Pontus-X Collaborates with Oasis to Strengthen Secure Cross-Border Data Sharing in the EU

On March 31, 2025, at Hannover Messe, deltaDAO AG launched the production version of Pontus-X, signifying a crucial advancement in Europe’s quest for digital sovereignty.

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

This platform facilitates secure and compliant sharing and monetization of data and digital services across various borders and sectors, with the involvement of over 180 institutions, such as Airbus, OHB SE, and T-Systems.

The ecosystem supports more than 570 services across domains including aerospace, manufacturing, mobility, AI, and agriculture.

Pontus-X employs a federated model for data sharing, emphasizing control, privacy, and interoperability. Its capabilities, such as Compute-to-Data, permit algorithms to analyze data without revealing the original information, making it especially suitable for sensitive industries like defense and space.

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

In our Q&A, we explore the technical underpinnings of confidential computing, management of data access controls, and why this platform is likely to become a leading infrastructure for sovereign AI and data monetization across Europe.

Key insights from our conversation include Avalan- Oasiss discussing how its Sapphire ParaTime utilizes hardware-based Trusted Execution Environments to safeguard data during processing, while deltaDAO illustrates how Pontus-X supports 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 a critical foundation for data spaces like this, and what specific privacy features are activated in the live deployment?

Confidential computing is vital for data spaces like Pontus-X, as it allows organizations to share and monetize their data while keeping sensitive information and intellectual property secure. Oasis ensures confidentiality through Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) within our Sapphire ParaTime, which enables encrypted network states and confidential smart contracts that protect data during processing. This approach fosters trust among enterprises to engage in data-sharing ecosystems without revealing their raw data, facilitating collaborative efforts that were previously unfeasible while complying with strict European privacy and regulatory requirements.

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

Oasis secures data during processing mainly through hardware-level Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) — specifically, Intel SGX technology — which create secure enclaves where data is decrypted, processed, and re-encrypted, preventing access by node operators. This TEE-based methodology is complemented by our confidential smart contract layer on Sapphire, allowing developers to specify which state elements remain encrypted and which can be public, ensuring flexibility for various applications.

3. This deployment places Oasis at the core of Europe’s digital sovereignty infrastructure. Do you foresee that privacy-preserving blockchains like Oasis will become the standard infrastructure layer for sovereign data ecosystems? Moreover, how are you collaborating with EU regulators and Gaia-X stakeholders?

We certainly anticipate that privacy-preserving blockchains will evolve into the standard infrastructure for sovereign data ecosystems, effectively balancing the essential needs for data sharing, monetization, and control central to Europe’s vision of digital sovereignty. Essentially, unrestricted on-chain collaboration is impossible without robust privacy and security. In response to your second question, we typically do not interact directly with regulators on such projects; Oasis acts purely as the infrastructure provider, and since everything is open-source, compliance concerns usually reside at the dapp level.

4. How does Oasis handle permissioning and access control within data spaces like Pontus-X, where specific services may require restricted access or must adhere to sector-specific regulations (e.g., aerospace, defense)? Is this incorporated into the smart contract layer or managed off-chain?

Oasis serves as the infrastructure provider enabling permissioning and access controls through smart contracts; however, the design and implementation of these policies fall under the purview of Pontus-X.

5. With Pontus-X now operational on the Oasis mainnet, what future steps are planned for deeper integration? Are there initiatives to enhance functionalities such as cross-chain interoperability, native token payments, or smart contract templates specifically designed for sovereign data applications?

The launch of Pontus-X on the Oasis mainnet signifies a major milestone for the project, fostering trust, privacy, and compliance during data and AI production settings. The foundational platform of Pontus-X provides significant flexibility regarding cross-chain interoperability, custom gas tokens, and smart contract configurations. The next steps involve supporting the deltaDAO team with ongoing developments to facilitate the onboarding of new partners and align with customer requirements.

6. Pontus-X emphasizes the monetization of data, AI models, and digital services. Is Oasis utilized to enable those on-chain payments, and if so, how are they practically managed? Do stablecoins like EUROe play a role, or is there a native token system in place?

The monetization of data, AI models, and other services occurs directly on-chain between participants, leveraging Oasis/Pontus-X infrastructure to power these transactions. As the project is currently in its prototyping phase, a mock stablecoin token is being employed for testing; however, the Pontus-X team is already in discussions with digital EURO providers about integrating with the Oasis infrastructure to facilitate all ecosystem transactions.

Pontus-X/deltaDAO

1. You’ve described Pontus-X as Europe’s largest publicly available data space to date. Can you elaborate on what sets this apart as the most extensive Gaia-X-based ecosystem in operation — considering technical scalability, cross-border interoperability, and the variety of services currently provided?

From a technical standpoint, Pontus-X operates at scale with 16 validators distributed across multiple European nations, managing over 1.2 million validated transactions on its testnet prior to its production launch in February 2025. It achieves cross-border interoperability by linking more than 15 initiatives, including five distinct Gaia-X lighthouse projects across various sectors, using a collaboratively governed distributed ledger that eliminates traditional data-sharing barriers through standardized smart contracts and Compute-to-Data technology. Currently available services 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 operational 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 legal or regulatory challenges are you addressing there, and how might this influence future regulations concerning blockchain-based data monetization or AI-driven data usage in Europe?

The deltaDAO team is examining how to construct a legally compliant decentralized data economy utilizing DLT and smart contracts. Discussions with European regulators have focused on adherence to the Data Act, AI Act, Data Governance Act, MiCA, and AML/KYB regulations, as well as the provision of legally binding digital contracts via smart contracts. Yes, the insights gained from this sandbox will significantly inform the production launch of Pontus-X and will shape future regulations surrounding blockchain-based data monetization and AI-driven data utilization in Europe.