Construction Blockchain Newsletter
October has brought further evidence that blockchain is becoming part of regulated financial infrastructure, although commercial adoption remains uneven. Central banks and financial supervisors are increasingly addressing the operational requirements of tokenisation: collateral eligibility, legal ownership, settlement finality, liquidity and institutional accountability. These developments matter to construction because project finance, international procurement, contractual payments and asset ownership depend on reliable financial infrastructure. The important question is no longer simply whether transactions can be recorded on distributed ledgers, but whether these systems can be integrated into enforceable, auditable business processes.
Worldwide, the Financial Stability Board is examining cross-border stablecoin vulnerabilities. Europe is establishing supervisory expectations for tokenised collateral, while Singapore is refining its stablecoin framework. North America is testing controlled tokenised securities trading; Brazil is strengthening oversight of virtual-asset providers; and South Africa is preparing wider access to its national payments infrastructure. Together, these developments illustrate different approaches to digital financial modernisation.
This month's Research Digest explores blockchain integration with BIM, digital twins and environmental accounting, while the Events Agenda and Knowledge Upgrade highlight opportunities for research exchange and professional development.
World & Blockchain
Worldwide
Financial Stability Board examines cross-border stablecoin risks
On 12 October, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) published an update on its work concerning cross-border vulnerabilities associated with global stablecoin arrangements. The communication, addressed to G20 finance ministers and central bank governors, reinforces concerns about financial stability, regulatory coordination and the international implications of digital financial instruments. For construction, regulated stablecoins could eventually support international procurement, contractor payments and project treasury operations. However, their usefulness depends on credible redemption mechanisms, liquidity management, interoperability and legal certainty. Digital settlement may improve transaction efficiency, but it does not remove counterparty risk or the need for robust financial governance.
Europe
Bank of England advances tokenised collateral rules as European regulators tighten oversight
On 29 October, the Bank of England launched a consultation on supervisory expectations for central counterparties accepting tokenised forms of eligible collateral. The proposals clarify that existing regulations can accommodate tokenisation where assets remain capable of reliable valuation, transfer and liquidation, including during financial stress.
Earlier in October, the European Securities and Markets Authority launched a parallel evidence-gathering exercise concerning tokenised collateral in EU clearing systems.
For construction and infrastructure, these developments are relevant to project finance, collateral management and institutional investment. They demonstrate that tokenisation must satisfy established financial and legal requirements rather than create exemptions from them.
Asia, Middle East & Australia
Singapore proposes stronger safeguards for regulated stablecoin issuance
In September, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) opened a consultation on legislative amendments implementing its stablecoin regulatory framework, with responses closing on 16 October. Proposals include conditions for multi-jurisdictional issuance, limited recognition of qualifying foreign stablecoins, restrictions on interest payments, stress testing and recovery arrangements.
Singapore's approach acknowledges the potential role of stablecoins as settlement assets in tokenised financial markets while emphasising financial stability and user protection.
For construction enterprises operating across Asian markets, the development is relevant to international supplier payments and programmable financial transactions. Nevertheless, the proposals remain subject to legislative and regulatory implementation.
North America
US securities regulator opens controlled pathway for tokenised equity trading
On 17 September, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a temporary, conditional innovation exemption allowing certain tokenised National Market System shares to trade through designated permissioned venues using automated market makers and liquidity pools.
The regulatory order provides a limited environment in which new trading arrangements can be evaluated without removing established investor-protection responsibilities.
For construction and infrastructure finance, the longer-term relevance lies in digitally administered securities, investment structures and potentially more efficient capital-market transactions. However, the exemption concerns specific equity-market activities. It does not authorise unrestricted tokenisation of real estate, infrastructure ownership or construction-related contractual rights.
South America
Brazil strengthens virtual-asset supervision and financial-integrity requirements
Brazil's Central Bank introduced regulatory amendments taking effect in October that strengthen supervision of virtual-asset service providers and financial-integrity controls.
Resolution BCB No. 589 adjusts authorisation and supervisory requirements, while associated changes address reporting and anti-money-laundering obligations. From 6 November, additional restrictions will apply to dealings with unauthorised virtual-asset providers, subject to the regulation's specified exceptions.
For construction businesses operating internationally, these developments highlight the importance of verifying counterparties, payment providers and regulatory permissions before adopting digital-asset settlement. Brazil's approach reinforces the principle that blockchain transactions must operate within established financial compliance and governance frameworks.
Africa
South Africa prepares direct payment-system access for non-bank institutions
Reporting by Reuters on 16 October indicates that the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) plans to extend access to its national payments infrastructure to qualifying non-bank institutions, including fintech companies, telecommunications providers and retailers, from 2027.
The reform forms part of the Payments Ecosystem Modernisation programme and is intended to increase competition, improve access and reduce reliance on traditional intermediaries.
Although not a blockchain-specific initiative, it is relevant to the financial infrastructure supporting digital commerce. For construction, improved payment accessibility could benefit subcontractors, smaller suppliers and distributed project supply chains. Implementation will depend on licensing, technical integration, cybersecurity and effective financial supervision.
Research & Development Digest
Blockchain, Digital Twins & Verifiable Construction Workflows
This monthly Research Digest features three peer-reviewed studies examining blockchain integration with Building Information Modelling (BIM), digital twins and environmental accounting. Together, the papers address three persistent construction challenges: fragmented information governance, delayed progress payments and the credibility of embodied-carbon records.
Hijazi AA; Alashwal A; Shishehgarkhaneh MB; Calheiros RN, 2026.
This systematic literature review investigates the integration of blockchain and BIM across construction project lifecycles. The authors identify six lifecycle stages, 29 workflows and 30 implementation methods, providing a structured assessment of how distributed ledger technologies may support construction information governance.
The research examines applications including design approval, procurement, provenance tracking, automated payments and asset handover. It also considers the technical mechanisms through which BIM information can interact with smart contracts, including cryptographic hashing, hybrid data storage and access-control arrangements.
Particularly relevant is the distinction between public blockchain networks, which offer wider transparency, and permissioned architectures, which allow greater organisational control over participation and information access.
For construction enterprises, the findings support the development of integrated architectures connecting BIM platforms, contractual processes and verifiable transaction records. However, successful implementation depends on interoperability, data standards, governance and clearly defined responsibilities. Blockchain should therefore be assessed as one component within a broader information-management architecture rather than as a replacement for established BIM environments.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115388
Wu Y; Li Z, 2025
This paper presents an integrated framework combining digital twins, BIM and blockchain-based smart contracts to automate milestone-based construction progress payments. The research addresses a longstanding industry challenge: delays arising from manual progress verification, fragmented information and disputes over completed work.
The proposed architecture uses a continuously updated digital twin as a dynamic source of evidence, comparing observed construction conditions with structured BIM milestones. Verified progress can trigger Ethereum smart contracts, while supporting records are stored using the InterPlanetary File System and cryptographic verification. Multi-signature authorisation introduces additional controls over payment execution.
A prototype applied to a police station construction project reportedly reduced the verification-to-payment process from several days to minutes. Although encouraging, the result reflects a controlled demonstration rather than widespread operational deployment.
For construction organisations, the significance lies in connecting physical progress, authoritative digital evidence and financial transactions. Important unresolved questions include legal enforceability, integration with banking systems, responsibility for inaccurate data and the management of contractual exceptions.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100781
Transformational emissions accounting system using BIM- and blockchain-enabled smart contracts for building structural materials
Yoon JH; Aurangzeb I, 2026
This study proposes an emissions-accounting system integrating BIM with blockchain-enabled smart contracts for structural building materials, including steel, concrete and cross-laminated timber. The research addresses limitations in traditional embodied-carbon accounting, particularly the difficulty of maintaining transparent, traceable and consistent environmental records.
The proposed system uses BIM to extract relevant material quantities and information, while blockchain provides mechanisms for recording and verifying emissions-related data and associated transactions. The authors explore how this architecture could support carbon-related regulatory mechanisms, green certifications and environmentally informed design decisions.
For the construction industry, the approach is relevant to material procurement, embodied-carbon reporting, design evaluation and the management of environmental evidence across supply chains.
However, immutable records do not guarantee accurate environmental information. Credible implementation requires verified emission factors, reliable material specifications, consistent calculation methodologies and appropriate responsibility for source data. The contribution is therefore best understood as an approach to accountable information management rather than an automatic solution to carbon verification.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17452007.2026.2632102
Events Agenda
CBC 2026 Conference Update
Spring 2027 | Hybrid from London
We would like to announce that the Construction Blockchain Conference (CBC2026) has been postponed to Spring 2027. The rescheduled conference will build upon the IET book Blockchain, Smart Contracts and Distributed Ledger Technologies in the Built Environment, which provides a comprehensive overview of current developments, research and practical applications relating to the adoption of blockchain technologies in the construction industry. CBC2027 will revisit and expand upon the book's key themes, examining technological progress, emerging applications, implementation challenges and opportunities for wider industry adoption.
On Friday, 6 November 2026, we will instead hold a dedicated author forum and coordination session, bringing together contributors to discuss their ongoing research, develop potential presentations and coordinate submissions for next year's conference. This session will provide an opportunity to align contributions with the themes of CBC2027 and begin shaping its academic and industry programme.
We look forward to welcoming the wider CBC community in Spring 2027. Further details, including confirmed dates, submission deadlines and programme information, will be announced in due course.
Singapore FinTech Festival 2026
18–20 November 2026 | Singapore EXPO, Singapore
Singapore FinTech Festival brings together financial regulators, central banks, institutional investors, technology providers and researchers to discuss the changing architecture of global finance.
The 2026 programme includes digital assets, tokenisation, financial infrastructure, policy development and emerging business models. Discussions about settlement systems, regulatory interoperability and tokenised financial instruments are particularly relevant to organisations evaluating blockchain-enabled transactions.
For construction and infrastructure enterprises, the event offers insights into the financial systems that could eventually support programmable procurement, project financing and digital asset administration. Its principal value is understanding the institutional requirements underpinning these technologies rather than discovering construction-specific products.
Singapore Blockchain Week 2026
13–17 November 2026 | Singapore and Johor, Malaysia
Singapore Blockchain Week combines technical sessions, industry networking and discussions on distributed ledger infrastructure across Singapore and southern Malaysia. Its programme includes decentralised finance, real-world asset tokenisation and applications of artificial intelligence alongside blockchain technology.
For construction and real-estate organisations, the most relevant discussions concern the digital representation of physical assets, financial interoperability and governance across organisational boundaries.
The event is broader than enterprise construction technology and includes commercially oriented Web3 activities. Participants should therefore assess proposed applications against evidence of technical maturity, regulatory compliance, measurable operational benefits and integration with existing asset-management systems.
Knowledge Upgrade
New Finance: Unpacking DeFi, FinTech, Crypto & Blockchain
Provider: Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin
Format: Online, live instructor-led sessions
Start date: 4 November 2026
Duration: Six evening sessions, concluding 9 December 2026
This executive education programme examines blockchain technology, digital assets, decentralised finance, regulatory frameworks and emerging business models. It combines technical foundations with organisational and governance considerations, including implementation risks and the development of blockchain communities of practice.
For construction professionals, the programme offers a structured introduction to evaluating distributed ledger applications in project finance, digital contracts, enterprise information management and tokenised assets. Its emphasis on regulation, organisational decision-making and practical implementation is particularly relevant to digital transformation leaders, enterprise architects and professionals assessing the commercial viability of emerging technologies.
Understanding Blockchain in Construction: A Practical Guide
Understanding Blockchain in Construction: A Practical Guide, is intended to address a persistent gap in the sector: the lack of practical, construction-focused material on blockchain that moves beyond general hype or purely financial use cases. The book examines how blockchain relates to trust, traceability, smart contracts, data exchange and implementation challenges across construction and infrastructure contexts.
