# October 2025
Construction Blockchain Newsletter
Welcome to the CBC October Newsletter. This month highlights significant advances in blockchain finance and construction applications. Siemens and B2C2 have adopted JPMorgan’s Kinexys blockchain to enable real-time, cross-border FX transactions, while nine major European banks have joined forces to launch a MiCAR-compliant euro stablecoin. In Asia, Japan’s regulator is considering allowing banks to trade and hold cryptocurrencies, and in North America, U.S. authorities are streamlining approvals for crypto ETFs. Meanwhile, Bolivia’s president-elect has pledged to use blockchain to combat corruption. Research spotlights blockchain applications in automation, payment efficiency, and dispute resolution. Upcoming events include CBC 2025 and Consensus 2026.
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World & Blockchain
Worldwide
Siemens and B2C2 are using JPMorgan’s Kinexys blockchain to execute cross-border FX transactions in real time, 24/7. B2C2 says the system provides critical liquidity flexibility during crypto market volatility. Kinexys adoption reflects a broader corporate shift toward blockchain payments.
Europe
Nine major European banks join forces to issue stablecoin
Nine major European banks - ING, Banca Sella, KBC, Danske Bank, DekaBank, UniCredit, SEB, CaixaBank and Raiffeisen Bank International - have joined forces to launch a MiCAR-compliant euro-denominated stablecoin. This digital payment instrument, leveraging blockchain technology, aims to become a trusted European payment standard in the digital ecosystem.
Asia
Japan mulls letting banking groups offer crypto trading services
Japan's financial regulator is mulling allowing members of banking groups to launch cryptocurrency trading services, in a move to expand market access and foster competition, the Nikkei reported on Wednesday. Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) is also considering lifting a ban on banks from buying and holding cryptocurrencies for investment.
North America
Crypto ETFs set to flood US market as regulator streamlines approvals
Asset managers are lining up to launch cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds, capitalizing on growing excitement around digital assets while getting a boost from looser regulatory requirements to bring products to market. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's updated standards for ETFs, announced last week, could encourage demand for exchange-traded products tied to cryptocurrencies ranging from solana to dogecoin.
South America
Bolivia’s new president backs blockchain to tackle government corruption
Bolivian President-elect Rodrigo Paz plans to tackle corruption in his country’s government using blockchain technology. The Associated Press reported Monday that Paz defeated rival Jorge Quiroga 54.5% to 45.5% and is set to take office on Nov. 8. Paz won Sunday’s runoff on a centrist, pro-market message and inherits an economy strained by fuel shortages and a US dollar squeeze, according to the AP.
Research & Development Digest
This monthly Research Digest features some notable papers produced or suggested by our academic and industry Members and Partners that we hope will be of interest.
Blockchain & Payments
Scott D. J., Broyd T., 2025
Existing construction research is deficient in studies that focus on knowledge transfer from blockchain engineers to the construction industry. Blockchain engineers are the most technically sophisticated in decentralised technologies; thus, they are the most appropriate participants for a knowledge transfer investigation on the technical challenges of using blockchain and smart contracts in construction. Payments are the most progressed aspect of blockchain, and late payments are cited in research as one of the construction industry’s most significant problems. Therefore, this research draws insights from experts in the field of blockchain to investigate whether the technology can increase payment processing efficiencies through automation and systems integration. Primary data is collected from blockchain engineers experienced in developing decentralised payment applications. The key findings suggest that blockchain could improve data integration across siloed software, and smart contracts could provide a solution for payment automation. However, the findings also suggest that blockchain lacks infrastructure and services for interoperating effectively with existing centralised systems, such as management software and traditional banking applications. This is one of the primary barriers affecting the adoption of blockchain in construction.
http://www.itcon.org/paper/2025/48
Sonmez R., Ahmadisheykhsarmast S., Sayın M., 2025
The payment issues in construction projects present major challenges for successful completion of projects. In this proceeding a framework is presented for achieving trust-free automated progress payment of construction projects to eliminate or reduce the payment issues. The framework integrates blockchain, smart contracts, Building Information Modeling (BIM), robotic reality capture solutions, and decentralized cloud technologies for accomplishing automated progress payments without any involvement of the project participants. Achieving a trust-free automated progress payment system would enable secure, efficient, timely and transparent payment of construction projects and would also eliminate payment related trust issues among the project participants.
http://www.doi.org/10.35490/EC3.2025.312
Kumtepe K., Cise C., 2025
This article explores how blockchain and smart contracts can revolutionize dispute resolution in the construction industry, particularly by addressing enforceability issues seen in traditional mechanisms such as The Federation Internationale des Ingenieurs-Conseil’s (FIDIC) dispute adjudication board (DAB). While FIDIC’s DAB decisions are binding but not final, leading to enforcement challenges, blockchain-based solutions offer more immediate and efficient alternatives. Following doctrinal, normative and partially comparative qualitative legal research methodologies, this study examines the potential of smart contracts to automate contract performance and payment, manage task performance and resolve disputes. Promising developments in blockchain-based smart contracts enable secure, performance-based payments and incorporate an escrow mechanism to minimize disputes. Despite these advancements, risks related to noncompliance remain. This article proposes improvements, including private blockchains, escrow mechanisms, and expert pools and transposing a standardized contracting on-chain for dispute resolution to enhance compliance and reliability. By integrating blockchain with traditional systems, this article suggests that stakeholders such as FIDIC can formalize procedures and provide clearer, enforceable outcomes, addressing existing gaps in enforcement and improving access to justice in construction disputes.
https://doi.org/10.1061/JLADAH.LADR-1269
Events Agenda
CBC Conference 2025
22nd November 2025, online from London
This year’s theme, “Digital Trust & Traceable Systems,” explores how blockchain is reshaping trust, accountability, and traceability across the built environment — from supply chain transparency and compliance to data assurance and sustainability
Consensus 2026
10-12 Feb 2026, Hong-Kong.
Since 2015, Consensus has been more than an event–it's the annual gathering of the tribes. It's where the most influential voices in blockchain, web3, and decentralized AI come together to drive innovation forward.
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Knowledge Upgrade
What SWIFT's Blockchain Means for Stablecoins and Global Banks
The company that underpins the global financial messaging system is building infrastructure for onchain settlement as it seeks a role in blockchain-based finance.
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