# ISO 23257:2022 - Blockchain and distributed ledger technologies — Reference architecture Content type: Research Paper Summary: ISO 23257:2022 provides a foundational reference architecture for blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) systems. This standard serves as a high-level guide for architects, developers, and policymakers to understand the essential components, roles, and interactions within a DLT ecosystem. It identifies the common characteristics shared across diverse implementations, offering a framework for describing systems regardless of their underlying consensus mechanisms or data structures. By Key concepts: ISO/TC 307, architecture, standardization, enterprise blockchain, distributed systems, governance
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ISO 23257:2022 - Blockchain and distributed ledger technologies — Reference architecture

ISO/TC 307

Standard SpecificationJanuary 2022

Abstract

ISO 23257:2022 provides a foundational reference architecture for blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) systems. This standard serves as a high-level guide for architects, developers, and policymakers to understand the essential components, roles, and interactions within a DLT ecosystem. It identifies the common characteristics shared across diverse implementations, offering a framework for describing systems regardless of their underlying consensus mechanisms or data structures. By establishing a shared vocabulary for system components such as participants, ledgers, and nodes, the standard aims to facilitate interoperability and common security assessments. The document classifies these components into logical groupings, explaining how information flows between them while maintaining data integrity and system availability. This reference architecture is critical for organizations looking to integrate DLT into existing infrastructure, as it provides a vendor-neutral roadmap for designing robust, scalable, and audit-ready blockchain solutions. It does not dictate specific technologies but rather provides a conceptual model that helps in bridging the gap between theoretical DLT capabilities and practical enterprise requirements.

Key Findings

  • 1Establishes a standardized framework for identifying key DLT components and roles.
  • 2Provides a modular approach to system architecture applicable across diverse industries.
  • 3Categorizes interactions between DLT nodes to support interoperability and auditing.
  • 4Offers a consistent taxonomy for describing blockchain system boundaries and logical structures.

Topics

architecturestandardizationenterprise blockchaindistributed systemsgovernance
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Citation

ISO/TC 307 (2022). ISO 23257:2022 - Blockchain and distributed ledger technologies — Reference architecture. Standard Specification. https://www.iso.org/standard/75066.html

BibTeX

@misc{iso232572022,
  title = {ISO 23257:2022 - Blockchain and distributed ledger technologies — Reference architecture},
  author = {ISO/TC 307},
  year = {2022},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.iso.org/standard/75066.html}},
}

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