Madrid, 19 December 2025. The Spanish Blockchain Services Infrastructure (ISBE) has officially begun operations following its network initialisation ceremony held on Thursday, 18 December. This was a public, documented and auditable technical procedure involving the Community of Madrid, Alastria and the companies participating in the project, and included the generation of the master keys and the creation of the blockchain’s genesis block.
The initialisation ceremony is not a symbolic event. It represents the “zero moment” of trust of any blockchain network, when it is demonstrated—through verifiable evidence—that no single entity can start the network behind closed doors or retain unilateral control. Using a hybrid format, with institutional and technical representatives present at the Digitaliza Madrid headquarters and the technical teams participating remotely, the entire network initialisation process was carried out in line with the principles of decentralisation and transparency.
This process included the generation of master keys and their distribution using Shamir’s Secret Sharing (SSS), a cryptographic mechanism that divides a secret into multiple fragments and requires a predefined threshold to reconstruct it. This approach prevents the concentration of power and strengthens the operational resilience of the infrastructure.
The ceremony was attended by Ignacio Azorín, Director General for Digital Strategy of the Community of Madrid, and Miguel Ángel Domínguez, President of Alastria. The technical protocol was coordinated by Izertis, Telefónica, Indra and ioBuilders. To safeguard the integrity of the process, the ceremony also involved two independent auditors—Astrea and DigitelTS—a custodian, Onyze, and several observers, both onsite and online, whose role was to ensure correct execution, reinforce trust and enable future verification.
The initialisation process also included the construction of the genesis block with governance elements embedded from the outset, such as the “governance diamond” and the initial allocation of roles to operate the first two networks. As a result, ISBE begins operations with a clear, verifiable and auditable governance structure.
An operational start aligned with eIDAS2
The start of ISBE operations coincides with the publication of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2531, which establishes reference rules and technical specifications for Qualified Electronic Ledgers under the eIDAS2 framework.
ISBE has been designed and built in accordance with this European model from the outset, incorporating defined governance, segregated roles, distributed control and a verifiable start-up process. These requirements form the foundation for any infrastructure seeking qualification and cross-border recognition. In this context, ISBE is positioned to become the first qualified blockchain network in Europe—networks that provide substantive legal effect, a presumption of accuracy and cross-border recognition.
Impact for businesses and public administrations
ISBE is designed to transform the way organisations manage data, processes and digital services. Sectors such as healthcare, tourism, academic certification and public administration can already benefit from an infrastructure that improves efficiency, transparency and security.
For companies—particularly SMEs—ISBE provides a trusted environment in which to innovate without facing technical complexity or regulatory uncertainty. For public administrations, it represents a significant step towards more modern, traceable and secure digital services.
“Today we are taking a decisive step: ISBE moves from being an infrastructure under construction to a fully operational network. We are building a trusted digital space that boosts business competitiveness and connects Spain with Europe’s digital future,” said Miguel Ángel Domínguez, President of Alastria.
“With the network now operational, we are entering a new phase focused on adoption and the progressive deployment of real use cases. Our objective is to support companies and public administrations in implementing solutions that demonstrate the tangible value of ISBE for the economy and public services,” Domínguez added.
About ISBE
The Spanish Blockchain Services Infrastructure (ISBE) is a project promoted by the Community of Madrid together with Alastria, aimed at deploying a national blockchain infrastructure fully aligned with European regulation and initiatives. Conceived as a set of interoperable networks, ISBE enables the development of innovative digital services in both the public and private sectors, reducing technical barriers and promoting accessible technology adoption across key industries.
The project forms part of the Territorial Networks for Technological Specialisation Programme under Spain’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU.