Vietnam has officially launched NDAChain, a permissioned Layer 1 blockchain designed to serve as a critical component of its national digital infrastructure. Announced via a press release from NDAChain on July 25, the platform marks a significant step in the country’s digital transformation efforts, aiming to enhance data security, transparency, and efficiency across government and enterprise systems.
NDAChain is operated by the Data Innovation and Exploitation Center under Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security and developed by the National Data Association. This strategic collaboration highlights Vietnam’s commitment to leveraging advanced technology for public services and data governance.
The new blockchain platform is deeply integrated with the National Data Center and will function as a verification layer for various public and private sector applications. Nguyen Huy, Head of Technology at the National Data Association, explained Vietnam’s unique approach: “Vietnam has chosen a hybrid data architecture that blends centralized and decentralized components. NDAChain acts as a protective layer for the nation’s live data, critical to our digital society and economy.”
NDAChain operates on a Proof-of-Authority (PoA) consensus model, supported by a network of 49 validator nodes. These nodes are managed by a consortium of public and private entities, including prominent Vietnamese corporations such as SunGroup, Masan, Zalo, Sovico, and VNVC. The system boasts high performance, capable of processing up to 3,600 transactions per second, and is enhanced with zero-knowledge proofs for heightened privacy and security.
Driving Digital Identity and Product Traceability
The platform introduces two key solutions to bolster Vietnam’s digital ecosystem:
- NDA DID (Decentralized Identity Framework): This framework enables secure identity verification for digital contracts and online interactions, integrating seamlessly with existing national ID services. It empowers users with greater control over their digital identities.
- NDATrace (Product Traceability Solution): This system assigns unique identifiers to products, facilitating authentication and cross-border tracking. NDATrace is designed to comply with international standards like GS1 and W3C DID, promoting trust and efficiency in supply chains.
The launch of NDAChain positions Vietnam among a growing number of nations establishing national blockchain infrastructure to support public services and data management. This global trend is exemplified by projects such as China’s Blockchain Service Network (BSN), the European Union’s European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI, which NDATrace is compatible with), and South Korea’s Klaytn. These state-backed platforms are typically designed to secure identity systems, enhance supply chain traceability, and standardize data interoperability.
