To gain a better overview of the Berlin blockchain startup ecosystem, we have classified the projects into three layers: the infrastructure layer, the middleware layer and the decentralized application (dApp) layer. Please note that some companies might be working in several of these layers, hence the categorization is only an orientation guideline.

In the following, we will present you 3 projects per layer in more detail.

Infrastructure Layer

In the Infrastructure layer we find decentralized processing engines, storage and data bases.

A decentralized processing engine can be used to validate transactions or to put (parts) of a business logic on a blockchain (e.g. with Ethereum smart contracts). A chain comes with a pre-defined consensus mechanism and system rules (e.g. block size, who can be a validator etc.).

Popular projects on the infrastructure (processing) layer are Ethereum or IBM Hyperledger. Decentralized file storage is offered by IPFS/Filecoin.

From the Berlin ecosystem, we chose Lisk, BigchainDB and Aeternity as popular projects in the infrastructure layer.

Lisk is a blockchain application platform that lets you build and deploy blockchain applications using Javascript.

Lisk has a mainchain / sidechain approach to easier scale the network

Lisk has an active community and recently relaunched.

BigchainDB is one of the early projects in the crypto scene in Berlin and one of our first investments from the Innogy Innovation Hub.

With high throughput, sub-second latency and powerful crypto-condition escrow functionality to automate release-of-assets, BigchainDB should look, act and feel like a database but has the core blockchain characteristics that enterprises want.

BigchainDB is also developing OceanProtocol, a decentralized data exchange protocol for unlocking data for AI

æternity is a blockchain trying to solve some of the most prominent current challenges in the Ethereum network: efficiency, transparent governance and global scalability.

Their core innovations, as claimed on their website, are smart contracts in state channels, decentralized oracles, a PoW/PoS hybrid consensus algorithm and a prediction market fueled governance model.

Aeternity is incorporated in Liechtenstein and partly based in Berlin.

Middleware Layer

In our classification, the “Middleware Layer” defines projects that are building a bridge on top of underlying infrastructure (e.g. on public chains). These can deal with topics like scalability, ease of use, payment gateways, connectivity etc. Basically it’s a layer that enables the application layer to be able to communicate with the infrastructure layer (if needed). Some dApps might be building directly on to what we call the “Infrastructure Layer”.

Some of the interesting projects in this space are OST (Simple Token), Cosmos and Raiden Network.

OST is a protocol for consumer-app tokenization and an ERC-20 utility token that allows any consumer-facing marketplace to design, launch, and manage their own branded tokens on open, scalable side-chains without the costs, risks, and complexity associated with blockchain technology.

OST, the company behind Simple Token have recently invested $5M into the Unsplash platform, to tokenize the images on the platform and bring blockchain into the mainstream.

The Cosmos Network enables interactions between different blockchains.

It’s a scaling and interoperability initiative for native blockchains (e.g. Ethereum) aiming to develop the “Internet of Blockchains”

Cosmos is being developed by the Tendermint team.

A similar initiative is Polkadot by Web3 Foundation Team (also partly based in Berlin)

The Raiden Network is an off-chain scaling solution for Ethereum, enabling near-instant, low-fee and scalable payments; it works with ERC-20 tokens.

Raiden is currently under development; it’s being built by Brainbot Technologies.

Brainbot Technologies is a blockchain development studio, creating the core building blocks to scale the technology towards broad adoption of public blockchain systems.

Application Layer

A technology becomes valuable when it is accessible and usable in the real world. The application layer is a collection of dApps which can be used either by humans or machines. Some examples in the space with presence in Berlin are Gnosis, Hicky and Bitwala.

Gnosis is a prediction platform which can enable market-driven forecasting with a revolutionary P2P approach.

It is built on the Ethereum blockchain.

Gnosis has already developed several dApps, amongst which are the Gnosis Olympia prediction market as well as the Gnosis multisig wallet.

Jolocom provides an user owned and controlled blockchain self-sovereign digital identity solution.

The main focus on the Jolocom product lays on the fact, that the identity can be truly owned by the user (and not by the third party controlled “trust industry”).

Bitwala aims to offer a banking service which merges crypto and fiat.

The Bitwala wallet enables easy bitcoin payments in a secure and convenient way.

Bitwala started in Berlin in 2014; the founders have been active in the blockchain space even since 2012. They clearly belong to the early pioneers of the Berlin ecosystem!

Blockchain companies live decentralization in every aspect

If you are wondering about the distribution of decentralized teams in the blockchain space, you might be interested in the Global Connectedness Index from Startup Genome. This shows the connectedness of startup founders across the world and we are certain that a similar degree of connectedness can be observed in Blockchain startups.