Associazione Blockchain Italia

What Associazione Blockchain Italia does

Associazione Blockchain Italia (ABI) is a non-profit research association founded in June 2018 in Milan, Italy, that pursues multidisciplinary study of blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) across technical, legal, economic and social dimensions. The organization operates through twelve or more thematic working groups covering Stable Coin, Smart Contract, Digital Identity, Artificial Intelligence, Tax, Metaverse, DAO, Token and Cryptoassets, Public Sector, Fintech, Real Estate and Supply Chain Traceability, producing peer-reviewed publications, position papers and whitepapers (over 30 documented works). Its tangible outputs include the 'Effective Blockchain Certified' certification mark registered under Art. 11-bis of D.Lgs. 30/2005 for supply-chain blockchain projects, the WordPreSSI open-source WordPress authentication plugin for ESSIF/SSI Verifiable Credentials, and the 'Rete EBSI-compatibile' national initiative to build a parallel network based on European Blockchain Service Infrastructure open-source code. The association is governed by a board chaired by founding President Francesco Rampone, with founding Vice President Massimo Romano and additional board members Paolo Giolito, Fabio Lecca, Giulio Brandimarti, Gianpaolo Masciari and Antonio Malaguti. Revenue is generated from a tiered annual membership model (€50–€1,000 depending on member type, with public entities and non-profits joining free) supplemented by project grants including the 2021 Horizon 2020 NGI ESSIF-Lab Infrastructure Grant. Members include Italian enterprises of all sizes, public administrations, academic researchers, and individual professionals, with engagement delivered via conferences, webinars, a member forum, working-group participation and member-only documentation.

Name

Associazione Blockchain Italia

Legal name

Associazione Blockchain Italia

Website

https://associazioneblockchain.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Associazione Blockchain Italia is a Milan-based non-profit association, founded 2018, that conducts multidisciplinary blockchain and DLT research for Italian enterprises, public bodies, academia and professionals through working groups, publications, a registered certification mark, and a national EBSI-compatible network initiative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Blockchain Research and Industry Association

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210)

akta.pro primary industry

Consortium Networks & Governance (network setup, onboarding, rules, node operations) (FSAPAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

On-Chain Reputation, Identity & Attestation for Governance (DID, badges, sybil resistance) (FSAPAHAF), Digital Asset Risk, Security & Audit Tooling (Smart Contract Audit, Threat Monitoring) (FSAGAMAJ), Interoperability & Integration Middleware (ERP/core banking connectors, messaging, APIs, cross-chain to permissioned) (FSAPAIAL)

Keywords

• Blockchain research
• Distributed ledger technology
• Non-profit association
• Crypto-asset regulation
• Digital identity standards

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The association generates revenue through tiered annual membership fees, ranging from free (public entities) to €1,000 per year (large enterprises). Members receive access to exclusive resources, forums, working groups, and event discounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Associazione Blockchain Italia is a non-profit association that conducts and disseminates multidisciplinary research on blockchain and DLT technologies, runs thematic working groups covering topics such as stable coins, smart contracts, digital identity, AI, tax, metaverse, DAO, and token/criptoassets, and offers a certification mark for blockchain-based supply chain traceability projects. It provides members with access to forums, exclusive resources, conferences, webinars, and publications, and operates the WordPreSSI authentication plugin and the national EBSI-compatible network initiative.

Product overview

Associazione Blockchain Italia is a non-profit research association offering a portfolio of products and services centered on blockchain and DLT technology research, certification, and collaboration. The core offerings include: the 'Effective Blockchain Certified' certification mark for supply chain projects, the 'Rete EBSI-compatibile' initiative for building a national EBSI-compliant network, the 'WordPreSSI' WordPress authentication plugin for SSI/Verifiable Credentials, and a comprehensive library of publications and knowledge resources. The Association operates through interdisciplinary working groups and provides forums, conferences, and webinars for knowledge dissemination.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Effective Blockchain Certified: A certification mark issued under Italian law (art. 11-bis of d.lgs. 30/2005) to certify the correct and useful adoption of blockchain solutions in supply chain projects for product and service traceability.
• WordPreSSI

Products and services

• Effective Blockchain Certified (Marchio di Certificazione)

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple working groups covering key blockchain topics (Stable Coin, Smart Contract, Digital Identity, AI, Tax, Metaverse, DAO, Token e Criptoasset, Public Sector, Fintech, Real Estate, Tracciabilità) producing published research and position papers.
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Greek Research & Technology Network (GRNET)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022The WordPreSSI plugin, developed under the ESSIF-Lab project, is hosted on GRNET's GitLab infrastructure (gitlab.grnet.gr/essif-lab/infrastructure_2/blockchain-italia). GRNET provides the technical infrastructure for the project's open-source code repository.
• European Commission (Horizon 2020 / ESSIF-Lab)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Associazione Blockchain Italia won the Horizon 2020 funded NGI ESSIF-Lab Infrastructure Grant. The association contributes to expanding the European Self-Sovereign Identity Framework (ESSIF) software infrastructure with an authentication and authorization component based on European decentralised digital identity vectors. The project received funding under grant agreement No. 871932.
• Araneum Group srlminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Araneum Group srl is listed as an associate partner of Associazione Blockchain Italia, contributing to the ESSIF-Lab Infrastructure Grant project.
• BS Company srlminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021BS Company srl is listed as an associate partner of Associazione Blockchain Italia, contributing to the ESSIF-Lab Infrastructure Grant project.
• Innova4: Blockchain technologiesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Innova4: Blockchain technologies is listed as an associate partner of Associazione Blockchain Italia, contributing to the ESSIF-Lab Infrastructure Grant project.
• European Blockchain Service Infrastructure (EBSI)minorOthersThe association has launched an initiative to create a parallel network based on the open-source code released by EBSI. The initiative is explicitly not affiliated with EBSI, EUROPEUM-EDIC, EBP, or the European Commission. The network is designed as an open space for learning, collaboration, experimentation, and production deployment of blockchain use cases in Italy.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alastria: Spanish national blockchain association operating a permissioned consortium network with enterprise and government members. Closely comparable to ABI in mission (multistakeholder blockchain association), structure (non-profit), and product (consortium network + working groups).
• International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications (INATBA): EU-level non-profit blockchain association with multi-stakeholder membership spanning industry, academia, and public sector. Comparable to ABI in advocacy role, working-group structure, and engagement with EU institutions on blockchain standards.
• European Blockchain Association: European non-profit industry association promoting blockchain adoption across member states. Comparable to ABI in mission, continental scope, and policy-advocacy orientation.
• Government Blockchain Association: Non-profit international association connecting government and blockchain practitioners through working groups and chapters. Highly comparable to ABI in non-profit, working-group-driven, public-sector-engagement model.
• Chamber of Digital Commerce: US-based non-profit trade association advocating for the digital asset and blockchain industry. Comparable to ABI in non-profit advocacy, policy engagement, and member-driven research output, though US-focused.

Regional players

• Crypto Valley Association: Swiss non-profit association focused on blockchain/DLT ecosystem building with strong working-group and event model. Comparable to ABI in community/working-group structure, though focused on Switzerland rather than Italy.

Broad incumbents

• European Blockchain Service Infrastructure (EBSI): EU's official blockchain service infrastructure initiative under the European Commission. Comparable because ABI's Rete EBSI-compatibile is built on EBSI's open-source code; EBSI is the incumbent whose standard ABI is aligning to.
• Enterprise Ethereum Alliance: Global non-profit consortium specifying enterprise-grade Ethereum standards with hundreds of corporate and academic members. Comparable to ABI in consortium/governance model and standards-development role, but at much larger scale.
• Hyperledger Foundation: Linux Foundation-hosted open-source blockchain consortium focused on enterprise DLT. Comparable to ABI in consortium governance and standards/working-group model; ABI's EBSI-compatible initiative operates in adjacent territory.

Emerging players

• Blockchain Research Institute: Independent global research organisation producing blockchain thought leadership and publications. Comparable to ABI in research/publications output and academic orientation, though operates as a paid research membership rather than an open association.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Associazione Blockchain Italia