Pontus-X collaborates with Oasis for secure cross-border data sharing in the EU

Announced on March 31 at Hannover Messe 2025, the production version of Pontus-X, crafted by deltaDAO AG, signifies a significant advancement in Europe’s strategy for digital sovereignty.

Constructed on the Gaia-X framework and utilizing Oasis Network’s privacy-centric blockchain, Pontus-X has emerged as the largest publicly accessible data space in Europe.

With over 180 partnered institutions, including Airbus, OHB SE, and T-Systems, this platform is designed for the secure and compliant sharing and monetization of data and digital services across various borders and sectors.

The ecosystem supports upwards of 570 services spanning aerospace, manufacturing, mobility, AI, and agriculture.

Pontus-X employs a federated methodology to data sharing, emphasizing control, privacy, and interoperability. Features such as Compute-to-Data facilitate algorithms to analyze information without revealing the underlying data, making it particularly suitable for sensitive areas like defense and space.

To delve deeper into the workings of this next-generation data space, crypto.news engaged with leaders from both Oasis Network and Pontus-X.

Our Q&A explores the technical underpinnings of confidential computing, management of data access controls, and the reasons this platform could emerge as the go-to stack for sovereign AI and data monetization throughout Europe.

Some key insights include Oasis explaining how its Sapphire ParaTime leverages hardware-level Trusted Execution Environments to safeguard data during processing, and deltaDAO illustrating how Pontus-X facilitates legally binding digital contracts that adhere to evolving EU regulations under the Data Act and MiCA.

Here’s our complete Q&A with Oasis and Pontus-X.

Oasis Network

1. Oasis powers Pontus-X with its privacy-preserving blockchain. Why is confidential computing such a critical foundation for data spaces like this — and what specific privacy features are being used in the live deployment?

Confidential computing is vital for data spaces such as Pontus-X as it enables organizations to share and monetize their data while retaining control over sensitive information and intellectual property. Oasis ensures confidentiality through Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) via our Sapphire ParaTime, which allows for encrypted network state and confidential smart contracts that secure data during processing. This methodology instills confidence in enterprises to engage in data-sharing ecosystems without exposing their raw data, paving the way for previously impracticable collaborations while adhering to stringent European privacy and regulatory standards.

2. The press release refers to this as a “secure, decentralized data ecosystem” powered by Oasis. For crypto-native builders, can you clarify how data is secured during processing? Is confidentiality enforced at the hardware level (e.g., TEEs), smart contract level, or through cryptographic techniques?

Oasis ensures data security during processing primarily via hardware-level Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) – notably, Intel SGX technology – which create secure enclaves where data is decrypted, processed, and re-encrypted without being exposed to node operators. This TEE-based strategy is supplemented by our confidential smart contract layer on Sapphire, allowing developers to customize which state elements remain encrypted and which can be public, providing flexibility for various applications.

3. This deployment positions Oasis at the heart of Europe’s digital sovereignty stack. Strategically, do you foresee privacy-preserving blockchains like Oasis becoming the default infrastructure layer for sovereign data ecosystems? Additionally, how are you engaging with EU regulators and Gaia-X stakeholders?

We certainly envisage privacy-preserving blockchains becoming the default infrastructure layer for sovereign data ecosystems, as they effectively balance the competing demands for data sharing, monetization, and control central to Europe’s digital sovereignty vision. Essentially, free and open collaboration on-chain is unachievable without privacy and security. To address your second question, we generally do not engage directly with regulators on such projects; Oasis acts solely as the infrastructure provider, and since everything is open-source, compliance issues typically rest at the dapp level.

4. How does Oasis manage permissioning and access control in data spaces like Pontus-X, where certain services may necessitate restricted access or must comply with sector-specific regulations (e.g., aerospace, defense)? Is this integrated into the smart contract layer or managed off-chain?

Oasis serves as the infrastructure provider that enables permissions and access controls via smart contracts; however, the design and implementation of these policies are conducted by Pontus-X.

5. With Pontus-X now operational on the Oasis mainnet, what are the subsequent steps for deeper integration? Are there plans to enhance functionality like cross-chain interoperability, native token payments, or smart contract templates tailored for sovereign data applications?

The launch of Pontus-X on Oasis mainnet marks a momentous achievement for the project, facilitating trust, privacy, and compliance in data and AI in production settings. The underlying platform of Pontus-X offers substantial flexibility concerning cross-chain interoperability, custom gas tokens, and smart contract configuration. The next steps involve assisting the deltaDAO team with ongoing developments that will simplify the onboarding of new partners and align with customer requirements.

6. Pontus-X focuses on the monetization of data, AI models, and digital services. Is Oasis utilized to facilitate those payments on-chain — and if so, how are they managed in practice? Are stablecoins like EUROe involved, or is there a native token system established?

The monetization of data, AI models, and other services occurs directly on-chain between the parties, utilizing Oasis/Pontus-X infrastructure to facilitate those transactions. As the project is still in its prototyping phase, a mock stablecoin token is currently employed for testing; however, the Pontus-X team is already engaged in discussions with digital EURO providers regarding integrations with the Oasis infrastructure that will be utilized for all ecosystem payments.

Pontus-X/deltaDAO

1. You’ve termed Pontus-X as Europe’s largest publicly available data space to date. Can you explain what distinguishes this as the most extensive Gaia-X-based ecosystem in operation — in terms of technical scale, cross-border interoperability, and the types of services currently offered?

Technically, Pontus-X scales via 16 validators distributed across multiple European nations, processing over 1.2 million validated transactions on its testnet before transitioning to production in February 2025. Its cross-border interoperability stems from connecting over 15 initiatives, including five distinct Gaia-X lighthouse projects across industries, through a collectively and democratically governed distributed ledger, breaking down traditional data-sharing barriers using standardized smart contracts and Compute-to-Data technology. The currently operational services include Airbus’ Functional Simulation as a Service, RADIUSMEDIA’s Holowork AR solution for cleanrooms, aerospace supplier collaboration tools from ZARM Technik and itemis AG, Skywise Flight Analyzer, and the Digital Project Management Office — all functioning in a live production environment.

Pontus-X has been recognized as a lighthouse project and is now part of the EU Blockchain Regulatory Sandbox. What kind of legal or regulatory considerations are you navigating there — and do you anticipate this will influence future regulations concerning blockchain-based data monetization or AI-driven data usage in Europe?

The deltaDAO team is investigating how to construct a legally compliant decentralized data economy utilizing DLT and smart contracts. Dialogues with European regulators have focused on adherence to the Data Act, AI Act, Data Governance Act, MiCA, and AML/KYB regulations, in addition to enabling legally binding digital contracts through smart contracts. Yes, the experiences gained from this sandbox are substantially influencing the production launch of Pontus-X and are shaping future guidelines surrounding blockchain-based data monetization and AI-driven data utilization in Europe.