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UBS and Nethermind complete Ethereum compliance pilot. Proofs of concept explore public blockchain for regulated finance. Reading Time: 3 mins read UBS has successfully completed two proof-of-concept projects in collaboration with blockchain engineering firm Nethermind, demonstrating how the public Ethereum network could support the operational and regulatory requirements of financial institutions without modifying its underlying protocol. The pilot initiatives were designed to evaluate whether public blockchain infrastructure can accommodate the strict compliance standards required by banks and other regulated organizations. According to the participating companies, the results represent an important step toward making public blockchain technology more accessible to the traditional financial sector. The two proof-of-concept projects demonstrated that regulated financial institutions can implement compliance controls on top of the public Ethereum network while preserving its openness, neutrality, and interoperability. Compliance built without changing Ethereum. A central objective of the collaboration was to determine whether financial institutions could satisfy regulatory obligations without altering Ethereum's core architecture. The partners reported that the tests showed compliance measures can be integrated into the operational systems used by banks rather than embedded within the blockchain protocol itself. This approach allows institutions to maintain compatibility with the broader Ethereum ecosystem while meeting governance, risk management, and regulatory expectations. By keeping the underlying network unchanged, the solution supports broader interoperability and avoids fragmenting the public blockchain environment. Custom controls and transaction routing tested. The project focused on two critical stages of blockchain transaction processing. First, UBS and Nethermind configured an Ethereum node capable of applying customizable compliance and risk management controls. These controls included restrictions that allowed transactions only from pre-approved wallet addresses while preventing interactions with selected smart contracts based on institutional policies. Second, the teams developed a routing component designed to send approved transaction bundles through relay services directly to selected builders, helping ensure that validated transactions were reliably included on the blockchain. The pilots, conducted on Ethereum's Sepolia test network, consistently processed compliant transactions without involving any live client activity, highlighting the potential for institutional-grade blockchain operations. Supporting digital and tokenized asset strategies. According to UBS, the initiative aligns with its broader strategy of expanding capabilities in digital and tokenized assets through a responsible and client-focused approach. The bank indicated that the project demonstrated how institutional controls and public blockchain interoperability can coexist without compromising Ethereum's fundamental principles of openness and neutrality. Nethermind also viewed the collaboration as a significant achievement, noting that the results illustrate how infrastructure-level solutions can satisfy institutional requirements while preserving the accessibility and interoperability of public blockchain networks. The collaboration highlights a growing industry shift toward leveraging public blockchain infrastructure instead of isolated private networks, enabling regulated institutions to access digital asset ecosystems while maintaining compliance and governance standards. Public blockchain adoption gains momentum. The successful completion of the pilots reflects a broader trend within the financial industry, where banks and other regulated organizations are increasingly evaluating public blockchain technology for digital asset applications. Rather than relying exclusively on private blockchain systems, institutions are exploring methods that combine the transparency and connectivity of public networks with robust compliance frameworks. Both UBS and Nethermind indicated that they intend to build upon these proof-of-concept projects as blockchain technology and regulatory frameworks continue to evolve, potentially paving the way for wider adoption of public blockchain infrastructure in traditional financial services.

UBS and Nethermind complete compliance proofs of concept on Ethereum. Zurich 23 Jun 2026, 09:00 CEST Media Releases Americas Media Releases APAC Media Releases Global Media Releases Switzerland Media Releases EMEA Investor Releases UBS and Nethermind today announced they have completed two joint proofs of concept (PoC) showing that the public Ethereum network can support the operational and compliance needs of regulated financial institutions. This is a novel initiative that demonstrates an important step forward in making Ethereum infrastructure easier for heavily regulated financial institutions to use.

Ethereum Foundation Launches $1M Audit Subsidy Program to cut Smart Contract security costs. On April 14, 2026, the Ethereum Foundation unveiled a $1 million Audit Subsidy Program partnering with Areta and over 20 top audit firms including Nethermind and Chainlink Labs. The initiative subsidizes up to 30% of audit costs for Ethereum mainnet builders as part of the Trillion Dollar Security push. By JUAN MENDE April 15, 2026 * Program launch: Ethereum Foundation announced the $1 million Audit Subsidy Program on April 14, 2026, to address high costs of smart contract security audits. * Subsidy details: Pool covers up to 30% of audit fees for selected Ethereum mainnet projects, with funds applied directly through Areta's platform. * Audit access: Connects builders to more than 20 leading firms including Nethermind and Chainlink Labs via an expert committee review process. * Eligibility focus: Open to all Ethereum mainnet builders; prioritizes projects advancing new use cases and CROPS principles (censorship resistance, open source, privacy, security). * Ecosystem goal: Part of the foundation's Trillion Dollar Security initiative to strengthen Ethereum as it scales to handle larger on-chain value. The Ethereum Foundation has introduced a targeted measure to lower one of the biggest barriers facing crypto developers: the expense of professional smart contract audits. On April 14, 2026, the foundation launched its $1 million Audit Subsidy Program, designed to subsidize a portion of security review costs and broaden access to top-tier auditors. The program operates in partnership with Areta, which handles applications and disbursement, and connects approved projects to more than 20 leading audit firms including Nethermind and Chainlink Labs, according to CoinDesk. Eligible teams - open to Ethereum mainnet builders of any size or stage - submit proposals for review by an expert committee. Approved subsidies are applied directly to audit services, with some reports indicating coverage of up to 30% of fees. The initiative forms part of the foundation's ongoing Trillion Dollar Security effort, which aims to enhance protocol resilience as Ethereum supports more complex applications and higher-value activity. In its announcement on X, the Ethereum Foundation stated: "The subsidy program makes audits accessible and strengthens the Ethereum ecosystem." The post links to application details via Areta and underscores the program's role alongside the newly introduced CROPS principles framework guiding development priorities around censorship resistance, open source, privacy, and security. Industry observers note that comprehensive audits remain an industry best practice yet are frequently skipped by smaller teams due to cost. By reducing that financial hurdle, the foundation hopes to raise overall security standards and reduce the risk of exploits across DeFi, NFTs, and other Ethereum-based projects. No cap per project was specified, but the $1 million pool will be allocated based on committee decisions. The move arrives amid continued growth in Ethereum's ecosystem and follows the foundation's earlier mandate updates defining its core role in supporting long-term network health. While the subsidy does not eliminate all audit-related expenses, it provides a practical step toward making professional security reviews more attainable for a broader range of builders. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions. 2026 (C) Cryptopress. For informational purposes only, not offered as advice of any kind. Discover more Mobile Payments & Digital Wallets Financial Markets News Distributed & Cloud Computing Lo último. * Linux Foundation Launches x402 Foundation to Govern Coinbase's Open AI Payments Protocol On April 2, 2026, the Linux Foundation announced the x402 Foundation, taking stewardship of Coinbase's x402 protocol for embedding payments into web interactions. The neutral, open-source body - backed by Google, Stripe, Visa, Mastercard, Shopify, Cloudflare, Solana Foundation and others - targets seamless AI-agent... * Tether Taps Big Four Accounting Firm for Inaugural USDT Reserve Audit Tether has engaged an undisclosed Big Four accounting firm to conduct a full independent audit of its $184 billion USDT reserves, marking a major transparency shift... * Plasma: The Blockchain Challenging DeFi's Stablecoin Status Quo Plasma aims to offer zero-fee USDT transactions and lightning-fast settlement by leveraging Bitcoin's security and an EVM-compatible environment... * Balancer DeFi Protocol Suffers $128M Exploit in V2 Pools Amid Smart Contract Vulnerability Ethereum-based DeFi platform Balancer experienced a major exploit draining over $128 million from its V2 Composable Stable Pools, with chains like Berachain halting operations to limit damage...