NPCI rolled out Drunix, an open-source blockchain platform designed to scale digital assets, tokenisation, and enterprise networks, strengthening India's digital infrastructure and blockchain innovation.
The National Payments Corporation of India NPCI rolled out Drunix, a new open-source blockchain platform designed to help businesses build and expand tokenisation platforms, digital asset ecosystems, and multi-organisation networks. The launch marks another significant step in India's efforts to strengthen its digital infrastructure beyond payments and into the broader world of blockchain technology.
Drunix is a high-performance distributed ledger platform built as an enhanced version of Hyperledger Fabric, one of the world's most widely used open-source enterprise blockchain frameworks developed under the Linux Foundation. While remaining compatible with existing Hyperledger Fabric environments, Drunix introduces architectural improvements aimed at increasing transaction speeds, scalability, and operational efficiency.
A Platform Built for Large-Scale Adoption
Unlike many blockchain solutions that struggle with enterprise-level requirements, Drunix has been engineered specifically for large-scale deployment across businesses and public infrastructure projects. NPCI said the platform enables organisations to deploy blockchain networks without compromising privacy, governance, or interoperability.
The technology is the result of years of research and experimentation by NPCI in blockchain and tokenisation. The organisation believes reusable technology building blocks like Drunix can help accelerate the adoption of distributed ledger technologies across industries.
Why Is NPCI Investing in Blockchain?
As digital ecosystems continue to evolve, blockchain is increasingly being viewed as a foundation for secure data sharing, asset tokenisation, and multi-party collaboration. Through Drunix, NPCI aims to provide organisations with tools that support real-world blockchain adoption rather than limiting the technology to pilot projects.
According to Vishal Kanvaty, Chief Technology Officer at NPCI, the initiative is intended to encourage experimentation, interoperability, and innovation through open-source collaboration while strengthening India's digital infrastructure.
Building on Previous Innovations
Drunix is NPCI's second major open-source contribution in the blockchain and tokenisation space. It follows Falcon, a platform focused on blockchain network management and orchestration. While Falcon addressed network operations, Drunix focuses on the blockchain runtime and transaction processing layer.
The organisation has also introduced other technology initiatives, including FiMi and Vigil-AI, demonstrating its broader commitment to developing foundational digital infrastructure.
Looking Beyond Payments
NPCI, best known for operating the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), is also exploring infrastructure-led products beyond digital payments. Future areas of focus may include eKYC systems, central bank digital currency-related infrastructure, and other nationwide digital services.
As Business Fortune observes, the launch of Drunix signals NPCI's growing ambition to play a larger role in India's technology ecosystem. As businesses increasingly explore tokenisation, digital assets, and blockchain-powered services, platforms like Drunix could provide the foundation needed for wider adoption. If successful, the initiative may help position India as an important contributor to global open-source blockchain innovation while supporting the next generation of digital infrastructure.
FAQs
What is Drunix?
Drunix is an open-source blockchain platform launched by NPCI to help organisations build and scale blockchain-based applications, tokenisation platforms, and digital asset ecosystems.
What technology is Drunix based on?
Drunix is built as an enhanced fork of Hyperledger Fabric, a popular enterprise blockchain framework developed under the Linux Foundation.
Why did NPCI launch Drunix?
NPCI launched Drunix to accelerate blockchain adoption, encourage innovation, and provide foundational technology for enterprise and public infrastructure projects.
How is Drunix different from Falcon?
Falcon focused on blockchain network management and orchestration, while Drunix concentrates on blockchain runtime performance and transaction processing.
What industries could benefit from Drunix?
Industries such as finance, supply chain, healthcare, digital identity, government services, and asset tokenisation could potentially use Drunix to build scalable blockchain solutions.
