EBSI Documentation

CEF DigitalEBSIExperience the future with the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI)

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What is EBSI?

Since 2018, 29 countries (All EU Member States, Norway and Lichtenstein) and the European Commission have joined forces to form the European Blockchain Partnership (EBP). They have committed to working together towards realising the potential of blockchain-based services for the benefit of citizens, society and the economy.

The Partnership is building a European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI). Their vision is to leverage blockchain to the creation of cross-border services for public administrations and their ecosystems to verify information and make services trustworthy.

Since 2020, EBSI is deploying a network of distributed blockchain nodes across Europe, supporting applications focused on selected use-cases. EBSI is the first EU-wide blockchain infrastructure, driven by the public sector, in full respect of European values and regulations.

"Blockchain is fundamentally changing the way people and public administration share information and trust each other"

Who is EBSI for?

Public administrations

It allows public administrations to protect against fraud, increase trust and security and make the verification of data authenticity easy and cost-efficient.

Businesses

It allows businesses to effortlessly interact with government agencies and reduce friction and administrative / compliance costs.

Citizens

It allows citizens to take control of their data, secure them and easily move with their own credentials across Europe.

EBSI Architecture

The EBSI Platform is a peer-to-peer network of interconnected nodes. The Commission operates EBSI nodes at European level and the Member States’ authorities mandated by the EBP Policy group operate EBSI nodes at a national level.

EBSI is designed as a market-friendly ecosystem based on open standards and a transparent governance model. The EBP has defined and approved five key principles: public good, governance, harmonisation, open source and compliant with EU regulations" (GDPR, eIDAS, etc.).

EBSI’s architecture of each node is composed of three layers:

The infrastructure layer provides generic capabilities and connectivity to Blockchain networks;
The chain and storage layer encompasses both, the blockchain and the off-chain storage protocols currently supported by EBSI and;
The core services are set of standardised interfaces (APIs) which provide the capabilities for third-parties to develop applications and ensure compliance with guiding principles defined and approved by the EBP.

Download the EBSI architecture deck (PDF, 1.36 MB)

EBSI use cases

EBSI supports the creation of cross-border services e.g. for citizens to manage their own identity, educational credentials and register documents.

Identity (SSI)

Implementing a Self-Sovereign Identity model in Europe, allowing users to create and control their own identity across borders.

e.g. For citizens who want to set-up a digital wallet and manage their identity credentials across borders.

Diploma

Citizens gain digital control of their educational credentials, significantly reducing verification costs and improving trust in documents’ authenticity.

e.g. For students/young professionals who want to apply for a Degree/job and manage their educational credentials.

Traceability

The power of blockchain is being leveraged to create trusted digital audit trails, automate compliance checks and prove data integrity.

e.g. For entrepreneurs who wants to create a company, apply for funding, manage and register documents.

Trust data sharing

Securely share data (such as IOSS VAT identification numbers and import one-stop-shop) among customs and tax authorities in the EU.

e.g. For tax authorities who want to share data securely between each other across borders.

Learn more about EBSI use cases

EBSI potential market

Mobility of students, young professionals and entrepreneurs in Europe represent broad markets opportunities besides being big priorities of the European Union.

+13,5 m EU Citizens

live in an EU Member State
other than their country of origin

+ 0,5 m EU Students

study in an EU Member State
other than their country of origin

+7,5 m EU Professionals

work in an EU Member State
other than their country of origin

+2,7 m New Companies

were created
accross the EU

Get started with EBSI

We invite public organisations to consider or plan piloting with EBSI by using the following resources:

Discover EBSI

Learning Package

You would like to learn more about EBSI. Check the learning package. Watch our episodes and register to our webinars.

Learn more