Banks, Governments & Google Are Actively Building on Hashgraph Tech – Why Hedera (HBAR) Thrives in 2025

While most people associate the term “blockchain” with Bitcoin or Ethereum, a different project is becoming a preferred option for governments, banks, and tech corporations: Hedera Hashgraph. 

Hedera isn’t built on a traditional blockchain. It runs on a distinct system. Hedera Hashgraph uses a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG), a web-like structure distinct from blockchain’s linear chain. This allows parallel processing, enabling thousands of transactions per second with near-zero fees ($0.0001).

Hedera, created by Dr. Leemon Baird and Mance Harmon, is governed by a council of up to 39 global organizations, not anonymous validators.

It has quietly advanced across key sectors. In recent moves, EQTY Lab deployed its Verifiable Compute platform on NVIDIA’s Blackwell chips, achieving a 400,000x performance boost with SCAN UK and Accenture. 

Eric Piscini, CEO of Hashgraph, shared with CCN that “In the last few weeks, we’ve seen major strides across the Hedera ecosystem. The Reserve Bank of Australia and Digital Finance CRC’s Project Acacia is exploring digital currency interoperability on Hedera and HashSphere, EQTY Lab has deployed Verifiable Compute on NVIDIA’s Blackwell platform, Grayscale has added Hedera to its Smart Contract Platform Select Fund, and Kraken now supports HBAR funding and trading. This momentum in both tokenization and AI isn’t isolated, it reflects a broader shift where DLT is becoming the trust layer for mission-critical applications. Hedera has a key role to play in this moment.”

Backed by some of the largest names in tech and finance, Hedera is helping reshape global infrastructure.

This article explains what makes Hedera different, who is using it, and why HBAR, Hedera’s native token, could be the backbone of future finance and tech systems.

What Is Hedera Hashgraph? 

Hedera is a public distributed ledger that uses Hashgraph, an alternative DLT. Unlike blockchain, it uses Hashgraph technology, where computers (nodes) share transactions via a “gossip” system, quickly spreading data like news. 

Key Features of Hashgraph Include

• Finality in seconds: Transactions reach consensus in 3 to 5 seconds. There is no waiting for multiple block confirmations. Hashgraph’s asynchronous Byzantine Fault Tolerance (aBFT) is a key technical advantage of the Hedera Hashgraph consensus mechanism.
• Micro-fees under $0.001: The cost to send or execute transactions stays low, making it ideal for high-frequency and micro-payment use.
• Carbon-negative operations: The network uses minimal energy and offsets more than its emissions, meeting sustainability targets.
• Governance: Hedera is governed by a rotating council of global organizations, including Google, IBM, and Deutsche Telekom. Each organization runs nodes and votes equally on decisions.
• Throughput of up to 10000 transactions per second: Hedera can process far more transactions than most blockchains without slowing down or raising fees.

Hedera vs. Hashgraph vs. HBAR

Hedera is the platform you interact with; Hashgraph is the tech behind it. It’s like saying “Google” (the service) vs. “Google’s search algorithm” (the tech).

• Hedera: Hedera is the public network or platform that runs on a unique technology called Hashgraph. Think of it as a super-fast, secure digital ledger (like a decentralized database) used for things like payments, data storage, or smart contracts.
• Hashgraph: This is the underlying technology that powers Hedera. Unlike traditional blockchains (like Bitcoin or Ethereum), Hashgraph uses a different method to record and verify transactions, making it faster, cheaper, and more energy-efficient. It’s like the engine that makes Hedera run.
• HBAR: HBAR is the cryptocurrency (or digital coin) used on the Hedera network. You use HBAR to pay for transactions or services on the network, like paying a small fee to send money or run an app. It’s like the “fuel” for Hedera.

Who’s Using Hedera and Why It Matters

Hedera is already used by major institutions for a variety of applications.

• Google runs a governing node and integrates Hedera into Google Cloud services.
• IBM uses Hedera for secure supply chain and asset tracking systems.
• NASA research project: Nasa funded a study on using Hedera Hashgraph for secure aerospace data exchange.
• Deutsche Telekom: It operates a Hedera network node and provides infrastructure support. It has also explored Hedera’s use in telco innovation through projects like the fraenk eSIM, potentially integrating loyalty programs and micropayments using HBAR.

These companies help run the network, guide protocol decisions, and shape use cases. However, they are not the only ones who have impacted Hedera.

Former Projects and Memberships on Hedera

Several key players have contributed to Hedera’s growth before stepping down:

• LG backed non-fungible tokens (NFT) development through its Art Lab platform, which operated on Hedera until its shutdown in June 2025. LG still remains on the Hedera Governing Council.
• Boeing explored digital identity tools for aviation assets during its time on the council. It ended its membership in February 2025.
• University College London (UCL), the first academic institution to join the council, provided research on cryptographic models and governance. UCL concluded its tenure in January 2025.

Key Use Cases of Hashgraph From CBDCs to ESG

HBAR is powering real-world applications across public and private sectors. The network supports a wide range of use cases that go beyond basic crypto transactions.

• CBDCs: The Reserve Bank of Australia and Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) are testing Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) interoperability on Hedera through Project Acacia for real-time, cross-border settlement.
• Carbon markets:  Projects like DOVU, which tokenizes carbon credits for transparent offset tracking, and Tōmorrow.io, which logs real-time climate data on Hedera, demonstrate how the network supports verifiable environmental impact solutions.
• NFTs: The Myco platform lets creators mint NFTs with low fees. Football clubs in the UK and entertainment brands use Hedera for authenticated fan collectibles.
• Digital identity: Texas government explored using Hedera for digital IDs and driver’s licenses. TYMLEZ builds self-sovereign identity tools on the network.
• Real-world asset tokenization: REITIUM tokenizes property shares on Hedera, opening access to fractional real estate investment.
• Sustainability: ServiceNow and also TYMLEZ use Hedera to log carbon usage, renewable credits, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics for enterprise reporting.
• Decentralized logs: Atma.io by Avery Dennison tracks supply chain data on Hedera, letting brands timestamp events with full transparency.
• Data integrity and AI: HashLog offers verifiable logs for sectors like aerospace. HashSphere and EQTY Lab link Hedera to NVIDIA’s Blackwell platform to verify AI computations. 

HBAR: The Powerhouse Token Fueling Hedera’s Ecosystem

HBAR, the native cryptocurrency of the Hedera Hashgraph network, is more than just a digital currency; it’s the fuel driving innovative, low-cost, and high-speed transactions. From micropayments to decentralized finance, HBAR is unlocking new possibilities for users and businesses alike. Here’s how HBAR is making waves across various applications.

• Micropayments: Dropp enables users to pay for news, music, or video content with cents per item using HBAR, removing the need for subscriptions.
• Consumer rewards: AdsDax delivers instant HBAR rewards to users for ad interactions and has processed an average of 2.29 million engagements per day, alongside over 230,000 mainnet transactions daily.
• DeFi: SaucerSwap runs as the main decentralized exchange on Hedera, supporting swaps, staking, and liquidity with near-zero fees.

Hashgraph vs Blockchain: How It’s Different

Hedera’s consensus system, the underlying technology that powers the network, is based on hashgraph algorithms, virtual voting, and gossip about gossip. It doesn’t group transactions into blocks or rely on miners to validate activity. Instead, it lets every node know what others saw and when, creating a verifiable history of communication.

Think of it like this: instead of broadcasting to the whole network at once, each node tells a random neighbor what it knows. Then that neighbor tells another, and so on, like digital gossip spreading quickly. 

This structure allows: 

• Higher throughput: Many transactions can be processed in parallel without network congestion.
• Faster finality: Confirmations are instant with no risk of reordering or rollbacks.
• Lower energy use: No mining means dramatically lower power consumption.
• Built-in fairness: Transactions are ordered based on consensus timestamps, not by fees or miner incentives.

Hedera’s Consensus Service lets apps tap into the network’s fast, fair ordering of events, without needing to store full transaction history. From matching ride requests to real-time stock trading, developers can build systems that rely on trusted timestamps and decentralized ordering at scale. Use cases span from Internet of Things (IoT) and AI to private token markets and supply chains.

The Power of the Hedera Governing Council

As of July 2025, Hedera is governed by a council with the capacity for 39 rotating global organizations.

Each council member operates a network node and shares equal voting power on decisions. This model avoids centralization while bringing institutional trust. 

Members serve limited terms, ensuring diversity and global representation.

Why Interest in HBAR Is Growing in 2025 

Despite its low adoption in retail crypto circles, interest in HBAR is growing because of various reasons:

• Advanced technology: Hedera’s Hashgraph offers high-speed transactions (thousands per second), low fees ($0.0001), and energy efficiency, outperforming traditional blockchains.
• Enterprise adoption: Partnerships with major corporations like Google, IBM, Nvidia, and Lloyds Banking Group boost credibility and drive real-world use.
• Real-world applications: Projects like HederaToEarn and tokenized assets (e.g., gilts, money market funds) attract millions of users via platforms like Cashtree.
• DeFi and tokenization: Integration with MetaMask and potential Nasdaq ETF filings enhance Hedera’s role in decentralized finance and asset tokenization.
• Network upgrades: Lower fees (HIP-1084) and sharding plans improve scalability.
• Community engagement: Events like HederaCon 2025 and hackathons spur developer and user interest.

Grok’s Take on Why HBAR Is Gaining Attention in 2025

As interest in Hedera (HBAR) rises across both institutional and developer circles, Grok was asked to weigh in on what’s fueling the token’s momentum in July 2025. From enterprise traction to global pilots and tech innovation, HBAR is no longer flying under the radar.

Grok’s snapshot (above) reflects what’s already unfolding across financial, tech, and government sectors. These are practical steps toward building scalable, compliant systems. With new listings, real-world pilots, and strong governance in place, HBAR is beginning to show what long-term utility looks like in a crowded field of digital assets.

Conclusion

Hedera stands out from other crypto networks because it uses hashgraph technology, not blockchain. It offers a scalable public network used by major institutions, governments, and developers to solve real-world challenges, from CBDCs to digital identity. 

Its architecture enables high performance, low fees, carbon-negative efficiency and high throughput without sacrificing decentralization.

While most crypto projects chase short-term hype, Hedera focuses on building tools that support actual products and services. Its system, governance structure and enterprise partnerships make it one of the few platforms ready for long-term infrastructure use.

Adoption is already underway. With use cases ranging from AI verification to microtransactions, HBAR is moving quietly but steadily into essential systems. It may not trend on retail charts, but it is earning its place in future finance and technology stacks.

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About the Author

Dr. Lorena Nessi

Dr. Lorena Nessi is an award-winning journalist and media technology expert with 15 years of experience in digital culture and communication. Based in Oxfordshire, UK, she combines academic insight with hands-on media practice.

She holds a PhD in Communication, Sociology, and Digital Cultures, and an MA in Globalization, Identity, and Technology.

Lorena has taught at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Nottingham Trent University, and the University of Oxford. She is a former producer for the BBC in London, with additional experience creating television content in Mexico and Japan.

Her research focuses on digital cultures, social media, technology, capitalism, and the societal impact of blockchain innovation.

She has written extensively on digital media and emerging technologies, with her work featured in both academic and media platforms. Her Web3 expertise explores how blockchain technologies shape culture, economics, and decentralized systems.

Outside of work, Lorena enjoys reading science fiction, playing strategic board games, traveling, and chasing adventures that get her heart racing. A perfect day ends with a relaxing spa and a good family meal.

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