Blockchain was originally developed as an accounting method for bitcoin, the world’s first virtual currency. However, the use of blockchain technology is appearing in a variety of commercial applications in which value can be derived by digitising, coding and inserting information (eg, accounting, records and documents) onto the blockchain. Doing so creates an immutable record of the underlying transaction, in which the authenticity of the record can be verified by the entire community using blockchain rather than a single centralised authority. In 2017 and 2018, there was an explosion of compelling use cases for blockchain technology and many more will be developed in the future. This session explores the current state of the law surrounding blockchain technology, in particular, initial coin offerings (ICOs) in Singapore and South Korea, the two countries where significant activities on blockchain technology, ICOs and cryptocurrencies are taking place. The session then introduces several real-world projects that are in development and could be applied to franchising. The session discusses the challenges, from legal, commercial and technological perspectives, that must be overcome for the widespread adoption of blockchain technology in franchising, among other commercial applications. The session features panellists from Singapore, South Korea and Europe who shed light on this timely topic from the regulatory, commercial and legal vantage points.