Spearheading the Linux Foundation’s open source Hyperledger Project, IBM announced on Tuesday that it has made around 44,000 lines of code available to the initiative in order to help developers build secure distributed ledgers that can be used to exchange most anything of value.

More than 35 global IBM Researchers and software developers dedicated to the project, along with over 100 technical architects focused on making blockchain ready for business joined forces to build the code.

In addition, IBM also made a range of announcements that includes blockchain-as-a-service for developers, enabling Internet of Things (IoT) data on blockchain, Garages for blockchain app design and implementation and much more.

“In just a few short months, IBM’s vision for making blockchain a powerful new business solution across multiple industries is becoming a reality as our clients begin piloting innovative new code, services and z Systems optimized for distributed ledgers,” said Arvind Krishna, Senior Vice President, IBM Research. “These advancements are making it easier for developers to move from understanding the potential of blockchain, to actually using it to change their business processes in powerful new ways.”

The company said that its new blockchain services available on Bluemix – an open standards cloud platform for building, running, and managing apps and services – will enable developers to access fully integrated DevOps tools for creating, implementing, running and monitoring blockchain applications on the IBM Cloud.

Further, in order to enable Internet of Things (IoT) data on blockchain, IBM said that its Watson IoT Platform – a cognitive system that learns from, and infuses intelligence into the physical world – will enable information from devices such as RFID-based locations, barcode-scan events, or device-reported data to be used with IBM’s Blockchain. Devices will be able to communicate to blockchain-based ledgers to update or validate smart contracts.

IBM said that in a move to enable its experts to collaborate with developers on the design and implementation of blockchain for business, IBM Garages will open in London, New York, Singapore and Tokyo. In April 2014, IBM launched the first BlueMix Garage – a physical location where developers, product managers and designers can collaborate with IBM experts to rapidly innovate and deliver new cloud apps deployed onto BlueMix.

Moreover, the company also said that IBM Global Business Services will expand its blockchain consulting practice for clients in banking and financial services and logistics. IBM Interactive Experience (IBM iX), the largest global digital agency, will also engage clients to co-design new use cases for blockchain in more than 25 IBM Studios worldwide.

IBM is working with a number of global partners including London Stock Exchange Group and the Finnish business development organization, Kouvola Innovation. 

“We’re excited about the potential for blockchain to transform logistics value chains into a more seamless process that provides a trusted view of every piece of cargo. The IBM Blockchain fabric, together with the Watson IoT platform, offers great potential to bring together the physical and digital worlds in a way that has never been done before”, said Mika Lammi, head of IoT business development at Kouvola Innovation, Finland.