention 2025, held in Barcelona earlier this month, where more than 5,000 participants and 250 speakers — including policymakers, innovators, and civil society representatives — gathered to assess how blockchain can deliver value beyond finance.
Once associated primarily with cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology is now increasingly being used to power secure data systems, digital identities, transparent supply chains, and public-sector innovation. At the convention, experts highlighted how Europe’s regulatory leadership — particularly through the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation and emerging frameworks on digital identity and tokenised assets — is enabling safe, large-scale adoption across multiple sectors.
Speakers emphasised that blockchain’s potential extends well beyond fintech. New pilot projects in energy, mobility, and social governance are already underway. For example, blockchain is being tested to track renewable energy production and trade certificates, manage mobility credits in cities, and support transparent disbursement of development funds. Governments and regional authorities are also exploring how distributed ledger technology can support secure record-keeping and reduce administrative costs.
For NGOs and regional development actors, this evolution is especially relevant. The technology’s ability to enhance transparency, trace transactions, and verify impact can transform how projects are funded, implemented, and reported. Blockchain can also support digital identity systems that improve access to services for marginalised populations, and token-based community initiatives that strengthen local participation in sustainability efforts.
At the same time, experts cautioned that adoption must remain inclusive and ethical, ensuring that smaller organisations and communities are not left behind in the digital transition. Collaboration between governments, civil society, and industry will be crucial to shaping blockchain solutions that serve the public good rather than purely private interests.
