A host organization writes a smart contract and an associated plurality of assets to a distributed ledger via a distributed ledger services interface of the host organization, which operates as a first one of a plurality of nodes that has access to the assets via the distributed ledger. The host receives a request message from a second one of the plurality of nodes to access an asset associated with the smart contract written to the distributed ledger. The request message generates a distributed ledger transaction including a first event or trigger associated with the smart contract. An event listener executing within the host organization detects the first event or trigger, and initiates a pre-programmed action within the host organization in response thereto. The pre-programmed action includes providing a first response message that does not include the asset, either as a distributed ledger transaction including a second event or trigger associated with the smart contract, or a messaging protocol transaction including the first response message to be exchanged with only the second one of the plurality of nodes. Alternatively, the host organization retrieves from a local store, or generates, the asset, and provides it in a second response message in either a distributed ledger transaction including a third event or trigger associated with the smart contract, or a messaging protocol transaction including the second response message to be exchanged with only the second one of the plurality of nodes.