Blockchain applications in business: 10 real-world examples

In recent years, blockchain technology has gone far beyond digital money and is solving real business problems in logistics, medicine, retail, and even the diamond industry.

Blockchain is used where transparency between partners is needed, data cannot be falsified, and there is no single controlling center. Companies are implementing the technology to solve specific problems, from counterfeiting in retail to insurance fraud. In this article, we will look at ten examples of how it is working in different industries right now.

1. Logistics: transparency of deliveries from factory to store

In traditional logistics, each participant keeps their own records, and cargo passes through dozens of hands. If something goes wrong, an investigation begins: who caused the delay, where did the temperature deviate from the norm? Partners argue, audits drag on, and customers lose trust.

Blockchain with IoT trackers solves this problem. Sensors on the cargo record temperature, humidity, and geolocation and send the data to a distributed network. Each record is immutable and visible to all participants in the chain. If a container with vaccines exceeds the permissible temperature range, this is recorded with an exact time stamp and the name of the person responsible. There are fewer disputes between partners because the facts are clear.

At Nomium, we have implemented a similar solution—DDTS (Digital Distribution Tracking System). The system tracks logistics chains in real time, creating an immutable history of cargo movements. The result: transparency at every stage, reduced time for auditing and dispute resolution, and trust between all participants in the process.

2. Mining pools: managing tens of thousands of connections

Mining pools process enormous amounts of data: tens of thousands of ASIC miners, millions of transactions, constant payments to participants. The main task here is not just to process the load, but to do so honestly and transparently.

Blockchain architecture allows you to create a distributed system where each participant can verify the correctness of calculations. Red Rock Pool, a Nomium project, uses the FPPS (Full Pay Per Share) model, which provides predictable payments to miners regardless of the pool’s luck. All information about rewards is available in real time, and any participant can verify the fairness of the distribution.

The numbers speak for themselves: the pool’s power exceeds 2 EH/s (exahashes per second), more than 10,000 ASIC devices are connected, and uptime is 99.9%. This is proof that the system is stable, scalable, and reliable.

We talked about our project here.

3. Insurance: from application to payment in two hours instead of a month

The usual insurance payment process turns into a long bureaucratic chain: collecting documents, submitting an application, checks by the insurance company, and finally, the transfer of funds. All this can easily take weeks, and sometimes months.

Smart contracts turn the whole model upside down. The terms of the policy are written into the code: if an insured event occurs and there is supporting data, the payment is initiated automatically. This works particularly well for flight insurance: the plane is delayed by three hours, the data is received from an official source, and the money is transferred to the customer. No claims, no calls to the call center, and no long waits.

Several insurance companies are already testing similar solutions in sandbox environments. IBM and Aetna are working on a blockchain platform for health insurance, where smart contracts automate the verification of claims and initiate payments. Lemonade, a new generation insurance company, uses blockchain for parametric crop insurance in Africa: rainfall data automatically triggers payments to farmers in the event of drought or flooding.

The results: payment times are reduced from weeks to hours, administrative costs are cut significantly, and customer satisfaction (NPS) increases. Additionally, the risk of fraud is reduced because smart contracts verify conditions according to clear rules, without succumbing to emotions or manipulation.

4. Medicine: protecting medical records from retroactive changes

When there is no clear and confirmed version of events in a medical record, disputes arise. Sometimes records are changed retroactively—either by mistake or intentionally. This complicates investigations and undermines trust in the system as a whole.

Blockchain solves the problem of immutability of medical records. Every time a doctor makes an entry in a medical record, the system creates a cryptographic hash (digital fingerprint) and records it in the blockchain with an accurate timestamp. It is impossible to change an entry retroactively — any attempt to do so will create a new hash, and the discrepancy will be obvious. At the same time, the medical data itself remains confidential; only the hash is stored in the blockchain.

Hyperledger Fabric, one of the popular platforms for corporate use, is used by several clinics to create secure medical records. This not only increases legal admissibility, but also helps to comply with the requirements of 152-FZ on the protection of personal data. Doctors get a tool that protects them from unfounded accusations, patients get confidence that their medical history will not be changed, and courts get objective evidence for resolving disputes.

It is important to understand that blockchain does not replace the medical information system, but complements it with a layer of immutability and trust. Doctors work in their usual interface, but each record receives additional protection.

5. Retail: product quality control through blockchain

When it comes to fresh produce, a mistake in logistics or a failure on the part of the supplier can cost a business its reputation. In the past, if a problem was found in a batch, the entire range was removed from circulation — simply because it was impossible to trace the specific origin.

In 2024, Silal Fresh implemented a system based on this technology that tracks the path of each product from farm to store. Data on temperature, storage times, and movements are automatically entered into the registry. Farmers, logisticians, processors, and retailers are all involved — every link in the chain is visible and verifiable.

The system makes it possible to quickly identify where exactly a failure occurred and remove only the affected batches from the shelves. This reduces costs, speeds up control, and strengthens consumer confidence. Silal currently tracks dozens of products via blockchain, including greens, berries, and chilled meat. For retail chains, it is a tool that allows them to manage quality in real time.

6. Diamond industry: a transparent history of origin

The diamond market has always paid special attention to the authenticity and traceability of products. It is important for buyers to know where a stone comes from, whether it has gone through all stages of processing, and whether it is truly a natural diamond.

De Beers has developed the Tracr platform, a blockchain-based solution that tracks the path of each stone from the moment it is mined to the jewelry store. Each diamond receives a digital passport with its key characteristics: weight, color, clarity, and cut. All movements along the supply chain — from the mine to the cutter, from the dealer to the display case — are recorded in the blockchain.

By early 2025, nearly three million diamonds had been registered with Tracr. The system allows users to find out the country of origin of stones weighing 0.5 carats or more, which is especially important for brands that value transparency. Buyers can scan a QR code to obtain verified information about the origin and processing of a diamond.

The platform also helps in the fight against counterfeiting. Modern synthetic stones are difficult to distinguish visually, but the absence of a record immediately signals that the stone is not genuine.

7. Real estate: tokenization of property rights

Real estate transactions often drag on for weeks: data verification, visits to the notary, numerous documents. At the same time, risks remain — forged title documents and unclear property history still create opportunities for fraud.

Blockchain allows property rights to be tokenized: each apartment or plot of land is represented by a digital token in a distributed network. The owner of the token is the owner of the property. Verifying legal compliance takes minutes instead of weeks, and the risk of fraud is virtually zero.

Pilot projects have already been launched in Dubai and Sweden. The Swedish Land Registry Agency, Lantmäteriet, has conducted a successful experiment in registering real estate transactions on the blockchain. Transaction times have been reduced from several months to several days, and legal costs have been significantly reduced. In Dubai, the authorities have set a goal to transfer all real estate transactions to blockchain by 2030.

For traditional businesses, this means new opportunities: a more liquid real estate market, the ability to divide shares through tokens, and transparency for investors. Instead of buying an entire building, a company can purchase 10% or 20% in the form of tokens, with ownership rights protected by technology rather than just notarized documents.

8. Energy: P2P electricity trading between neighbors

The traditional energy system operates on a centralized model: a large power plant generates electricity, and a distribution network delivers it to consumers. However, what if you have solar panels on your roof that produce more energy than you consume? Selling surplus energy to the power company is difficult, unprofitable, and bureaucratically complicated.

Blockchain creates decentralized energy networks where neighbors can trade electricity directly. Your solar panels produced 10 kWh, you consumed 7 kWh, and sold the rest to your neighbor via a blockchain platform. A smart contract automatically calculated the price, conducted the transaction, and recorded the volume. No intermediaries, no delays.

Brooklyn Microgrid in the US was one of the first such projects. Residents of a neighborhood in Brooklyn who have installed solar panels sell surplus electricity to neighbors who want to use renewable sources.

This opens up new horizons for business. Large shopping centers and office buildings can sell excess energy from their own generating capacities to other consumers. Industrial enterprises can optimize their energy consumption by purchasing electricity from local producers during periods of low demand. Energy is becoming more flexible, efficient, and cheaper.

9. Pharmaceuticals: combating counterfeit medicines

Counterfeit drugs remain a serious problem for the industry. Everyone suffers: manufacturers lose revenue, pharmacies risk losing their licenses, and patients risk their health. The main reason is the difficulty of tracking a drug’s path from the factory to the consumer.

Blockchain helps build a transparent supply chain. Each drug receives a unique identifier, which is recorded in the system at the production stage. Next comes distribution, pharmacy, and purchase. The entire history of movement is saved, and counterfeiting becomes immediately noticeable.

Large pharmaceutical companies are already testing similar solutions. Pfizer is exploring the possibilities of using the technology to improve supply reliability. In the US, the MediLedger consortium is developing a blockchain platform to verify returns and eliminate counterfeits.

For manufacturers, this is a way to protect their brand and comply with regulatory requirements. For pharmacies and distributors, it is a guarantee of product authenticity. For patients, it is confidence that the package really contains the drug it is supposed to.

10. Finance: An example of a new approach to international transfers

UBS (Switzerland) has completed a pilot program for a blockchain-based solution called “UBS Digital Cash” for settlements between companies and banks. The problem remains the same: international payments through correspondent banks often take days, liquidity must be reserved, and cash flow visibility issues remain.

The solution: a private blockchain network accessible only to authorized clients, with smart contracts that automatically execute settlements when conditions are met, and payments that are processed around the clock, virtually in real time.

The result: transactions both within Switzerland and beyond (in US dollars, euros, and yuan) were successfully completed. UBS considers this technology to be key to its international payment strategy.

For companies with foreign partners, this is an opportunity to receive payments faster, reduce cash reserves, and increase transparency. For banks, it is an opportunity to offer a new level of service without multiple intermediaries and at a lower cost.

Conclusion

In real business, this technology works where transparency and trust between participants are needed. But it is not a panacea: first, you need to understand exactly which processes will be improved and how quickly the implementation will pay off. Successful projects have one thing in common: they use technology not for the sake of technology itself, but to achieve measurable results. Before implementing, it is best to ask the question: “What business problem are we solving?” If the answer is “transparency, security, and speed in an environment without a single trusted center,” then this technology is probably the right choice for you.

Do you think blockchain is right for your task?

Write to us — we will analyze your situation and give you our honest opinion on whether you need this technology and help you implement the project correctly.