SDASI Roadmap
Our roadmap for building global standards for Shariah-compliant digital assets, tokenization, and blockchain-based financial systems.
Standards and accreditation for Shariah-compliant digital assets
We set the standards for Shariah-compliant digital assets and accredit the advisory firms that apply them. Accelerate your build with our free, open-source, independently audited reference smart contracts.
What the Institute Does — and Does Not Do
The Institute is in a foundational, pre-operational phase: its committees are being constituted, its standards are being drafted, and its registration is in progress. It states plainly what it does and what it does not do.
The Institute accredits advisory firms.
It does not itself rule on individual tokens. Determinations of permissibility are issued by qualified persons at accredited firms, within a defined scope.
The Institute develops standards.
It does not operate a ruling service. For a personal determination, consult a qualified mufti or recognized authority.
The Institute's automated engine advises.
It does not determine. The engine produces a preliminary, advisory assessment; qualified persons review every submission.
The Institute's reference contracts are published without charge.
They are open-source and independently audited, available to all, whether or not a party engages the Institute's paid services.
Open-Source Reference Smart Contracts
The Institute publishes open-source, independently audited reference implementations for common use cases, certified in advance so that development may proceed on a compliant basis. The benefit is available irrespective of whether a party engages the Institute's paid services.
- Asset-backed (tokenized real asset) implementation
- Murabaha (cost-plus sale) flow
- Stablecoin arrangement
The initial set addresses common cases; the reference library is under development.
SDASI Today
The Institute is in its foundational phase. Nothing on this page is complete; the following describes the work presently under way.
Governance framework
Establishing institutional governance, independence and ethics policies, funding-integrity rules, and conflict-of-interest procedures, in advance of receiving funds or confirming members.
Scholar and expert network
Constituting a network of Islamic finance scholars, blockchain researchers, and regulatory advisers. Committee seats are not yet filled; members will be published on confirmation.
Standards drafting
Drafting foundational standards for digital asset classification, stablecoin structures, and staking assessment, each to be released as a draft for public consultation.
Why Standards Matter
Digital assets require structured review because token designs can involve complex financial, governance, yield, and ownership mechanisms, and because few persons combine depth in Islamic jurisprudence with competence in smart-contract engineering. The Institute's role is to make credible review workable at scale: it sets consistent standards, accredits the firms that apply them, and equips those firms with better instruments for their work.
The Institute is convening Islamic finance scholars, blockchain protocol specialists, and regulatory advisers to develop practical guidance for issuers, institutions, and regulators. This work is in its foundational phase and is being conducted in the open.
What SDASI Is Building
Shariah Research
Developing structured frameworks for evaluating digital asset structures against Islamic finance principles, including riba, gharar, maysir, and permissible economic activity.
Protocol Analysis
Developing methodologies for assessing token mechanics, smart contracts, governance structures, yield mechanisms, and protocol design.
Standards Development
Drafting transparent standards for digital asset classification, Shariah alignment criteria, and the accreditation of advisory firms.
Foundational Standards Program
The Institute is drafting a suite of foundational standards. Each will be released as a draft for public consultation before it is finalized; none is yet published.
SDAS-100
Digital Asset Classification
A framework for categorizing digital assets by economic function, rights, and Shariah-relevant characteristics, establishing a common taxonomy for standards development.
Under development
SDAS-200
Stablecoin Framework
Criteria for evaluating stablecoin structures, including reserve composition, redemption mechanisms, transparency requirements, and governance arrangements.
Under development
SDAS-300
Staking Framework
Principles for assessing staking mechanisms, yield generation, and validator economics from a Shariah alignment perspective.
Under development
Knowledge Base
Descriptive categories of asset type, used in the Institute's standards research. They describe how assets are structured. They are not certifications, endorsements, or determinations of permissibility, and no asset is named.
| Asset category | Description | Nature |
|---|---|---|
| Store-of-value assets | Assets held principally to preserve value over time. | Descriptive |
| Payment assets | Assets intended principally for transfer and settlement. | Descriptive |
| Utility tokens | Tokens conferring access to a protocol's functions or services. | Descriptive |
| Asset-backed tokens | Tokens representing a claim on identifiable underlying assets. | Descriptive |
Disclaimer: The Institute accredits advisory firms and certifies its own open-source reference smart contracts. It does not issue determinations of permissibility on third-party tokens, does not provide investment or legal advice, and does not provide a personal ruling service. Any determination on a specific project is issued by qualified persons at an accredited firm, within a defined scope. The Institute is in active development; its standards, committees, and legal registration are in progress.
Latest Research & Publications
Stablecoin Review Methodology
Detailed criteria for evaluating asset-backed stablecoins and fiat-referenced tokens for Shariah compliance.
Digital Asset Shariah Framework
Foundational document establishing classification criteria and compliance principles for Shariah evaluation of digital assets.
Help shape the future of Shariah digital asset standards.
SDASI is building foundational standards for Shariah-compliant digital assets. Participate in public consultation, contribute your expertise, or join as a founding contributor.