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Out of a total of 13 registered initiatives, nine projects from Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Bolivia, Brazil, and Guatemala advanced to the active phase of the BELLA II Early Adopters Blockchain Program, organized by RedCLARA and LNet. The program aims to promote the adoption of public-permissioned blockchain-based solutions across the academic, scientific, governmental, and entrepreneurial ecosystems in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The initiative encourages researchers, students, innovators, and companies to leverage the BELLA II testbeds, including blockchain, to develop new solutions. “RedCLARA acts as a facilitator, and together with LNet we bring this service to the entire region,” emphasized Carlos González, RedCLARA’s Services Manager.

The official welcome for the participating teams took place in a virtual session on October 1, which included an overview of the BELLA program and its relevance to the region, as well as the BELLA II project—initiatives implemented by RedCLARA and co-funded by the European Union. The session also covered objectives and upcoming stages, included a Q&A segment, and offered a training workshop on blockchain and digital identity.

Out of the nine participating teams, three initiatives will be selected to participate actively during the six-week program. These teams will have free access to the blockchain test infrastructure, allowing them to experiment with the testbed and develop the first success cases in Latin America.

González explained that, in its first phase, the BELLA program enabled the deployment of the submarine cable between Portugal and Brazil, facilitating the rapid transfer of scientific, educational, and technological data between the two regions. “Now, that connectivity is expanding to other countries, including Central America, through the BELLA II project, which is in its expansion phase. This network is a strategic highway for scientific and technological collaboration,” he noted.

For his part, Pedro Gutiérrez, Head of Partnerships for Latin America at LNet, highlighted the technical features of the BELLA II blockchain testbed. “Our network uses a membership-based scheme and does not employ cryptocurrencies, eliminating exposure to asset volatility. It also enables the development of stable and sustainable business models, supporting tens of thousands of transactions at competitive costs,” he explained.

Gutiérrez added that the network is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), enhancing interoperability with other projects and institutions. “Built according to IDB standards, we ensure high levels of quality and technological updates. This partnership represents a unique opportunity for academic institutions not only to understand blockchain technology but to use it in a real and secure environment to create solutions with tangible impact,” he emphasized.

Next Steps

Following the launch session, the program will continue with team onboarding, leading into the pilot development phase from October 9 to November 21. During this period, teams will receive technical and strategic support, preferential access to LNet’s testnet with a node subsidized by BELLA II, personalized mentorship, specialized workshops, certification, and international visibility.

The process will conclude with Demo Day, scheduled between December 2 and 5, 2025, where participants will present their solutions to the regional and international community, with the opportunity to scale their projects to mainnet.

After Demo Day, the most promising projects may join the BELLA II innovation network and access new collaboration, development, and funding opportunities. Additionally, a second edition of the program is planned for 2026, aiming to expand participation across more countries and strengthen blockchain adoption in strategic sectors throughout Latin America.

With this first edition of the BELLA II Early Adopters Blockchain Program, BELLA II encourages the use of new technologies in the region, supporting a teamwork-focused, inclusive, and sustainable way to improve the digital landscape of Latin America and the Caribbean.