As Hedera continues to scale, strategic collaboration and shared innovation remain at the heart of its success. Today, Hedera Council is proud to welcome Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC) as the first Hedera Council Strategic Partner. This is an important step in expanding global engagement across the Hedera ecosystem, and it reflects a shared commitment to building trusted, real world web3 solutions.
GBBC is the largest, leading nonprofit industry association for the blockchain, digital assets, and emerging technology community. Founded in 2017 in Davos, GBBC has grown into a worldwide network of more than 500 institutional members and hundreds of ambassadors spanning 124 jurisdictions. Their mission is to advance responsible adoption of blockchain by bringing together business leaders, regulators, and innovators to create a safer and more functional digital economy.
“GBBC has built one of the most respected global networks for blockchain policy and standards. As our first Strategic Partner, they strengthen the Council’s ability to engage governments, enterprises, and industry bodies worldwide. This helps the Hedera ecosystem grow in a way that is trusted, responsible, and built for the long haul,” commented Shyam Nagarajan, Chief Partnerships Officer at Hashgraph.
That focus on responsibility and coordination is a natural fit for Hedera Council’s partnership program. Hedera is governed by a diverse group of global institutions who validate transactions on the Hedera network and steer its strategic direction in a way that prioritizes transparency. Trust is not a side benefit of this model. It is the foundation that makes long term adoption possible. GBBC shares that view, and they bring deep experience in building the shared understanding and practical standards needed for web3 adoption to grow.
What GBBC brings to the Hedera ecosystem
GBBC joins the Strategic Partner program with a track record of turning big ideas into practical, globally informed action.
Global policy and regulatory expertise
GBBC works closely with public and private sector leaders to help shape clear, informed approaches to blockchain policy around the world. Their ability to connect enterprise needs with government priorities will help the Hedera ecosystem move faster and with more confidence, especially in industries where clarity and trust are essential.A standards first approach to adoption
GBBC is home to major standards initiatives such as the Global Standards Mapping Initiative (GSMI), InterWork Alliance (IWA), and BITA Standards Council (BITA). These programs help the industry align on common language, best practices, and interoperable frameworks. For Hedera Council, that kind of work supports responsible growth. It helps ensure that real world use cases can scale across sectors without losing the trust that institutions expect.Proven convening power through global events
GBBC is known for bringing people together when it matters most. Their Blockchain Central events, hosted alongside major global policy moments, create space for open, practical dialogue between industry and government. That convening strength will open new doors for Hedera Council members, Strategic Partners, and Community Partners to collaborate, learn, and shape the future together.
Building on an already strong collaboration
This partnership formalizes a relationship that has been growing through shared work over time. Earlier this year, Hedera and GBBC co-hosted the “Sips and Standards” event at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. It was a meaningful convening of leaders from policy, standards, and technology to explore what responsible web3 adoption looks like in practice.
“GBBC and Hedera Council share common values that meaningful adoption requires trusted standards and coordinated public-private collaboration. By aligning our efforts across sectors, we continue to support responsible innovation and scaling of blockchain infrastructure,” shared Sandra Ro, Chief Executive Officer at GBBC. “GBBC is honored to join the Strategic Partner Program, helping to forge the next era of growth across the Hedera ecosystem.”
A milestone for the Strategic Partner program
Hedera Council created the Strategic Partner category to broaden participation in the Hedera ecosystem. Welcoming GBBC as the first Strategic Partner brings that vision to life. It opens new ways to co-create solutions, drive adoption, and expand global engagement with organizations that share Hedera’s values and bring meaningful expertise to the network.
Hedera Council is excited to work with GBBC in the months and years ahead, including new opportunities to collaborate around major civic and cultural moments like America 250 in 2026, building on our shared work. Together, we will keep strengthening the trust layer for the new digital economy through responsible innovation that is grounded in real world needs.
