China-Led Blockchain BaaS Standard Approved by ISO

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has approved a China-led international standard for Blockchain as a Service (BaaS), marking a significant milestone in the globalization of blockchain technology standards. The standard, formally titled “Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology – Technical Framework and Functional Requirements for Blockchain as a Service,” was approved for project initiation, according to CCTV News.

Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, Portugal, and Uganda will send representatives to participate in the standard’s development, signaling broad international interest in establishing common technical ground for blockchain services.

What is Blockchain as a Service?

BaaS is a cloud-based service model that allows enterprises to deploy and use blockchain technology without building and maintaining their own infrastructure. It has become one of the most widely applied blockchain commercialization models, offering advantages including low entry barriers, controllable costs, and flexible scalability. According to industry research cited by China Economic Net, more than 100,000 blockchain application projects have been built on BaaS platforms, spanning supply chain finance, product traceability, and digital evidence storage.

The standard will define technical requirements across three core areas: infrastructure and network construction, service management and smart contracts, and data interaction and security protection. By establishing a unified framework, the standard aims to address long-standing difficulties in cross-platform migration and the high costs of system interconnection, while promoting the standardized, secure, and sustainable application of blockchain technology.

China’s Growing Influence in International Standards

The approval is part of a broader trend of China expanding its influence in global technology standard-setting. According to a June 2026 analysis in Study Times, China has risen to third place globally in the number of ISO technical committee secretariats, behind only Germany and the United States. China’s number of ISO secretariats grew from nearly zero in 2003 to more than 80 today.

In 2025, China led the development and publication of 285 ISO/IEC international standards, a 26.67% increase year-over-year, and submitted 505 proposals to ISO/IEC. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), China cumulatively led the development of 1,183 ISO/IEC international standards, an 88.1% increase over the previous five-year period.

This is not China’s first blockchain standard initiative at ISO. In February 2026, China led the successful initiation of the “Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology – Web3.0 Reference Architecture” standard at ISO/TC 307, the technical committee dedicated to blockchain standardization, with support from over a dozen countries including Russia, Germany, Australia, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and India, as ITHome noted.

Why This Matters for Global Adoption

The move comes as blockchain technology expands beyond cryptocurrency into supply chain tracking, digital identity, financial services, and government applications. However, the lack of common standards has often hindered integration between different BaaS offerings, creating barriers for enterprises that need to collaborate across borders, as CryptoRank reported.

An ISO standard could change that by providing a reference framework that vendors and users can align with, potentially lowering costs and increasing trust in blockchain-based systems. For companies evaluating BaaS providers, the standard could eventually serve as a benchmark for evaluating service quality and security.

Industry observers also note that the standard will need to carefully address sensitive topics such as data sovereignty and cross-border data flows, which are contentious issues in many jurisdictions. The final document will need to balance technical rigor with practical usability to gain wide acceptance.

What’s Next

The project is still in its early stages, and the exact timeline for completion has not been announced. ISO standards typically undergo several rounds of drafting, review, and voting before final publication, a process that can take several years.

As the project progresses, stakeholders will likely scrutinize the technical details to ensure they meet the needs of a rapidly evolving industry. The participation of six countries from different regions suggests broad international consensus on the need for standardized BaaS frameworks, and the outcome could shape how enterprises worldwide adopt and integrate blockchain technology in the years ahead.