Rapid Growth of the Enterprise Blockchain Market
As of early 2026, blockchain technology is finally stepping out of the shadow of cryptocurrencies to become a core infrastructure for enterprise solutions. According to the latest report from Gartner, the global enterprise blockchain market size is expected to grow from $6.7 billion in 2025 to $9.4 billion in 2026, marking a 40% increase. This continues the trend of an average annual growth rate of 45% over the past three years. Notably, from the second half of 2025, large corporations have moved beyond the pilot phase to full-scale commercialization of blockchain adoption.
The backdrop to this change includes the maturation of blockchain technology and the real-world challenges faced by companies. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the complexity and vulnerabilities of global supply chains, leading to a surge in demand for blockchain solutions that offer transparency and traceability. Additionally, as pressure for ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management intensifies, the use of blockchain for carbon emission tracking and sustainable supply chain management has become essential. In PwC’s 2025 CEO survey, 73% of CEOs from large corporations indicated plans to integrate blockchain technology into core business processes within the next two years, a significant increase from 48% in 2023.
The primary drivers of growth in the enterprise blockchain market can be categorized into three main areas. First, in supply chain management, blockchain enables transparent tracking of the entire process from raw materials to the end consumer. Walmart, for example, implemented blockchain across its entire food supply chain starting in 2025, reducing food safety incident tracking time from seven days to 2.2 seconds, achieving an annual cost saving of $230 million. Second, in digital identity management, blockchain-based identity verification systems are rapidly spreading. Countries like Singapore, Dubai, and South Korea are building national blockchain-based digital identity systems, modeled after Estonia’s e-Residency program, which is expected to save administrative costs worth trillions of won annually.
Blockchain Strategies and Competitive Landscape of Major Companies
The most notable company in the enterprise blockchain market is IBM, headquartered in New York, USA. IBM’s ‘IBM Blockchain Platform’ is currently used by over 1,200 companies and government agencies worldwide, with blockchain-related revenue reaching $3.4 billion in Q4 2025, a 67% increase from the same period the previous year. This demonstrates that blockchain has become a key growth driver as IBM transitions from a hardware-centric to a software and services-focused business model. IBM’s blockchain solutions are particularly strong in the financial services and supply chain management sectors, with major global corporations like JPMorgan Chase, HSBC, and Nestlé as key clients.
Microsoft is expanding its market share through the ‘Azure Blockchain Service’ based on its Azure cloud platform. Microsoft’s blockchain business, headquartered in Redmond, Washington, recorded annual revenue of $2.8 billion in 2025, securing a competitive edge in the BaaS (Blockchain as a Service) model targeted at SMEs and startups. Microsoft’s strategy involves seamlessly integrating blockchain services within the existing Azure ecosystem used by enterprise customers, allowing blockchain adoption without the need for separate infrastructure.
In the Korean market, Samsung SDS is emerging as a leader in the blockchain field. Based in Seoul, Samsung SDS recorded blockchain-related revenue of 820 billion won in 2025, achieving 89% growth from the previous year. Samsung SDS’s blockchain platform ‘Nexledger’ is utilized by over 450 companies domestically and internationally, particularly strong in logistics, finance, and public sectors. In December 2025, Samsung SDS signed a 150 billion won contract with Hyundai Motor Group to build a blockchain-based automotive parts tracking system, considered the largest enterprise blockchain project in Korea. Additionally, SK Telecom is differentiating itself with blockchain services leveraging its telecommunications infrastructure, recording blockchain-related revenue of 340 billion won in 2025.
Oracle is experiencing rapid growth in the blockchain market, leveraging its expertise in the database field. Oracle’s ‘Oracle Blockchain Platform,’ headquartered in Austin, California, was used by 780 companies worldwide in 2025, achieving significant results in the manufacturing and distribution sectors. Oracle’s blockchain solutions offer seamless compatibility with existing Oracle databases, allowing large corporations to adopt blockchain technology while maintaining their existing systems. Oracle’s blockchain-related revenue reached $1.9 billion in 2025, a 78% increase from the previous year.
Competition among these companies is evolving beyond mere technological prowess to ecosystem-building competition. IBM is focusing on building an open-source ecosystem based on Hyperledger Fabric, while Microsoft emphasizes one-stop services through integration with cloud infrastructure. Samsung SDS is attempting differentiation through localization strategies tailored to the Asian market, and Oracle is concentrating on stable market expansion by leveraging its existing enterprise customer base.
Examining real-world cases of blockchain adoption by companies reveals concrete and measurable effects. German automaker BMW implemented blockchain across its entire supply chain in 2025, improving parts traceability and reducing recall costs by $450 million annually. It also achieved a 95% reduction in counterfeit parts inflow. Unilever in the Netherlands reduced carbon emissions by 12% through blockchain-enabled sustainable supply chain management, resulting in annual carbon credit savings of $230 million. In Korea, Lotte Group improved product traceability by implementing blockchain across its entire distribution network in 2025, reducing food safety-related costs by 18 billion won annually.
The use of blockchain in the financial services sector is also rapidly expanding. JPMorgan Chase’s blockchain-based payment system ‘JPM Coin’ surpassed a daily transaction volume of $30 billion in 2025, reducing transaction times by 90% and fees by 70% compared to the traditional SWIFT system. In Korea, Shinhan Bank implemented a blockchain-based trade finance system, reducing the letter of credit issuance time from seven days to one day, achieving an annual operational cost saving of 34 billion won.
The use of blockchain in the public sector is also noteworthy. The Singapore government implemented a blockchain-based digital identity system across all public services in 2025, significantly improving administrative efficiency. This system allows citizens to access all public services with a single identity verification, and the government announced expected annual administrative cost savings of $800 million. The Korean government also began a pilot operation of a blockchain-based electronic voting system in December 2025, considering full implementation in the 2026 local elections.
The Evolution and Future Prospects of Blockchain Technology
As of 2026, blockchain technology is evolving beyond its initial role as a simple distributed ledger, opening new possibilities through convergence with other advanced technologies like AI, IoT, and 5G. In particular, the ‘AI-Blockchain Convergence’ field is emerging, combining blockchain’s transparency with AI’s automation capabilities to create entirely new business models. For example, in supply chain management, systems that store data collected by IoT sensors on the blockchain and use AI to automatically determine optimal logistics routes are being commercialized. Companies adopting these converged technologies report an average operational efficiency improvement of 35% and cost reduction of 28%.
The scalability issue of blockchain technology is also largely being resolved. With the commercialization of Ethereum’s sharding technology and layer 2 solutions, the number of transactions that can be processed per second has significantly increased from 15 to over 100,000. This is a key factor enabling stable use of blockchain in large-scale enterprise applications. Additionally, energy consumption has been reduced by 99.9% with the adoption of the Proof of Stake consensus algorithm, significantly lowering the barrier to blockchain adoption for companies prioritizing ESG management.
Improvements in the regulatory environment are also greatly aiding the growth of the enterprise blockchain market. In the U.S., clear regulatory guidelines for enterprise blockchain were introduced in the second half of 2025, and the European Union (EU) established a legal framework for blockchain-based services through the ‘Digital Services Act.’ The Korean government enacted the ‘Blockchain Promotion Basic Act’ in December 2025 to actively support enterprise blockchain adoption, expanding related tax benefits and regulatory sandboxes. These regulatory improvements have significantly reduced the legal risks associated with blockchain adoption for companies, acting as an important catalyst for market growth.
From an investment perspective, the enterprise blockchain market is showing very active movement. In 2025, global venture investment in blockchain startups totaled $18.7 billion, with 73% concentrated in companies developing enterprise solutions. Startups in supply chain management, digital identity, and smart contracts are particularly attracting large-scale investments. In Korea, investment in the blockchain sector is also surging, with domestic blockchain startup investment reaching 2.3 trillion won in 2025, a 156% increase from the previous year.
However, challenges remain in the enterprise blockchain market. The biggest issue is the shortage of skilled personnel. While demand for blockchain developers is rapidly increasing, supply is not keeping pace, resulting in continuously rising salaries for related personnel. In the U.S., the average salary for blockchain developers exceeds $150,000, while in Korea, the average salary for blockchain specialists reaches 120 million won. Additionally, the integration of existing legacy systems remains a challenge. Particularly for large corporations, significant time and cost are required to integrate blockchain with systems built over decades.
Security also requires ongoing attention. While blockchain itself offers high security, vulnerabilities are occasionally discovered in external systems or smart contracts connected to the blockchain. In 2025, global losses from blockchain-related security incidents amounted to $2.3 billion, indicating the need for thorough security reviews and investments when adopting blockchain.
Despite these challenges, the future outlook for the enterprise blockchain market is very bright. According to IDC’s latest report, the global enterprise blockchain market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 47% from 2026 to 2030, reaching a market size of $52 billion by 2030. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to have the highest growth rate, with countries like Korea, Singapore, and Japan playing leading roles. This growth is driven by accelerated digital transformation, the spread of ESG management, and increasing demands for transparency in global supply chains, indicating that blockchain technology will be a key driver in transforming business paradigms beyond mere technological innovation.
In conclusion, as of 2026, the enterprise blockchain market has entered a full-fledged growth trajectory based on technological maturity, regulatory improvements, and proven business effects. In the coming years, this market is expected to present even more innovative solutions through convergence with other advanced technologies like AI and IoT, serving as a key catalyst for accelerating digital transformation across industries. For companies, this represents a crucial opportunity to actively respond to these changes and secure a competitive advantage.
*This analysis is based on publicly available market data and industry reports, and additional due diligence is required for investment decisions.*
