Hanseatic Blockchain Institute

What Hanseatic Blockchain Institute does

Hanseatic Blockchain Institute e.V. (HBI) is a Hamburg-based registered non-profit association founded in 2019 that operates as a blockchain research and education body, serving blockchain-curious individuals, professionals, and corporate members primarily in Germany. Its core offerings are the W3NOW.DE research study on blockchain penetration in the German economy (conducted in cooperation with Statista and funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, BMWK), the recurring Blockchain Monday lecture series, networking events such as the Blockchain Bar, and an NFT-based membership system that supports token-gated access and ticketing.

HBI's underlying technology footprint is centered on Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies as a topical focus rather than as a proprietary software product. It does not sell a platform or API; instead it delivers content, events, and research artifacts. The membership NFT provides digital identity and event access utility, and the CommonGround Community platform hosts ongoing member engagement.

The organization's business model relies on recurring annual membership fees from individual and corporate members supplemented by government grant funding tied to the W3NOW study. Go-to-market is community-led through events, the Blockchain Monday series, and digital channels (LinkedIn, X, YouTube, newsletter, website). The legal entity is an eingetragener Verein under German law, not a commercially traded company, with 1-10 employees and a seven-person volunteer Vorstand (board), including co-founders Moritz Schildt and Moritz Stumpf.

Name

Hanseatic Blockchain Institute

Legal name

Hanseatic Blockchain Institute e.V.

Website

https://blockchaininstitute.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hanseatic Blockchain Institute is a Hamburg-based non-profit association (e.V.) that conducts blockchain research, notably the BMWK-funded W3NOW study with Statista, and runs educational events such as Blockchain Monday for individual enthusiasts and corporate members in Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Blockchain Research & Education

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191)

SIC

Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)

akta.pro primary industry

Regulatory Reporting, Tax & Audit Trails (reconciliation, provenance) (FSAPAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Compliance, Risk & RegTech for Tokenized Assets (KYC/AML, sanctions, travel rule, reporting) (FSAPAIAH)

Keywords

• Blockchain research
• Technology education
• Industry networking
• Membership services
• Research association

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The organization generates revenue through annual membership fees from both individual and corporate members. Members receive benefits including access to events, networking opportunities, and a Member NFT.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HBI is a Hamburg-based registered nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein / e.V.) that conducts blockchain research, including the government-funded W3NOW study on blockchain technology penetration in the German economy, and runs the Blockchain Monday educational lecture series featuring expert talks on applications across healthcare, finance, logistics, and regulation. The institute also operates a community platform with NFT-based membership, networking events such as Blockchain Bar, and serves as a neutral convening point for blockchain professionals, companies, academia, and policymakers.

Product overview

The Hanseatic Blockchain Institute (HBI) is a Hamburg-based registered association (eV) established in 2019 that functions as an educational and research organization rather than a commercial product company. Its portfolio consists of the W3NOW.DE research study conducted with Statista and funded by the German government, the Blockchain Monday lecture and networking event series, general community events and networking opportunities, and an NFT-based membership system. These offerings are interconnected: the W3NOW study provides research-backed insights that inform educational content delivered through Blockchain Monday events, while the membership NFT provides digital access benefits to the community engaged through HBI's event platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• W3NOW.DE Study A blockchain penetration study conducted in cooperation with Statista, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). It examines adoption of blockchain technology in the German economy and provides insights and recommendations to strengthen Germany's digital sovereignty in the blockchain sector.
• Blockchain Monday
• Events and Networking
• Membership NFT

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• StatistacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019HBI partners with Statista to conduct the W3NOW study, a comprehensive investigation into blockchain technology penetration in the German economy, commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
• nordIX AGminorOthersHBI's registered office is c/o nordIX AG at Ludwig-Erhard-Str. 1 in Hamburg, suggesting a hosting or administrative relationship.
• Blockchance CampusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlockchance Campus serves as a venue partner for HBI events, hosting member meetings, Blockchain Monday lectures, and Blockchain Bar networking events at their Hamburg location.
• Möhrle Happ LutherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMöhrle Happ Luther law firm serves as a venue partner for Blockchain Monday events, hosting regular educational sessions at their Brandstwiete 3, 20457 Hamburg location.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Bitkom: Germany's largest digital industry association, covering all digital economy topics including blockchain through dedicated working groups. While far broader in scope than HBI, it competes for the same corporate members and policy dialogue around digital and blockchain regulation in Germany.

Others

• Web3 Foundation: Foundation that funds research, development, and ecosystem growth for web3 technologies (notably Polkadot). Comparable in that it funds blockchain research and education, but as a grant-making foundation rather than a membership-driven institute.
• Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA): Industry organization focused on enterprise adoption of Ethereum-based blockchain technology. Comparable in being a blockchain industry body, but more product/standards focused than HBI's policy-research-education model.
• MIT Digital Currency Initiative: Academic research initiative at MIT focused on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology research and education. Comparable in the research and education mission to HBI, but operating as a university research center with academic funding rather than a government-funded industry association.

Direct peers

• INATBA (International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications): Brussels-based international blockchain industry association, also engaged in policy dialogue, research, and ecosystem building. Highly comparable in mission to HBI but operating at the EU/global level rather than the German national level.
• Chamber of Digital Commerce: US-based blockchain industry trade association focused on policy advocacy, education, and industry development. Direct peer to HBI in mission and structure, with comparable activities in research dissemination and community building, though operating in the US rather than Germany.
• Coin Center: US-based nonprofit research and advocacy center focused on cryptocurrency policy, education, and research. Closely comparable to HBI in that it is a blockchain-focused nonprofit producing policy research, educational content, and serving as a neutral industry voice—primarily US rather than German in geographic focus.
• European Blockchain Association: European blockchain industry association promoting blockchain adoption through research, education, and policy engagement. Direct peer to HBI in the sense of being an industry-led blockchain research and advocacy body, though operating across all of Europe rather than Germany specifically.
• Blockchain Bundesverband (Bundesblock): Germany's national blockchain industry association, focused on policy advocacy, education, and ecosystem development. Highly comparable to HBI given overlapping membership in the German blockchain community, and direct ties through HBI co-founder Moritz Schildt who also serves on the Bundesblock board.

Regional players

• Crypto Valley Association: Swiss blockchain industry association based in Zug, supporting the Crypto Valley ecosystem through research, education, and events. Closely comparable to HBI in structure and mission, but operating in Switzerland rather than Germany, making it a regional peer.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Blockchain_HH
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjVx1m50J5QmaEVM6R4y7tQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hanseatic-blockchain-institute
• Facebookfacebook.com/Blockchain.HH

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hanseatic Blockchain Institute