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Digital public
infrastructure Sovereign by design

Explore how institutions can use Ethereum to support their work and the people they serve

Potential applications

Ethereum is an open, global network. It enables shared digital infrastructure, verifiable records, and coordination without relying on a central operator.

  • Verify presented documents against their recorded originals

  • Confirm eligibility for services while minimizing the collection of personal data

  • Track grant disbursements from funders to recipients

Maintain shared digital records that can be independently verified

Programs can also apply rules written into software consistently, creating a common basis for coordination among different parties.

Anyone can build on Ethereum. Its software is open source, meaning anyone can inspect, use, adapt, and share it. The network is maintained by independent participants around the world, with no single owner.

What is Ethereum?

Neutral infrastructure supports resilience without concentrating control

Centralized, proprietary systems leave institutions dependent on a few providers for essential digital services. This creates two types of exposure:

Operational

A single outage or cyberattack can take the entire system offline, disrupt essential services, or expose citizens' sensitive information

Structural

Access depends on an operator that can change the rules, restrict access, or remove participants

Ethereum offers open, shared infrastructure that reduces dependence on a single provider. Services built on it can preserve institutional authority while giving people greater control over their assets and information.

Institutional sovereignty

  • Avoid vendor lock-in
  • Retain authority over policies, rules, and service delivery
  • Maintain independent oversight without relying on a central operator’s records

Individual agency

  • Retain control over their digital assets and credentials
  • Choose what information to disclose
  • Move between compatible services and providers
Why use Ethereum?

Public infrastructure is already taking shape on Ethereum

Governments, UN bodies, nonprofits, and other institutions are using Ethereum to deliver public services, coordinate across borders, and explore new models of funding and governance.

  1. Bhutan National Digital Identity

    449k+ users onboarded to Bhutan NDI

    Bhutan's national digital identity system uses Ethereum to support the verification of digital credentials across public and private services. Individuals control what information they share, while personal data remains outside the blockchain.

  2. UNICEF CryptoFund

    $4m+ invested in ETH and BTC

    UNICEF’s CryptoFund provides funding in cryptocurrency to startups developing open-source technology in emerging economies. Transfers made in ETH are recorded on Ethereum, where they can be independently verified and traced.

  3. ITCILO digital credentials

    208k+ blockchain-secured credentials issued

    ITCILO issues digital certificates and badges that can be independently verified using Ethereum. Learners can share their credentials with employers and institutions without needing a cryptocurrency wallet or technical knowledge of Ethereum.

View all case studies

Can Ethereum support your institution’s work?

Every public-interest challenge has its own context. If you’re exploring whether Ethereum can support your work, start a conversation with Ethereum for Public Infrastructure and Commons (EPIC), a team at the Ethereum Foundation.

Learn more about EPIC