Hedera Council Expands Global Engagement with New Partnership Program

As the Hedera network continues to scale and mature, strategic collaboration and shared innovation remain at the heart of its success. To give more organizations a voice in Hedera’s continued growth and to create new opportunities for partners to shape the future of web3, Hedera Council is introducing a new partnership program tailored for enterprises and community members.

Unlike most public Layer 1 DLT networks that depend on anonymous validators, Hedera uses a permissioned model in which up to 39 trusted institutions operate the network’s nodes. Comprising Fortune 500 enterprises, pioneering web3 companies, and leading universities, Hedera Council members are strategically distributed across regions and industries, providing resilience, diversity, and accountability that no other public network can match.

Since 2019, the Council has grown from 6 to 31 world-leading organizations across 11 industries worldwide. This momentum reflects a shared commitment to responsible, transparent, and inclusive governance, creating the trust layer for the new digital economy.

Introducing Two New Partnership Categories

To broaden participation in the Hedera ecosystem, Hedera Council is introducing two new partnership categories: Strategic Partners and Community Partners. This partnership program enables organizations of all sizes to engage with the network and contribute to its long-term success through collaboration with global leaders across the Hedera ecosystem.

Both partnership categories provide meaningful ways to engage with the Hedera ecosystem without requiring formal Council membership, as outlined in the Hedera Council, LLC agreement. While only Council members have the authority to operate nodes, approve technology upgrades, and exercise voting rights, these partnership opportunities are designed to deliver mutual value by empowering both partners to co-create solutions, drive innovation, and achieve joint growth while maintaining the network’s collusion-resistant governance structure.

Hedera Council Strategic Partners

• Number: Up to 45
• Ideal participants: Fintechs, enterprises, enterprise service providers, and industry associations
• Eligibility: Organizations with high-value use cases, strong strategic alignment (AI, tokenization, supply chain, sustainability, identity), or ecosystem service providers with one of the following criteria: $100M in revenue, funding, or assets, or a minimum of 100 employees
• Benefits: Access to working groups, workshops, and Hedera Council open sessions; technical support for use case development; networking with Council members and industry leaders; marketing and co-branded opportunities such as case study development; grant application support; preferential invitations to Hedera hosted events; promotional features on hederacouncil.org and social media

Hedera Council Community Partners

• Number: 50+
• Ideal participants: Startups, system integrators, advocacy and community organizations
• Eligibility: Projects or partners with active use cases or strategic relevance in areas such as AI, tokenization, sustainability, and identity
• Benefits: Access to working groups and ongoing ecosystem support; networking with Council members and industry leaders; marketing and co-branded opportunities such as case study development and promotional support; promotional features on hederacouncil.org and social media

Comparison of Council Membership & Partnership Responsibilities

Building Trust Through Responsible Growth

With the introduction of these new partnership categories, Hedera Council is broadening access to Council members, while reinforcing what makes the network unique: institutional governance, global representation, and enterprise-grade trust.

“By welcoming a wider range of participants, Hedera is not only expanding its ecosystem but also creating new pathways for partners to innovate, gain visibility, and co-create the next generation of decentralized solutions.” said Shyam Nagarajan, Chief Operating Officer, Hedera.

Get Involved Today

Organizations ready to accelerate their Web3 journey with Hedera Council can submit interest now to join as a Strategic or Community Partner. To learn more, visit: hederacouncil.org/contact.

Hedera Council Expands Global Engagement with New Partnership Program was originally published in Hedera Blog on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.