October 23, 2025
In an increasingly connected digital world, companies are seeking innovation, efficiency, and new ways to monetize assets and services. One of the technologies that promises to transform entire sectors is Blockchain as a Service. In this article, we will break down what Blockchain as a Service is, how it works, its benefits and challenges, practical examples, regulation in Brazil, and how Azify differentiates itself in this market so that companies can scale securely and swiftly.
What is Blockchain as a Service? Concept and definition
Blockchain as a Service is a service model in which a company or provider outsources the infrastructure, maintenance, and many of the operational components of blockchain to a client who wants to use blockchain features (distributed ledger, smart contracts, digital identity, tokenization, etc.), without needing to build all the infrastructure from scratch.
It is conceptually similar to the SaaS (Software as a Service) model: instead of installing and managing servers, nodes, handling updates, security, etc., the client uses an interface, APIs, and dashboards provided by the Blockchain as a Service provider. The provider takes care of:
infrastructure such as blockchain nodes, network, replication, consensus, or permissions (in permissioned blockchains, for example)
security, auditing, encryption, private key or key management
scalability, availability, backup, updates
the ability to integrate with legacy systems, other APIs, financial or compliance modules
This approach allows innovative companies to use blockchain to solve problems or build new products, focusing on their value proposition, instead of spending many resources on technical infrastructure.
Difference between Blockchain as a Service and traditional blockchain usage models
To better understand, it is worth comparing Blockchain as a Service with other ways to use blockchain:
Model | What the company needs to build / maintain | Implementation time / cost | Technical complexity | Scalability / maintenance |
On-premises infrastructure | Node infrastructure, consensus configuration, network, security, monitoring, maintenance | High initial cost and time, need for specialists | High — requires knowledge in distributed networks, cryptography, smart contracts, etc. | Continuous maintenance, updates, scalability can create bottlenecks |
Public / open source networks | Utilize existing public or permissioned blockchains (e.g.: Ethereum, Hyperledger, etc.), but still configure contracts, deal with fees, security, variability | Less initial cost than on-premises infrastructure, but time and risk of fees / performance, dependence on third parties | Medium-high — smart contracts, gas (transactions), integration, etc. | May suffer from congestion, variable costs, external vulnerabilities |
Blockchain as a Service | Outsourced infrastructure, APIs, pluggable components, security management by the provider | Lower initial cost, much faster time to market | The company needs to focus on product, integration, security of use — but not on base infrastructure | Easier scalability, the provider takes on part of the technical responsibility |
Blockchain as a Service allows companies that do not have great technical maturity in blockchain or do not want to invest heavily in infrastructure to access the benefits of this technology much more quickly.
Informational content. It does not constitute an offer of securities, foreign exchange services, or payment. Past profitability does not guarantee future results. Azify operates directly or through duly authorized partners, as per the scope.
How Blockchain as a Service works in practice: structure, architecture, and integration via plugable APIs
To understand the real workings, let's break down the typical components of a Blockchain as a Service solution and which architectures are most used.
Typical structure and architecture – A Blockchain as a Service platform usually has the following modules or layers:
Base infrastructure (nodes / blockchain network)
Validation or observation nodes (full nodes, light nodes)
Consensus configuration (if permissioned: Proof of Authority, BFT, etc.; if public or hybrid)
Private or permissioned network, if there is a need for regulatory control
Security, identity, and key management
Private keys stored in HSM (Hardware Security Modules) or equivalent security modules
Encryption, auditing, logs, protection against attacks (DDoS, spoofing, etc.)
Authentication, authorization, access control
APIs and pluggability layers
REST or gRPC APIs that allow external applications to consume services: issue smart contracts, tokenize assets, register transactions, query state, etc.
SDKs or libraries to facilitate integration with various languages or platforms
Management dashboard or console, to configure policies (e.g., permissions, limits)
Application layer
Smart contracts, which automate business rules
Distributed ledger for digital identity, for traceability, for auditing or compliance
Tokenization of real or digital assets
Governance, compliance, and monitoring
Network, transaction, and security monitoring
Compliance policies (anti-money laundering, know-your-customer, know-your-transaction)
Regular audits
Scalability and support infrastructure
Cloud or hybrid hosting, with high availability
Backup, replication, disaster recovery
Performance SLAs, latency, transaction throughput
Integration via pluggable APIs – One of the major advantages of Blockchain as a Service is allowing companies to choose which components to use — plug and play — without the commitment to solve everything internally. Examples of pluggable functionalities:
Digital identity integration: issue identity certifications or use trusted external networks for verification
Token issuance (fungible or non-fungible)
Smart contracts for automation of financial rules, compliance, or royalties
Audit/log records for traceability
Multi-currency or connectivity with various settlement or exchange systems (when permitted or via partners)
This modularity allows companies to progress step by step, test, validate hypotheses, and scale when necessary.
Examples of products and services offered by Blockchain as a Service
Here are some typical use cases of what can be offered via Blockchain as a Service:
Distributed digital identity: verify identities without relying on unique centralized databases; records persist and are auditable.
Distributed ledger/shared ledger: for traceability in supply chains, property records, digital documentation, etc.
Smart contracts: automate payments, release funds automatically when certain conditions are met, manage royalties, embedded compliance.
Asset tokenization: transform real assets — real estate, commodities, receivables, stocks, fund shares — into tradable digital tokens that represent ownership or rights.
Digital markets / marketplaces: support for marketplaces operating in multiple jurisdictions, multiple currencies, with settlement via blockchain.
NFTs and digital certificates: usage in art, intellectual property, tickets, certificates, origin traceability, etc.
Applications and market opportunities
Which segments can benefit the most from Blockchain as a Service? We have listed some:
Fintechs and financial institutions: to launch innovative financial products (wallets, tokenization, microcredit, insurance, etc.) without building the entire infrastructure.
Supply chain / logistics: product traceability, food chain, industrial, quality control, transparency, combating counterfeiting.
Marketplaces: especially those operating internationally, with multiple currencies, sellers in different countries.
Real estate: tokenization of properties, fractional sales, digital guarantees, liquidity for previously “illiquid” assets.
Renewable energy/carbon credit schemes: tokenization of environmental credits, cycle tracking, distributed energy providers, etc.
Public sector / government records: identity, registrations, property records, licenses, voting, transparency, etc.
Globally, the market for Blockchain as a Service platforms is experiencing strong growth. According to a recent report, estimates suggest that the global Blockchain as a Service market was around US$ 2.1 billion in 2024, with projections reaching about US$ 138 billion by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 59.3%.
In Brazil, there are concrete examples of companies offering Blockchain as a Service/tokenization of tickets with infrastructure for tokenized assets, compatible with networks such as R3 Corda, Hyperledger Besu, and Hyperledger Fabric.
Also, reports like Blockchain Universe from PwC Brazil contain data showing the financial sector as the main adopter of blockchain, growing tokenization, and blockchain startups operating in Blockchain as a Service, etc.
Regulation and compliance in Brazil: rules from Bacen, CVM and the importance of compliance by design
For companies considering adopting Blockchain as a Service in Brazil, the regulatory aspect is critical. Some key points:
Relevant regulatory bodies – In Brazil, different entities and legislations act complementarily to ensure security, transparency, and integrity in the financial market and digital assets. Each has specific scopes of oversight and regulations that directly impact companies operating with digital solutions, including Blockchain as a Service models.
Central Bank of Brazil (Bacen): with direct action over financial institutions, payment methods, payment arrangements, PIX, future digital currencies, and also oversight of certain financial infrastructures.
Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM): when there is an offering, trading, or intermediation of securities or tokens that qualify as securities.
Law 14.478/2022: regulates virtual assets and related regulations for providing services with virtual assets, requiring registration, anti-money laundering, KYC/KYT, etc.
CDC (Consumer Defense Code) and CONAR, in aspects of communication and marketing: avoiding guaranteed promises, misleading language, etc.
Compliance by design – Compliance by design means incorporating regulatory requirements from the conception of the solution, including architecture, security, identity, privacy, governance, rather than leaving corrections for later. Benefits include:
lower risk of sanctions or fines;
greater transparency in audits;
trust from customers, investors, and partners;
faster time to market, as there is less regulatory rework.
Specific requirements in Brazil – KYC (know your customer) rules, anti-money laundering (AML) controls, and transactional monitoring (KYT) for platforms dealing with virtual assets. Possible qualification as securities, depending on the nature of the token or product. If a token represents participation in a company or contract that promises financial return, it may be regulated by the CVM.
Data protection rules (General Data Protection Law – LGPD) for any databases containing personal information. Security and auditing: certifications, use of secure environments (e.g., trusted cloud, use of HSM), encryption, logs, redundancy.
What are the advantages of Blockchain as a Service for companies?
Adopting Blockchain as a Service can bring several strategic benefits:
Reduction of initial and operational costs: less investment in hardware, specialized teams, blockchain network maintenance, nodes, etc. Shared or on-demand infrastructure, paid as you go.
Agility to innovate and launch new products: much shorter development and time-to-market. Allows for hypothesis testing, launching proofs of concept, MVPs, and quickly scaling.
Security and reliability: infrastructure prepared with best security practices: HSM, encryption, audits. Reduced risk of operational error, vulnerabilities, and failures.
Modular and flexible scalability: it is possible to scale according to demand; use only the necessary modules. Multi-currency operations, tokenization, smart contracts, as needed.
Regulatory trust: when the provider implements compliance from the beginning, it makes it easier to meet local, regulatory, and tax requirements. Transparency for customers and partners.
Focus on value proposition: the company can focus on the product, customer experience, monetization, differentiation, rather than blockchain infrastructure.
Challenges and care when adopting Blockchain as a Service
Despite many benefits, there are challenges that any company needs to consider:
Technological integration – Integrating legacy systems, ERPs, databases, payment systems, wallets with blockchain is not always trivial. It requires compatibility analysis, latency, performance.
Variable regulatory maturity – Brazil and many other countries have evolving regulations. Uncertainties about token frameworks, reporting obligations, potential legal changes. Companies need to be attentive to compliance by design, flexibility.
Data security and privacy – Key protection, strong encryption, leak prevention, LGPD, anonymization or pseudonymization when necessary. There is also the risk of smart contracts with flaws; code audits are essential.
Dependence on external providers – Using Blockchain as a Service means trusting third parties for critical infrastructure. There is a risk of unavailability, technology lock-in, future costs, provider governance.
Recurring costs and scalability – Although the initial cost is lower, recurring costs (usage fees, transactions, maintenance) can grow with scale; negotiating SLAs is important.
Interoperability – Distinct blockchain systems, standards, different regulations between jurisdictions — it is necessary to ensure interoperability or choose platforms that allow integration.
Practical cases and success stories
Here are some updated examples of companies or initiatives that use Blockchain as a Service or similar models, to illustrate how to scale securely:
RTM / BBChain (Brazil) – RTM offers a Blockchain as a Service solution in partnership with BBChain, allowing operations with tokenized assets, compatible with R3 Corda, Hyperledger Besu, and Hyperledger Fabric networks. RTM's solution operates in a neutral environment, with security, governance, and cloud hosting from RTM, with connectivity to the National Financial System Network (RSFN). This example shows how companies in Brazil are already using digital tokens, smart contracts, and integrating robust solutions.
Mercado Bitcoin – According to the report Blockchain Universe from PwC, Mercado Bitcoin is a leader in tokenization, with offerings of tokenized assets that have already surpassed hundreds of millions of reais. The company created the tokenizer MB Tokens.
Monnos – Also in PwC's study, the company Monnos appears as a pioneer offering Blockchain as a Service or similar services, including tokenization, Web3, and payment methods that integrate crypto for retail, loyalty, etc.
RTM Sandbox for Drex – RTM launched a sandbox in a testing environment for Drex (the Central Bank's digital currency), which allows companies to test integrations before adoption in production. This demonstrates how Blockchain as a Service can also serve for regulatory preparation and secure innovation.
How does Azify operate in the Blockchain as a Service market?
The model of Blockchain as a Service requires providers to offer not only technical infrastructure but also compliance mechanisms and regulatory security. Below are the main points of Azify's actions in this context:
The architecture is based on pluggable APIs, allowing companies to choose modules according to their needs—such as tokenization, smart contracts, digital identity, or distributed ledgers. This model facilitates the launch of prototypes (MVPs) and enables gradual expansion based on demand.
Azify provides support for multiple currencies, with the capacity to integrate local and international transactions. Settlement can occur through authorized partners or regulated infrastructure, meeting the foreign exchange and regulatory requirements for companies operating in different markets.
The modules are structured with compliance by design, including KYC (know your customer) policies, AML/KYT (anti-money laundering and transaction monitoring), audits, and security mechanisms such as encryption and HSM. Furthermore, there is integration with authorized partners to ensure that financial operations occur within the regulatory scope required in Brazil.
Azify maintains governance and monitoring processes, with defined SLAs, code audits, compliance reports, and operational transparency tools, such as logs and control dashboards. This allows clients to track transactions and meet regulatory audit requirements.
Practical impacts for companies – The adoption of Blockchain as a Service through Azify can bring effects such as:
reduction in the time to launch digital financial products;
lower initial costs for blockchain-based operations;
adaptation to customer, partner, and regulator requirements;
the possibility to scale operations to new markets with different currencies and regulatory structures.
In parallel, it is important that any company considering the use of Blockchain as a Service takes some critical aspects into account before adoption:
verify if the provider has embedded compliance;
evaluate security, privacy, and auditing mechanisms;
analyze recurring costs, interoperability, and regulatory maturity;
structure from the outset modular and scalable solutions.
Thus, Blockchain as a Service functions as a model that reduces technical and regulatory barriers, while allowing companies to focus their efforts on business differentiators and market expansion.
Azify appears as an alternative in this scenario, offering solutions that combine technology, security, compliance, and multi-currency support. If you want to expand your digital financial business with safety and agility, now is the time to talk to specialists who already understand the market.
