The explosion of distributed ledger technology (DLT) has brought businesses into a never-ending technology race. According to in-depth reports from the team of experts at Tan Phat Digital, determining the operating platform has become a vital factor for the long-term business model. In the context of 2026, the question of whether an organization should build its own blockchain or use existing infrastructure is no longer simply a technical choice, but has become a multidimensional strategic problem of risk management, cost optimization and establishing a sustainable competitive advantage. Which path to choose depends on the goals, budget and security requirements, where each path carries with it different barriers and opportunities for the development of the global Web3 ecosystem.
Strategic correlation between self-developed blockchain and using existing infrastructure
The decision to develop blockchain yourself or integrate into an existing network often comes from assessing whether the ability to control the infrastructure is Core competencies bring a difference to the business or not. Tan Phat Digital believes that using existing infrastructure such as Ethereum, Solana or Polygon helps save significant costs and time, suitable for most projects that are in the stage of finding market suitability. However, for entities that require maximum security and absolute control over network parameters, building a private blockchain (private/consortium) becomes a mandatory requirement to ensure operational autonomy.
Operational and strategic characteristics: Comparative analysis
Instead of using complicated tables, we can consider important criteria according to the following aspects here:
1. Control
Building its own blockchain: Enterprises have absolute control over the consensus mechanism, governance and deep technical specifications of the system.
Using existing infrastructure: Depends entirely on the development roadmap and governance decisions of the community or organization operating the main network.
2. Deployment time
Building your own blockchain: Lasts from 6 to 12 months or longer for research, development and security testing.
Using existing infrastructure: Can launch products to the market in just a few weeks through the deployment of smart contracts.
3. Investment costs (CapEx)
Building your own blockchain: Extremely high costs due to requiring a team of senior experts and setting up a complex node infrastructure system.
Using existing infrastructure: Low initial costs, mainly focusing on deployment fees and transaction costs incurred.
4. Network security
Building its own blockchain: Organizations must be responsible for building and maintaining a reliable set of validators (authentication nodes).
Using existing infrastructure: Inherit solid security from thousands of validators of giant networks.
5. Scalability
Building your own blockchain: High and stable because you don't have to compete for resources with any other applications on the same network.
Using existing infrastructure: There is a risk of network congestion and spikes in transaction fees when the main network is overloaded.
6. Interoperability
Building your own blockchain: Needs a large investment to build bridges or custom protocols to connect to the outside world.
Use existing infrastructure: Easily interact and integrate with other applications and assets in the same existing ecosystem.
This choice is also strongly influenced by concept of "Total Cost of Ownership" (TCO). Self-built projects will face costs that last throughout the product lifecycle, while using existing infrastructure helps shift the operational burden to platform providers.
See more: Public Blockchain, Private Blockchain and What is Permissioned Blockchain?
Technical analysis of available infrastructure solutions
The use of available infrastructure has now expanded to Layer 2, Layer 3 solutions and transaction rolling services (Rollups). Tan Phat Digital notes that Ethereum and Solana still maintain a dominant position, but each network serves different strategic needs.
Ethereum and the Layer 2 ecosystem: The gold standard of decentralization
Ethereum is the preferred choice for DeFi projects and digital assets thanks to its security and abundant liquidity. To overcome the barrier of fluctuating gas fees, Layer 2 solutions like Arbitrum, Optimism, and Polygon use Rollup technology to compress transactions, reducing costs by 80-90% while preserving data integrity from the Ethereum mainnet.
Solana and high-performance architecture
In contrast, Solana provides a monolithic infrastructure with extremely high performance, processing thousands of transactions per second with The cost is almost zero. This is the ideal choice for Web3 game projects or decentralized physical resource networks (DePIN). However, investors need to have confidence in the stable operation of this network after a number of disruptions in the past.
Rollups-as-a-Service (RaaS): Hybrid stepping stone
The trend in 2026 is to use on-demand blockchain deployment services (RaaS) such as Caldera or OP Stack. This model helps businesses own a separate "App-Rollup" but still operate on Layer 1 infrastructure, helping to optimize block space without having to develop from scratch.
Blockchain self-development techniques: Framework and architecture
When deciding to self-develop, open source frameworks such as Cosmos SDK and Polkadot Substrate are often prioritized to shorten the time. space.
Cosmos SDK and sovereignty philosophy
Language: Uses Go (Golang), easily accessible to the Web2 community.
Security: Each chain builds its own independent authenticator, providing absolute sovereignty.
Interaction: Uses IBC protocol to exchange data directly between chains without the need for intermediaries.
Polkadot Substrate and shared security
Language: Uses Rust, requires more in-depth system programming skills.
Security: Parachains inherit protection from the central Relay Chain, allowing for faster launch without worrying about attracting validators.
Modularity: Allows deep customization of operating logic through available "Pallets".
See more: When NOT to use Blockchain for a project
Analyzing financial and human resources costs
Tan Phat Digital warns that one of the biggest mistakes is underestimating the long-term financial burden when doing it yourself building blockchain.
Details on personnel and operating costs:
A standard team (about 35 employees) can require a salary budget of more than $39,000/month.
Total monthly operating costs (including marketing, legal) can be up to nearly $60,000 for a mid-range blockchain startup.
In markets development, salary for senior engineers can reach $170,000 - $250,000/year.
Details of node infrastructure (Estimated monthly):
Bitcoin Full Node (AWS): Ranging from $500 – $900.
Ethereum Archive Node: Usually over $1,000 due to huge storage capacity.
Solana Node: Requires extremely powerful hardware, costs from $2,500 – $4,000.
Managed Node Providers (RPC): Flexible from $49 to $799 depending on traffic access.
In addition, security audit costs are mandatory, ranging from $5,000 for simple contracts to more than $300,000 for complex enterprise-level protocols.
Enterprise Blockchain: Private and Consortium Models
For sensitive fields such as logistics or banking, Tan Phat Digital suggests solutions Specialized:
1. Hyperledger Fabric (Linux Foundation)
Most common for alliance networks.
Uses a multi-channel architecture to ensure privacy between members.
Initial implementation costs for a complete system can be up to $327,000.
2. R3 Corda
Whichever direction you choose, risks such as 51% attacks, Sybil attacks or DoS attacks are always present. Tan Phat Digital proposes a 5-layer security model for Web3 projects:Protocol Layer: Protects consensus and cryptographic mechanisms.
Infrastructure Layer: Protects node servers and RPC endpoints.
Smart Contract Layer: Strict source code audits to avoid errors logic.
Application Layer: Protects against phishing and DNS hijack risks.
User Wallet Layer: Educates and protects end-user private keys.
Lessons from real cases
The TradeLens project (IBM & Maersk) is a classic example of the failure of coalition blockchain projects due to power imbalance and lack of network effects. In contrast, the current trend is shifting to "Private logic on Public rails" — using public infrastructure like Ethereum but integrating security technologies like Zero-Knowledge Proofs to keep business data private.
Decision framework: When to build, when to use?
Tan Phat Digital suggests prioritizing according to scale and type of project Project:
Startup MVP: Should use existing infrastructure (Layer 2/Rollup) to optimize capital and focus on products.
DeFi/NFT project: Should use existing infrastructure (Ethereum/Solana) to take advantage of liquidity and large community.
Logistics Alliance/Y International: Should build private blockchain (Hyperledger/Corda) to control privacy and identification.
High-speed Web3 Game: Should build private blockchain (App-chain) or Layer 3 to have dedicated block space.
Central Bank (CBDC): Required to build separate blockchain to ensure national monetary sovereignty experts.
Typical Case Study: Lessons from practice
1. Sony Soneium (Using existing infrastructure - Success)
Sony launched Soneium, a Layer 2 network on Ethereum, in early 2025. In just one year, the network has processed more than 500 million transactions and attracted more than 5.3 million active wallets. By choosing Layer 2, Sony takes advantage of Ethereum's security but still creates its own ecosystem for entertainment content and fans.
2. JPMorgan Onyx/Kinexys (Built Your Own - Successful)
JPMorgan built the Onyx platform to process wholesale and automated repo payments. As a result, they eliminated more than 3,000 manual steps in category management and reduced management fees by 20%. This is a testament to the construction of separate infrastructure to serve the rigorous needs of the financial industry.
3. dYdX (Conversion from L2 to App-chain - Strategic Migration)
After a period of operating on Layer 2 of Ethereum, dYdX decided to switch to building its own blockchain using Cosmos SDK. The reason is to achieve complete decentralization of the order book and increase transaction speeds far beyond the limits of shared networks.
4. Walmart (Built your own - Success in Supply Chain)
Walmart uses Hyperledger Fabric to trace food origins. This system has shortened the origin tracing time from 7 days to just 2.2 seconds for agricultural products. Using a private network helps them tightly control sensitive supplier data.
5. ASX CHESS Replacement (Built separately - Million dollar failure)
The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) had to cancel the project to replace the CHESS system with blockchain after spending 250 million AUD dollars. The lesson learned is the excessive complexity of trying to apply new technology to core market infrastructure without careful preparation for scalability.
6. TradeLens - IBM & Maersk (Building alliances - Failure of governance)
TradeLens once processed 30 million documents at 160 global ports but had to close in 2023. The project failed not because of technicalities but because competitors did not want to participate in a network controlled too tightly by the competitor (Maersk).
7. Government of Estonia (Built your own - National success)
Estonia is a pioneer country in managing 99% of the population's health data on blockchain. They use a tightly controlled blockchain infrastructure to ensure national data security and sovereignty, making it the gold standard for digital government.
8. Ernst & Young (EY) Nightfall (Hybrid - Innovation on the public network)
Instead of building a private chain, EY developed Nightfall to run private business logic right on the public Ethereum network using Zero-Knowledge Proofs technology. This is a strategy that helps businesses have privacy while not having to spend money on building infrastructure from scratch.
9. HSBC (Asset Tokenization - Success in Finance)
HSBC has deployed a tokenized gold trading system on the blockchain, allowing real-time settlement 24/7. They choose a specialized approach to digitize real assets (RWA), bringing greater liquidity to the traditional gold market.
10. Tom Tailor (Fashion Transparency - ESG Success)
Fashion company Tom Tailor successfully onboarded 240 suppliers to the blockchain platform in just 3 months to trace 17% of orders down to the raw material level. The project achieved a 100% participation rate thanks to its simple interface and clear goal of complying with environmental regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Blockchain 2026 Implementation
1. Can businesses pay and settle blockchain transactions using fiat currency?Yes. Licensed payment providers can convert digital assets to fiat currency instantly and deposit into business accounts, helping you benefit from blockchain speed without holding crypto on your balance sheet.
2. Do I have to own cryptocurrency to use blockchain for business? No. Most enterprise blockchain applications focus on record keeping, asset transfers, or automating processes that have absolutely nothing to do with cryptocurrencies or use non-monetary crypto assets.
3. What is the biggest risk when building your own internal blockchain infrastructure?The main risks include system security errors, not being able to adapt to legal regulatory changes, delaying market launch time, and putting great pressure on human resources.
4. What is the average time to develop a private blockchain infrastructure?Developing a blockchain infrastructure from scratch typically takes 12 to 24 months or longer, while using existing infrastructure can help you launch a service in just a few weeks.
5. What is the estimated cost of developing a simple blockchain application (DApp)? A simple blockchain application with basic functions usually has a development cost ranging from $40,000 to $60,000.
6. How much can a complex enterprise-level blockchain system cost?Complicated systems that require high security and multi-layer integration can cost from $150,000 to over $300,000 for initial development.
7. How much does it cost to maintain nodes on a monthly basis? Maintaining a Bitcoin node on AWS costs around $500 - $900/month, Ethereum Archive Node costs over $1,000/month, and Solana Node can cost from $2,500 to $4,000/month.
8. What goals does Vietnam's national blockchain strategy set for 2025-2030? Decision No. 1236/QD-TTg of the Government focuses on perfecting the legal environment, developing national blockchain infrastructure and forming a competitive digital technology business ecosystem.
9. When will Vietnam have a full legal framework for digital assets? The government is working to build a legal framework for digital assets, with bigger and clearer steps expected to take place around May 2025.
10. What is NDAChain and how does it support businesses? This is a blockchain platform developed by the National Data Association under the management of the Ministry of Public Security, providing government infrastructure supporting digital identification (DID), traceability and secure data authentication.
11. Is Blockchain really safe from fraud and transaction reversals? Yes. Every transaction is validated by multiple nodes and recorded on an immutable ledger. Once confirmed, the transaction cannot be changed, greatly reducing the risk of fraud and chargebacks.
12. Why should I choose a Rollup solution instead of building a standalone AppChain? Rollup is the optimal choice if you want to benefit from the security and liquidity directly from the Ethereum ecosystem without needing to maintain complex network and consensus layers yourself.
13. When is building an AppChain (Private Application Blockchain) necessary? You should choose AppChain when you need absolute control over governance, have unique legal compliance requirements, or want deep customization of consensus parameters that public networks cannot accommodate.
14. What problems does Modular blockchain architecture solve for businesses?This architecture separates functions (execution, consensus, data) into specialized layers, making the system extremely scalable and reducing transaction costs by using cheap data layers like Celestia.
15. Why do large alliance projects like TradeLens fail despite huge resources?
Failure mainly comes from the power imbalance between members, the fear of revealing business secrets to competitors, and the high cost of integration for small businesses in the supply chain.
The future of the industry is no longer a battle between "build" or "use", but a shift to modular architecture. Enterprises can rent different components (execution, consensus, data) from specialized providers. The development of Zk-EVM virtual machines will blur the line between the privacy of the internal network and the security of the public network.
Conclusion from Tan Phat Digital: Choosing to build your own blockchain or use existing infrastructure is a deliberate decision. Private construction should only be done when the business really needs absolute control and has strong financial potential. In most other cases, taking advantage of the existing ecosystem will be the fastest and safest launching pad to dominate the market in the upcoming Web3 era.
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