ChainLaunch
Comparison

ChainLaunch vs IBM Blockchain Platform

IBM Blockchain Platform was discontinued in 2023. ChainLaunch is the actively maintained alternative — Fabric + Besu, AI chaincode, business-hours SLA, and no lock-in.

ChainLaunch

ChainLaunch

Recommended
From $2,000/mo — all-inclusive, no hidden fees
5 minutes to first network
Low complexity — Web UI, CLI, REST API
Fabric + Besu, monitoring, backups, RBAC
Open source core — no vendor lock-in
IB

IBM Blockchain Platform

Discontinued — IBM Blockchain Platform was shut down in 2023. Existing customers needed to migrate.
Was 1-2 hours to first network
High complexity
Fabric (no Besu support)
Vendor lock-in — tied to their platform

Feature-by-feature comparison

FeatureChainLaunchIBM Blockchain Platform
Platform status
Actively maintained
Discontinued (2023)
Monthly price (managed)
From $2,000
No longer available
Minimum commitment
None — cancel anytime
Was 12 months
Setup time
5 minutes
1-2 hours
Hyperledger Fabric
Hyperledger Besu / EVM
Web UI dashboard
REST API & CLI
One-click network deploy
Built-in monitoring
Automated backups
RBAC & SSO
Business hours SLA (4h response)
Network templates
HashiCorp Vault integration
No vendor lock-in
Terraform provider
Open source

Common frustrations with IBM Blockchain Platform

What teams tell us when they switch to ChainLaunch

IBM Blockchain Platform was officially discontinued in 2023 — existing customers were left without a supported path forward
Fabric only — no Besu or EVM support for Ethereum-compatible smart contracts
12-month commitment was required — teams were locked in even if the PoC failed in week 2
$180/month per vCPU with a 3-vCPU minimum meant $540+ before deploying a single transaction
Complex Kubernetes-based deployment model added significant operational overhead for small teams
No transparent pricing calculator — the real invoice often surprised customers
Migrating away from IBM Cloud required rebuilding network configurations from scratch

Why teams switch to ChainLaunch

The advantages that matter most

ChainLaunch is actively developed and maintained — no risk of the platform being sunset
Open source core backed by the Linux Foundation's Decentralized Trust labs — inspect the code and never fear deprecation
Fabric + Besu in one platform — run EVM and Fabric networks side-by-side
No commitment: cancel anytime — no 12-month lock-in
5-minute setup with pre-built network templates vs hours of Cloud configuration
Business hours SLA (Mon–Fri 9–5 CET, 4h response) included in Enterprise plan
Terraform provider for GitOps workflows — manage blockchain infrastructure like any other cloud resource

Frequently asked questions

Is IBM Blockchain Platform still available?

No. IBM discontinued the IBM Blockchain Platform in 2023. Existing customers were advised to migrate to alternative platforms. ChainLaunch is the actively maintained successor for teams running Hyperledger Fabric, backed by the Linux Foundation's Decentralized Trust labs.

Can I migrate from IBM Blockchain Platform to ChainLaunch?

Yes. Both platforms use standard Hyperledger Fabric underneath. ChainLaunch's network templates can import Fabric configurations, and your existing chaincode will work without modification. We offer free migration consultations for teams switching from IBM.

Does ChainLaunch support Kubernetes like IBM did?

ChainLaunch manages infrastructure for you — you don't need to manage Kubernetes clusters. For teams who want Kubernetes-native deployment, ChainLaunch's Terraform provider supports orchestrated deployments. The managed cloud option eliminates Kubernetes complexity entirely.

How does support compare to what IBM offered?

ChainLaunch Enterprise ($4,000/mo) includes a business-hours SLA with 4-hour response (Mon–Fri 9–5 CET), dedicated support, and direct access to the engineering team. The founder has 6+ years of enterprise blockchain deployment experience and is available for architecture consultations.

Ready to try a better approach?

Deploy your first blockchain network in 5 minutes. Managed cloud from $2,000/month.

David Viejo

Need help migrating?

Free 15-min call with David Viejo