Architecture
Non-Normative Reference Architecture for Trusted Digital Interoperability
Bita Trust explores architectures that support trusted information exchange across organizations, industries and jurisdictions. Inspired by the General Theory of Data Physics, the architecture provides enabling frameworks for representing, exchanging and interpreting digital states in a verifiable and interoperable manner. Rather than replacing existing systems or platforms, the architecture aims to complement existing ecosystems through open standards and cross-domain collaboration.
Architectural Vision
Modern digital ecosystems are increasingly fragmented by heterogeneous systems, regulatory requirements and trust boundaries. The objective of the architecture is to facilitate trusted interoperability while supporting confidentiality, verifiability and data minimization principles. The architecture is intended to support cooperation across industries, jurisdictions and digital ecosystems.
Architectural Layers
Layer 0 — Data Physics Foundation
The foundational research layer. This layer explores the concepts of digital states, state evolution and state projections. It provides theoretical perspectives for understanding how trusted information may be represented and exchanged.
Layer 1 — Source-side Trust Formation and State Representation
This layer connects Trust at Source and GTSE by defining how source-side trust formation, state projection and representation models can be translated into architecture patterns for interoperable exchange.
Layer 2 — Trusted Edge Infrastructure
Trusted edge components transform operational information into verifiable digital representations. This layer supports:
• Minimal data extraction;
• Decoupled digital attributes;
• Representation structuring;
• Preparation of verifiable representations, where required by the applicable implementation.
Issuance remains attributable to the responsible actor or another duly authorized issuer; Bita Trust does not prescribe or assume the issuer role.
Layer 3 — Trust Exchange
This layer enables trusted information exchange through internationally recognized mechanisms such as:
- Optional technology bindings may include signed data objects;
- verifiable credentials;
- event records;
- APIs;
- data-space connectors or other interoperable mechanisms;
- No single binding is mandatory.exchange and UNTP-compatible credential structures.
Layer 4 — Applications and Ecosystems
Application ecosystems remain independent from the infrastructure layer. Examples include:
- Digital Product Passport;
- Sustainable supply chains;
- ESG reporting;
- Green finance;
- Future digital ecosystems.
Applications are developed and operated by ecosystem participants.
Design Principles
Interoperability by Design
Support collaboration across heterogeneous ecosystems.
Verifiability by Design
Enable trusted and auditable information exchange.
Privacy by Design
Reduce unnecessary data exposure.
Continuity by Design
Support event-based or continuous state alignment where dynamic state data is relevant.
Technology-Neutral Design
Remain independent from specific platforms, vendors or jurisdictions.
Open Ecosystem Approach
Bita Trust recognizes that trusted interoperability is strengthened through collaboration, openness and standards alignment. The architecture is intended to complement existing initiatives rather than replace them. We welcome collaboration with industry, academia, standards communities and public-sector stakeholders to advance trusted digital interoperability together.
Semantic and Standards Mapping
The Data Physics framework does not seek to replace existing electronic data interchange standards, semantic models or digital trust technologies. It provides a first-principles perspective for understanding industrial data through physical entities, states, state evolution and purpose-specific state representations.
Within Bita Trust’s architecture, Trust at Source describes how trust-relevant information may be formed within the source domain. GTSE describes a protocol-neutral reference model for preserving trust-relevant relationships when such representations are exchanged across domains.
State representations, event records, evidence references and structured attributes may be mapped to external semantic models and carried through different technical bindings. These mappings do not require a single credential format, protocol, identifier scheme or platform architecture.
Relevant references may include UN/CEFACT semantic models, applicable ISO/TC 154 standards, W3C Verifiable Credentials, GS1 EPCIS, UNTP, Asset Administration Shells, data spaces and conventional APIs. These are optional mapping and implementation references; no single specification defines the Bita Trust architecture.
Through such mappings, Bita Trust explores how industrial information may be prepared for interoperable, verifiable and traceable use across systems, organizations and jurisdictions while preserving source-domain governance requirements.
References to external standards bodies, specifications, regulations or interoperability initiatives indicate areas of research, individual expert participation or technical mapping only. They do not imply endorsement, adoption, formal affiliation, institutional representation or authorization unless expressly confirmed by the relevant organization.