As blockchains mature, questions about governance are taking center stage – and with good reason.
“Preserving decentralization in blockchain platforms is critical for ensuring competition, innovation, security, and fairness in the digital economy.” Brookings, April 2025
A recent report from the Brookings Institute notes that “as blockchain platforms scale, they exhibit a troubling trend: Power is concentrating among small groups of dominant actors. This re-centralization undermines blockchain’s original purpose, creating risks similar to those seen in traditional digital monopolies.”
Their research shows that, despite seeking to distribute decision-making power away from a central authority, both consensus and token-based governance mechanisms can lead to power concentration among a small number of influential actors.
Is it possible for governance to be transparent, organizationally neutral and decentralized?
| Yes. In fact, those are the guiding principles behind the Global Synchronizer Foundation (GSF), an independent entity that manages the Global Synchronizer – the decentralized technology that handles cross-application transactions, traffic and data for the Canton Network.
Canton Network itself is governed by a community of participants including financial institutions, fintech innovators and service providers – and the Global Synchronizer sits at the heart of its decentralized infrastructure, providing real-time synchronization and interoperability for regulated financial assets across a network of interconnected applications. |
About the Global Synchronizer
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| The GSF is supported by the Linux Foundation under an open governance model that fosters trust and neutrality. Anyone can submit proposals to be voted upon and view progress and actions taken. Proposals are voted on by those running Super Validators nodes, which form the decentralized infrastructure, and at least two-thirds must agree for any decision to be taken and implemented – including the addition of any new Super Validator.
As a Super Validator, GSF represents the interests of its members. Today, there are over 200 validators and 20 Super Validators, assuring a healthy, transparent ecosystem with governance and operations that are unbiased and independent. |
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“By embracing open governance principles, the Global Synchronizer Foundation promotes transparency, fairness and collaboration. It creates the meeting place to nurture and responsibly evolve the regulatory-grade blockchain infrastructure unlocking the potential of interoperable, tokenised real-world assets.” Global Synchronizer Foundation
Cross-sector participation to assure balance and growth
The GSF began with more than 18 members and continues to grow, adding three of the world’s largest financial institutions in March 2025
GSF members (as of April 2025)
| Financial institutions and capital markets firms
(8 of 21 = 38%) |
7Ridge
Calastone CumberlandGoldman Sachs Hong Kong FMI Services Limited Moody’s Ratings LendOS Liberty City Ventures |
| Market infrastructures
(2 of 21 = 9.5%) |
Euroclear
Tradeweb Ubyx |
| Technology providers
(5 of 21 – 24%) |
Digital Asset
IntellectEU Obsidian Systems Kaleido MPCH |
| Financial technology firms
(5 of 21 = 24%) |
Bitwave
Broadridge SBI Digital Assets Holding EquiLend Taurus |
| Industry association
(1 of 21 =4.5%) |
Global Blockchain Business Council |
GSF’s balanced representation is not only by design: it is foundational to Canton Network’s rapid growth. In under two years, Canton Network has more than tripled in size and now includes 100+ institutions, including the top 10 banks, processing $2T of repos each month and $2.7T in loans. This growth reflects the trust placed in Canton Network’s unique governance structure – governance that distributes decision-making and power to the network’s members to deliver on the foundational promise of blockchain.
Learn more:
About the Global Synchronizer Foundation
Global Synchronizer Foundation’s mission is to foster the development and growth of the Global Synchronizer in the Canton Network and facilitate its governance. The GSF provides transparency and member engagement in decisions made by the operators (Super Validators) of the Global Synchronizer to ensure a reliable, fair, and trusted service for the Canton Network. Blockchain applications in the Canton Network can use the Global Synchronizer to enable atomic transactions across sovereign blockchains without sacrificing privacy or control. Learn more at https://sync.global.
The Canton Network is the first public, permissionless blockchain purpose-built for institutional finance—uniquely combining privacy, compliance, and scalability. Governed by the Global Synchronizer Foundation with participation from leading global financial institutions, Canton enables real-time, secure synchronization and settlement across multiple asset classes on a shared, interoperable infrastructure. Initially developed by Digital Asset and now open-sourced, Canton supports decentralized governance and collaborative app development. By overcoming the limitations of existing blockchains, it unlocks new efficiencies for regulated institutions and facilitates the convergence between traditional finance and institutional crypto.
Learn more at: www.canton.network
Sources:
The hidden danger of re-centralization in blockchain platforms, Brookings, April 2025
Canton Coin: A Responsible Approach to Digital Tokens, Digital Asset, 2024
The Canton Network’s Global Synchronizer and Canton Coin Go Live, Canton, July 2024
Meet the Founding Members of the Global Synchronizer Foundation, February 2025
Canton Network: A Network of Networks for Smart Contract Applications, January 2024