Launched on March 31 at Hannover Messe 2025, the finalized version of Pontus-X, created by deltaDAO AG, signifies a significant advancement in Europe’s strategy for digital sovereignty.
Constructed upon the Gaia-X framework and utilizing Oasis Network’s privacy-centric blockchain, Pontus-X now stands as the largest available data space in Europe.
With over 180 institutions participating, including major players like Airbus, OHB SE, and T-Systems, the platform facilitates secure and compliant sharing and monetization of data and digital services across various borders and industries.
The ecosystem currently offers over 570 services across sectors such as aerospace, manufacturing, mobility, AI, and agriculture.
Pontus-X employs a federated model for data sharing, prioritizing control, privacy, and interoperability. Features like Compute-to-Data allow algorithms to analyze information without disclosing the underlying data, making it exceptionally suited for sensitive areas including defense and space.
To delve deeper into how this advanced data space operates, discussions were held with the leadership from Oasis Network and Pontus-X.
The Q&A explores the technical foundations of confidential computing, data access controls management, and the platform’s potential to become the foundational layer for sovereign AI and data monetization throughout Europe.
Some key insights included Oasis describing how its Sapphire ParaTime employs hardware-level Trusted Execution Environments to safeguard data during processing, and deltaDAO outlining how Pontus-X enables legally binding digital contracts that align with the evolving EU regulations under the Data Act and MiCA.
For a complete overview, here’s our extensive Q&A with Oasis and Pontus-X.
Oasis Network
1. Oasis powers Pontus-X with its privacy-focused blockchain. Why is confidential computing such a vital component for data spaces like this — and what specific privacy features are utilized in the active deployment?
Confidential computing is pivotal for data spaces such as Pontus-X because it allows entities to share and monetize their data while retaining control over sensitive information and intellectual property. Oasis ensures confidentiality using Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) through our Sapphire ParaTime, enabling encrypted network states and confidential smart contracts that protect data during processing. This framework gives organizations the assurance to engage in data sharing ecosystems without revealing their raw data, thus facilitating collaborations across organizations that were previously unattainable while adhering to strict European privacy and regulatory standards.
2. The press release labels this as a “secure, decentralized data ecosystem” powered by Oasis. For those involved in crypto development, could you elaborate on how data is safeguarded during processing? Is confidentiality enforced at the hardware level (like TEEs), smart contract level, or through cryptographic methods?
Oasis primarily secures data during processing through hardware-level Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) – specifically utilizing Intel SGX technology – which create secure spaces where data is decrypted, processed, and re-encrypted without being exposed to node operators. This TEE-based method is further supported by our confidential smart contract layer on Sapphire, allowing developers to define which aspects of the state stay encrypted and which are public, providing flexibility for different applications.
3. This deployment places Oasis at the forefront of Europe’s digital sovereignty infrastructure. Do you envision privacy-focused blockchains like Oasis becoming the standard infrastructure layer for sovereign data ecosystems, and how are you positioning Oasis in dialogues with EU regulators and Gaia-X stakeholders?
We certainly envision privacy-preserving blockchains becoming the standard backend for sovereign data ecosystems, as they effectively resolve the competing needs for data sharing, monetization, and control central to Europe’s vision of digital sovereignty. Fundamentally, open collaboration on-chain cannot exist without privacy and security. However, with regard to the second aspect of your question, we don’t usually engage directly with regulators on these initiatives; Oasis functions as the infrastructure provider, and since everything is open source, compliance matters are more handled at the dApp level.
4. How does Oasis manage permissioning and access control in data spaces like Pontus-X, where certain services may require restricted access or must conform to specific sector-specific regulations (such as aerospace or defense)? Is this integrated into the smart contract layer or dealt with off-chain?
As the infrastructure provider, Oasis facilitates the permissions and access controls enforced through smart contracts, but the design and implementation of policies are managed by Pontus-X.
5. Now that Pontus-X is operational on Oasis mainnet, what are the subsequent steps for enhanced integration? Are there plans to expand functionalities such as cross-chain interoperability, native token transactions, or smart contract templates tailored for sovereign data cases?
The launch of Pontus-X on Oasis mainnet signifies a crucial milestone for the project, bringing trustlessness, privacy, and compliance for data and AI into production. The platform on which Pontus-X is built offers substantial flexibility regarding cross-chain interoperability, custom gas tokens, and smart contract design. Next, we aim to assist the deltaDAO team with further enhancements that will simplify the onboarding of new partners and enable them to meet their customers’ needs more efficiently.
6. Pontus-X underscores the monetization of data, AI models, and digital services. Is Oasis being utilized to facilitate these on-chain payments — and if so, how are they managed in practice? Are stablecoins like EUROe involved, or is there a native token mechanism in place?
The monetization of data, AI models, and other services is conducted directly on-chain between the involved parties so that the Oasis/Pontus-X infrastructure supports those transactions. Since the project is still in its prototyping phase, a mock stablecoin is currently used for testing, but the Pontus-X team is already discussing integrations with digital EURO providers regarding using Oasis infrastructure for all payments within the ecosystem.
Pontus-X/deltaDAO
1. You describe Pontus-X as Europe’s largest publicly accessible data space to date. Can you elaborate on what makes this the most extensive Gaia-X-based ecosystem currently in operation — in terms of technical scale, cross-border interoperability, and the types of services that are now live?
From a technical perspective, Pontus-X scales through 16 validators distributed across several European countries, processing over 1.2 million validated transactions on its testnet before its production launch in February 2025. Its cross-border functionality stems from links to more than 15 initiatives, including five distinct Gaia-X lighthouse projects across various sectors, facilitated through a collectively governed distributed ledger, thus removing traditional data-sharing obstacles through standardized smart contracts and Compute-to-Data technology. Active services currently include Airbus’ Functional Simulation as a Service, RADIUSMEDIA’s Holowork AR solution for cleanrooms, collaborative tools for aerospace suppliers from ZARM Technik and itemis AG, Skywise Flight Analyzer, and the Digital Project Management Office – all running within a production environment.
Pontus-X has been recognized as a lighthouse project and is now part of the EU Blockchain Regulatory Sandbox. What types of legal or regulatory issues are you examining there — and do you believe this will influence the development of future regulations surrounding blockchain-based data monetization or AI-driven data usage in Europe?
The deltaDAO team has been investigating how to establish a legally compliant decentralized data economy utilizing DLT and smart contracts. Conversations with European regulators have centered on compliance with the Data Act, AI Act, Data Governance Act, MiCA, and AML/KYB regulations, along with the creation of legally binding digital contracts via smart contracts. Certainly, this sandbox experience has significantly influenced the launch of Pontus-X and is paving the way for future regulations related to blockchain-driven data monetization and AI-based data utilization in Europe.