Dutch Blockchain Coalition

The Dutch Blockchain Coalition (DBC) was a public-private partnership launched in 2016 that brought together government authorities, knowledge institutions, and businesses to advance blockchain technology adoption in the Netherlands. The coalition focused on developing Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) solutions and other blockchain applications while working to establish technical standards and interoperability frameworks. A key technical contribution was the development of the Decentralized Identity Interop Profile (DIIP), which implemented the W3C Verifiable Credentials Data Model and other standards like OpenID Connect to enable interoperable SSI solutions.

Throughout its operation, the DBC worked on several notable implementations including the Company Passport project for business credentials, Career Wallet for professional credentials, and various pilots in sectors like mobility, healthcare, and energy. The coalition helped establish technical frameworks through its work on standards like the DID:web and DID:jwk methods, while also focusing on governance models for decentralized systems. Partners in the technical implementation included Sphereon and Animo, who developed wallet solutions compatible with the DIIP specifications.

The DBC concluded its program in December 2024 after achieving its primary objectives of creating an active blockchain ecosystem in the Netherlands and establishing strategic dialogue between policymakers and industry. Its technical work and standards development are being carried forward through new initiatives like Fides - Accelerating Digital Trust, while its SSI implementations continue to be used in various Dutch public and private sector applications. The coalition's focus on interoperability and standards-based approaches helped establish foundational infrastructure for decentralized identity systems in the Netherlands.