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        <title>Frontiers in Blockchain | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/blockchain</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Frontiers in Blockchain | New and Recent Articles</description>
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        <pubDate>2026-07-28T16:06:45.06+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1912032</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1912032</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Editorial: Secure blockchain applications for smart cities: enhancing trust, privacy, and resilience]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-07-27T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Editorial</category>
        <author>Roben Castagna Lunardi</author><author>Diego Kreutz</author><author>Maher Alharby</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1890169</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1890169</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Programmable governance and institutional design in decentralized autonomous organizations: a comparative study of RARI DAO, Arbitrum DAO, and Optimism DAO]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-07-22T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Anna Riabokon</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) represent one of the most consequential experiments in organizational design to emerge from blockchain technology. By encoding governance rules into smart contracts and recording every vote, proposal, and treasury decision immutably on-chain, DAOs offer globally distributed communities a high degree of transparency and accountability in collective decision-making. This study examines governance design and participatory innovation across three DAOs: RARI DAO, Arbitrum DAO, and Optimism DAO. Each has taken a distinct structural approach to the problem of collective decision-making at scale. Using a qualitative comparative case study method, the research draws on governance forum discussions, proposal records, and official documentation, analyzed through thematic coding and cross-case comparison. The theoretical frame draws primarily from Ostrom’s (1990) commons governance principles, with Scott’s (1995, 2014) institutional theory and Donaldson’s (2001) contingency theory applied as supplementary analytical lenses. Across all three cases, the findings indicate the emergence of increasingly formalized governance architectures designed to balance decentralization, coordination efficiency, and operational security. Communities building governance infrastructure from scratch, iterating rapidly in response to community feedback, and developing structural solutions: delegate incentive programs, participation incentive mechanisms, bicameral legitimacy systems, constitutional frameworks, and dedicated legal entities that represent an emerging configuration of governance mechanisms. Two cross-case findings are particularly notable. First, all three DAOs independently converged on a three-body governance architecture comprising a legal foundation, a security council, and token-holder governance — suggesting that similar governance problems, encountered in similar technical and legal environments, tend to produce similar structural solutions. Second, while these architectures are structurally similar, they differ significantly in how governance processes are implemented in practice, reflecting differences in scale, formalization, and community context. These findings contribute to the literature by providing a structured cross-case analysis of DAO governance design and offering practical insights into programmable institutional design and blockchain-enabled coordination systems.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1871552</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1871552</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Stepping back to own: a moderated mediation model of blockchain governance, decentralized identity, and digital media sovereignty in the metaverse]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-07-20T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Elsir Ali Saad Mohamed</author><author>Khalid Ibrahim Abdelaziz Ishag</author><author>Omnia Salem</author><author>Ahd M. M. Abudraz</author><author>Mathani Hassan Abasher</author><author>Nermen Nasr</author><author>Fakhri Elfaki</author><author>Gihan Awad Elyas Mohamednour</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The convergence of blockchain technology and the Metaverse is redefining digital media ownership and distribution. Drawing on survey data from 613 digital media professionals and a qualitative synthesis of literature (2023–2026), this study examines how blockchain-based mechanisms—specifically non-fungible tokens (NFTs), smart contracts, and decentralized identity (DID) solutions—are associated with creator sovereignty and platform interoperability. Using a moderated chain mediation model within a socio-technical systems framework, the analysis shows that blockchain integration is associated with lower perceptions of platform dependency. This association is linked to a sequential pathway whereby higher decentralized governance is associated with lower intermediary control, which in turn is associated with higher creator monetization autonomy. Connectedness to decentralized protocols differentially shaped these processes: at the technical level, stronger protocol integration strengthened the negative association between blockchain adoption and intermediary dependence; however, at the governance level, a paradoxical pattern emerged, whereby stronger decentralization was associated with higher perceived governance overload in the context of algorithmic decision-making. By disentangling the technical and governance pathways, this study extends current understanding of digital media ecosystems beyond simple use-outcome associations. The findings highlight the importance of considering individual differences in digital literacy and institutional trust when designing blockchain governance frameworks. We conclude that blockchain is not merely an incremental improvement but a necessary architectural requirement for a resilient and equitable Metaverse, contingent upon addressing the risks of surveillance federalism and the digital divide.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1828776</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1828776</link>
        <title><![CDATA[RTChain: a real-time permissioned blockchain leveraging priority-based deterministic concurrency]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-07-15T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Methods</category>
        <author>Guoqiong Liao</author><author>Chuanling Zhong</author><author>Hao Ding</author><author>Changxuan Wan</author><author>Dexi Liu</author><author>Xiping Liu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Blockchain meets the needs of data tamper-proofness, anticounterfeiting, and traceability in fields such as the Internet of Things, supply chain management, and industrial control. However, these fields often collect large amounts of data in real-time and require processing within a specified time frame. Existing research mainly focuses on achieving high throughput and low latency in blockchain without considering the timeliness characteristics of transactions, which cannot provide timely guarantees for applications in these fields. Ensuring that transactions from such applications can be processed within the specified time is an urgent issue that blockchain needs to address. In the current study, we design RTChain, a prototype for permissioned blockchains that supports real-time transactions. We design a transaction processing framework that is scheduled first and then executed to process transactions based on timeliness. Specifically, RTChain proposes a priority assignment strategy to transition transaction deadlines and guide transactions throughout their entire lifecycle. We propose a Priority-based Deterministic Concurrency Control (PDCC) algorithm to execute transactions, where conflicts among transactions are resolved by detecting read-write sets and aborting transactions with lower priorities. To enhance the efficiency of transaction execution, we design an address-based check table and introduce an Optimized Priority-based Deterministic Concurrency Control (OPDCC) algorithm. Numerous experiments show that RTChain exhibits stable and excellent performance within various conflict rates and deadline ranges, meeting the timeliness requirements of transactions.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1860252</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1860252</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Blockchain and sovereignty: opportunities and limitations of operational autonomy]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-07-08T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Sofia Cossar</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Since its inception, blockchain has been presented as a technology capable of transforming the exercise of sovereignty by enabling individuals and collectivities to coordinate crucial aspects of their lives with reduced dependence on centralized intermediaries. Recent commitments to “self-sovereignty,” including the Ethereum Foundation’s 2026 mandate, suggest that this ambition remains central to the blockchain ecosystem. However, the relationship between blockchain and sovereignty has been insufficiently theorized. This paper argues that blockchain shapes sovereign capacity through the interaction of technical affordances, design choices, and user priorities. Drawing on science and technology studies, material culture, institutional theory, and political philosophy, it advances a three-part analysis. At the level of technology, the paper identifies operational autonomy as blockchain’s most distinctive contribution to sovereign capacity while showing that it exists in tension with three governance requirements: voice, accessibility, and legibility. At the level of designers, it examines how sociotechnical imaginaries shape the ways these material tensions are interpreted and negotiated, privileging some constituencies while excluding others. This argument is illustrated through a comparative analysis of four onchain identification systems: Holonym, World ID, Proof of Humanity, and Idena. At the level of users, the paper identifies four institutional logics - legalistic, commercial, communitarian, and insular - that shape how actors evaluate when blockchain should be adopted in pursuit of sovereign capacity. While operational autonomy remains significant, sovereignty, in this account, is an outcome continuously built, negotiated, and contested across all three levels.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1861627</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1861627</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Unpacking the underlying mechanisms between blockchain technology application and green innovation: from systemic resource orchestration perspective]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-07-03T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yiyao Wang</author><author>Xinghao Li</author><author>Peiwen Zhang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Motivated by escalating environmental regulations and the global imperative for sustainable development, this research investigates how Chinese enterprises in heavily polluting industries utilize blockchain technology application (BTA) to catalyze green innovation through a systemic perspective grounded in resource orchestration theory. Conceptualizing enterprises as embedded within a broader supply chain system, this research investigates the underlying mediating mechanism and boundary conditions under which BTA enables green innovation as a system-level capability. Employing survey data from 397 Chinese manufacturing firms in high-pollution industries, this study empirically analyzes the proposed relationships, especially the mediating role of supply chain integration and the moderating effects of contextual factors within the supply chain system. Supply chain integration fully mediates the positive effect of BTA on green innovation, demonstrating how digital resources are orchestrated across organizational boundaries to generate systemic innovation outcomes. Supply chain trust strengthens the positive relationship between BTA and supply chain integration by reducing systemic friction and enabling deeper resource sharing; task complexity weakens it by introducing structural constraints on digital resource structuring. A green digital learning orientation positively moderates the relationship between supply chain integration and green innovation, serving as a cultural-cognitive mechanism that directs resource leveraging toward sustainability objectives. This research contributes by unpacking the systemic orchestration mechanisms of the relationship between BTA and green innovation, reveals how systemic resource orchestration transforms digital technology applications into advanced green innovation capabilities, and offers valuable theoretical and practical insights for achieving sustainability goals through digital transformation, particularly for polluting firms under environmental regulatory pressure.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1845469</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1845469</link>
        <title><![CDATA[CCDigital: protection of digital citizenship folder based on DLT-blockchain]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-07-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Leonardo Juan Ramírez López</author><author>Danniel Alejandro Parra Chavarro</author><author>Yeison Andres Hernandez Huertas</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionDigital citizenship services often rely on fragmented systems, duplicating validation procedures and forcing citizens to repeatedly disclose personal data. While permissioned blockchains and verifiable credentials promise enhanced traceability and privacy, integrated public-sector prototype evidence remains limited. To address this, we present CCDigital: a prototype combining a web application, relational persistence, off-chain document storage, Hyperledger Fabric traceability, and a self-sovereign identity (SSI) component to support document issuance, holder-mediated authorization, and institutional verification.MethodsTo assess whether this architecture provides auditable document provenance, controlled disclosure, and operational continuity within Colombia’s digital citizenship context, we evaluated the prototype under laboratory conditions. The assessment methodology included role-based functional and integration testing, security and privacy validation, repeated operational runs, and formative usability assessments.ResultsThe system successfully executed the core issuer-holder-verifier workflow, preserved sensitive PDF documents off-chain, and securely recorded access and verification events on-chain. Diagnostic repeated-run testing revealed that while standard operations functioned correctly, automated execution faced orchestration-dependent limitations. Specifically, Newman/Postman reports (50 iterations, 250 requests) identified failures in SSI proof polling, and k6 evidence (250 checks) showed failures concentrated in protected-file retrieval.DiscussionThe evaluation is limited by controlled conditions, restricted workload volume, partial automation of SSI-dependent flows, incomplete metadata minimization, and the absence of cryptographic auditing. Despite these constraints, this study provides actionable, prototype-based evidence on how permissioned blockchains and verifiable credentials can support privacy-aware verification. Furthermore, it clarifies the governance, interoperability, security, and scalability requirements necessary for real-world public-sector adoption.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1814695</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1814695</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A dual-QR blockchain-based authentication mechanism for agricultural anti-counterfeiting]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-07-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Duc Huy Pham</author><author>Tuan-Dat Trinh</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Counterfeiting in the agricultural sector remains a critical challenge that causes substantial economic losses and erodes consumer confidence. Existing QR code–based solutions are inadequate because public codes can be easily copied and reused. Moreover, their reliance on centralized databases creates a risk of collusion, enabling administrators to issue counterfeit labels that appear legitimate. Advanced technologies such as RFID and hardware security modules offer stronger protection but are prohibitively expensive and impractical for most agricultural applications. This paper presents a dual-QR code authentication mechanism integrated with blockchain to ensure data integrity and prevent code reuse. Each product is assigned a concealed private QR code, revealed only upon package opening, enabling verification after purchase and immediate detection of counterfeit goods. The system combines the high-throughput, low-latency data handling of centralized databases with the immutability of blockchain, offering a cost-effective and easily deployable solution. Experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and practicality of the proposed method for large-scale anti-counterfeiting in agricultural products.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1815609</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1815609</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Blockchain empowered federated learning for intelligent analytics in cattle livestock farming]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-07-01T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Lakshmi Prabha Ganesan</author><author>Saravanan Krishnan</author><author>Malathy Batumalay</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionDairy industry is playing a vital role in rural economies as well as global food industries. Ensuring compliance with food safety standards remains a constant challenge where manual inspections and periodic audits are not accurate because of vulnerable record maintenance systems. There is a pressing need for immutable and decentralized compliance monitoring mechanism that is suitable for small-scale farmers and a tamper proof record maintenance system for ensuring compliance.MethodsThis research proposes a compliance monitoring system with Federated Learning (FL), CattleML (a lightweight edge inference runtime designed for microcontrollers) and a consortium Blockchain network. CattleML implements the instantaneous examination of cattle health, hygiene, and milk quality using multimodal sensor data (temperature, accelerometer features, ammonia levels and pH), which supports the on-device edge intelligence without exposing raw data. Federated learning with Graph AT-based dynamic clustering and DBSCAN-based fusion enables context-aware personalization across heterogeneous farms. Compliance results are cryptographically validated using ZK-SNARKs and recorded on a Layer-2 Polygon zkEVM Blockchain, where smart contracts manage farm identities, violation logs, audit triggers, and regulatory interactions.Results and DiscussionThe framework is validated using the Shahhet2812 dataset across 16 parameters. Experimental results demonstrate a federated global model accuracy of 96.94%, a 97.7% reduction in communication payload (4.25 KB per round), and high resilience against sensor noise, maintaining >90% accuracy under 20% noise injection. Results show that the proposed system establishes a trustworthy and automated compliance monitoring for system having resource constraint IoT devices.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1760542</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1760542</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Comprehending the acceptance of cryptocurrencies for financial transactions within Saudi context]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-06-29T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Abdulwahid Ahmad Hashed Abdullah</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, presents a novel paradigm for financial transactions and monetary exchange, yet their widespread public adoption remains in its nascent stages. This gap is particularly relevant in developing nations that exhibit financial stability, where crypto acceptance could accelerate economic progress. The main aim of this study is to investigate the key drivers influencing individuals’ willingness to accept cryptocurrencies for financial transactions within the context of Saudi Arabia. To accomplish this, this study illustrates behavioural model, which is examined via data collected from a survey of 412 respondents residing in Saudia Arabia. The relationships between the different factors and individuals’ willingness to use cryptocurrencies were then analysed by Structural Equation Modelling. Results show that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, technology awareness, and government support significantly influence the acceptance of cryptocurrency. However, perceived risk negatively affects the accepting of cryptocurrency. This research additionally contributes to the existing theoretical framework of digital currency adoption. Furthermore, these findings offer practical insights for policymakers in developing countries especially those with strong financial stability on how to effectively manage the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency adoption among their public.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1874577</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1874577</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A lightweight blockchain framework for secure and scalable IoT communication]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-06-26T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Khushboo Jain</author><author>Sheetal Singh</author><author>Arun Agarwal</author><author>Rohit Tanwar</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionThe rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has introduced significant challenges related to secure and efficient communication among resource-constrained devices. Although blockchain offers strong security features such as decentralization and immutability, conventional blockchain frameworks incur substantial computational, communication, and storage overheads, limiting their applicability in IoT environments.MethodsThis study proposes a lightweight blockchain architecture for secure IoT communication by integrating edge computing, hash-based data storage, and a lightweight consensus mechanism. Computational tasks are offloaded to edge nodes, while only hashed information is maintained on the blockchain to reduce storage requirements and improve overall system efficiency.ResultsSimulation results demonstrate that the proposed framework achieves up to 71% reduction in computational cost, 66% reduction in communication delay, 93% reduction in storage overhead, and 68% savings in energy consumption compared with existing state-of-the-art approaches. Furthermore, the architecture maintains a stable throughput of 105 transactions per second, representing an improvement of up to 160% over baseline methods under high node-density scenarios.Discussion and ConclusionThe obtained results indicate that the proposed lightweight blockchain architecture effectively balances security, efficiency, and scalability for IoT networks. By minimizing resource consumption while preserving data integrity and transaction throughput, the framework provides a practical solution for supporting large-scale, real-time IoT applications and demonstrates the feasibility of lightweight blockchain technologies for resource-constrained environments.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1782707</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1782707</link>
        <title><![CDATA[MEV in multiple concurrent proposer blockchains]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-06-18T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Benjamin Marsh</author><author>Steven Landers</author>
        <description><![CDATA[We analyze the maximal extractable value in multiple concurrent proposer blockchains, where multiple blocks become data available before their final execution order is determined. This concurrency breaks the single builder assumption of sequential chains and introduces new maximal extractable value (MEV) channels, including same-tick duplicate steals, proposer-to-proposer auctions, and timing races driven by proof of availability latency. We develop a hazard-normalized model of delay and inclusion, derive a closed-form delay envelope M(τ), and characterize equilibria for censorship, duplication, and auction games. We show how deterministic priority directed acyclic graph (DAG) scheduling and duplicate-aware payouts neutralize same-tick MEV while preserving throughput, identifying simple protocol configurations to mitigate multiple concurrent proposer (MCP)-specific extraction without centralized builders.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1747512</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1747512</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The architecture of blockchain value: capabilities, pillars, and growth dynamics]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-06-18T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Hypothesis and Theory</category>
        <author>Agisilaos Papadogiannis</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This paper develops a capability-based framework for understanding the architecture and value of blockchain systems. We classify networks into three paradigms: single-capability systems that deliver one core function, multi-capability systems that integrate a bounded set of programmable services, and meta-capability systems that coordinate extensible marketplaces of heterogeneous services. To explain how these paradigms scale, we introduce five architectural pillars, purpose, consensus, incentives, tokenomics, and network effects, that jointly constrain the feasibility and sustainability of capability provision. Building on these foundations, we propose a valuation model in which network value arises from adoption, per-unit service value, and architectural network effects, with composability across capabilities generating quadratic scaling in the symmetric benchmark. We prove a formal dominance result: under symmetric conditions, meta-capability systems dominate multi-capability systems, which in turn dominate single-capability systems. The framework links protocol design choices directly to value creation and clarifies why some architectures scale reliably while others face structural bottlenecks, providing a structured basis for evaluating long-run viability and strategic positioning of blockchain ecosystems.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1840728</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1840728</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Pricing trends of cryptocurrency: an empirical analysis of Bitcoin and Ethereum, 2020–2025]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-06-16T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Kai Yang</author><author>Jialiang Liu</author><author>Yunrui Guan</author>
        <description><![CDATA[A current, urgent problem is whether the price behavior pattern of significant quantities of digital assets reflects a single direction trend line or multiple phases that exhibit different structures, adjusted inter-asset relationship differences, and changes in management systems, given the growing importance of digital assets in investment portfolios and collateral holdings, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), new forms of financial activities, and system risks over the period from 2020 through 2025. Because of this period’s post-pandemic recovery, speculative overextension, sharp decline, stabilization, and the re-entry of large-scale institutions into practice, these changes in prices are more clearly identified under such a context. Empirically, this study integrates descriptive statistics, rolling volatility analysis, augmented Dickey–Fuller’s unit-root test, segmented trend regression model with structural breaks, and vector autoregression (VAR) for return interactions. Based on these bases, both Bitcoin and Ethereum have demonstrated a relatively strong direction of continuous appreciation, together with quite considerable regime-specific instability. The log-price series is non-stationary, but the daily return series is stationary; so a level model is appropriate for medium-term trend analysis, and returns-based models can be applied more flexibly at shorter timespans. The segmented trend-regression analysis shows that close to peaks, such as those that occurred in 2021 for a long period, the 2022 correction, and the resumption of investment in 2024, are relatively distinct from the overall linear change pattern across all time periods. Both Bitcoin and Ethereum display pronounced contemporaneous co-movement, but they show no substantial lags via VAR or Granger causality tests conducted in the context of time-varying parameters. This study employs an integrated empirical research approach based on various perspectives to explore the long-term structural adjustment and near-instantaneous cross-market relationship dynamics, as well as regulatory mechanisms within a systemic context.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1832998</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1832998</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Blockchain in Jordanian construction: an exploratory empirical study of stakeholder priorities and bootstrapped ROI]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-06-16T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Muhammad Al-Btoush</author><author>Jafar A. Aldiabat Al-Btoosh</author><author>Imad Al Shalout</author><author>Taiseer rawashdeh</author><author>Mahmoud Ali Alsubeh</author><author>Omar Alomary</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionThis study proposes an evidence‐informed, three‐phase framework for blockchain implementation in Jordanian public building projects, developed by combining stakeholder‐based prioritization with bootstrapped ROI analysis. Grounded in Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT) and the Technology—Organization–Environment (TOE) framework, it examines how stakeholders prioritize blockchain use cases and explores the financial attractiveness of a progress‐payment pilot using bootstrapped ROI (Return on Investment) via scenario-based NPV/IRR simulations with resampling.MethodsA purposive, non‐probability survey of 123 contractors, consultants, and academics was conducted to identify priority applications, perceived benefits and barriers, and relevant organizational and technological characteristics. Analyses included descriptive statistics, chi‐square tests, a regularized binary logistic regression (progress payments vs. other priorities) with bootstrap inference, and Monte Carlo bootstrapped NPV/IRR simulations for a 5‐year pilot.ResultsRespondents across roles consistently prioritized progress‐payment automation and change‐order management, citing transparency as the main expected benefit and low awareness as the leading barrier. Logistic results indicate that greater experience, contractor role, and lower BIM use are associated with selecting payments as the top priority, although these associations are estimated on an exploratory, small purposive sample and should not be interpreted as definitive population‐level effects. Under conservative, literature‐informed assumptions, the pilot scenario yielded a positive expected NPV (mean ≈ JOD 50,143) and favorable IRR distribution, although these ROI indications remain exploratory and assumption‐dependent.DiscussionFindings are exploratory and specific to the surveyed stakeholders; they do not claim population representativeness and provide indicative evidence to guide blockchain pilot design and policy discussion in Jordan. Because public building projects are core elements of urban infrastructure (e.g., schools, hospitals, and administrative facilities), these exploratory findings are directly relevant to improving sustainable urban infrastructure delivery and governance in Jordanian cities and, by extension, to SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities).]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1820074</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1820074</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Blockchain adoption strategies under the framework of a dual-channel supply chain]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-06-12T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Jiangtao Chen</author><author>Yu Li</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This paper investigates the adoption strategies of blockchain technology within the framework of a dual-channel supply chain. Applying game theory, we demonstrate that the adoption decision of supply chain members depends on consumer privacy concern. Furthermore, we derive an equilibrium in which one chain member adopts blockchain technology while the other does not, depending on consumer acceptance of the online channel and transportation costs. Additionally, we identify an equilibrium where both chain members adopt blockchain technology, which may lead to either a win–win or a win–lose outcome for the manufacturer and retailer, respectively. Our findings also suggest that consumer surplus increases as consumer privacy concern grows. Moreover, three extensions analytically confirm the robustness of our results.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1811716</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1811716</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Microstructure alpha: hierarchical learning and cross-asset transfer in cryptocurrency markets]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-06-11T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Edson Pindza</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionWe test whether classical market microstructure features can predict short-term cryptocurrency returns once data leakage and trading costs are properly accounted for.MethodsUsing over three million minute-level observations from six major cryptocurrencies on Binance spot and perpetual futures markets, we evaluate nine microstructure measures through a pipeline that includes hierarchical modelling, stability selection, gradient boosting with SHAP, meta-learning, and purged walk-forward cross-validation benchmarked against naive forecasters.ResultsAll features are stably selected at minute frequency, with range-based spread proxies and realised volatility the most robust. However, gradient-boosted models overfit severely under proper leakage controls, and no strategy survives realistic exchange fees. Models trained on one cryptocurrency do not transfer to others, although they transfer well between the spot and futures venues of the same asset.DiscussionThe results show that microstructure signals carry genuine but weak information content that is useful for understanding market quality but not exploitable at standard retail fee levels.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1726047</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1726047</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Safeguarding consumers in Web3-driven digital marketing: legal, governance, and financial policy challenges in the metaverse economy]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-06-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Policy and Practice Reviews</category>
        <author>Murat Başal</author><author>Ömer Faruk Şarkbay</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The rapid rise of Web3 technologies, representing the third phase of the internet, is creating a decentralized ecosystem that grants users ownership and control. Concurrently, metaverse platforms supported by virtual and augmented reality technologies signify the emergence of persistent, shared digital universes where users interact through digital avatars. These developments necessitate significant changes in consumer rights and protections within digital marketing processes. While decentralized structures and blockchain-based systems enhance user data sovereignty, they also require the development of novel governance and financial frameworks. In this context, existing legal instruments—particularly the European Union’s Digital Services Act, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission guidelines, and the OECD Principles on Digital Economy—are insufficient to address the technological complexities and dynamic evolution of Web3 and metaverse ecosystems. Notable regulatory gaps persist in key areas, including data security, informed user consent, algorithmic transparency, and digital identity governance. Moreover, the marketing of blockchain-based financial instruments such as Decentralized Autonomous Organizations and Non-Fungible Tokens introduces new vectors of consumer risk and legal ambiguity, exacerbating market volatility. The opacity of algorithm-driven marketing and the potential for covert manipulation in AI-powered personalization further erode consumer trust and undermine market integrity. To ensure robust consumer protection in the digital marketing landscape, legal and regulatory frameworks must align with ongoing technological innovation. This includes mandatory implementation of algorithmic explainability standards, establishment of transparent and accountable governance mechanisms for DAOs, and development of enforceable contractual norms and minimum information disclosure requirements in NFT transactions. Furthermore, comprehensive digital literacy initiatives and consumer awareness programs are essential to mitigate emerging risks while optimizing the inclusive potential of Web3 technologies. These policy measures are crucial to safeguarding consumer rights and fostering sustainable trust within the evolving digital marketing ecosystem through 2025 and beyond.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1792905</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1792905</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The future of money: blockchain as the backbone of secure and transparent finance]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-06-01T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Mohammad Ali Al-Afeef</author><author>Ayman Abdalmajeed Alsmadi</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The growing demand for secure, transparent, and efficient financial systems has accelerated interest in blockchain technology within the financial sector. This study investigates the determinants and outcomes of financial blockchain adoption by proposing an integrated research model that links core blockchain characteristics security and transparency, smart contracts, and decentralization to financial blockchain adoption and its subsequent effects on fraud reduction, risk management, and cost efficiency. Using data collected from financial institutions operating in Jordan, the study applies Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to empirically test the proposed hypotheses. The findings demonstrate that security and transparency, smart contracts, and decentralization significantly and positively influence financial blockchain adoption. Moreover, the results confirm that financial blockchain adoption has a strong positive impact on fraud reduction, risk management effectiveness, and operational cost efficiency. By conceptualizing blockchain adoption as a strategic organizational capability rather than a purely technological choice, this study extends existing blockchain and fintech literature. The findings provide valuable theoretical insights into how blockchain characteristics translate into tangible financial outcomes and offer practical guidance for financial institutions and policymakers seeking to enhance trust, governance, and efficiency through blockchain-based financial systems.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1757940</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbloc.2026.1757940</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Adoption of cryptocurrency in Ghana: a two-step analytical approach combining PLS-SEM and fsQCA]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-28T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Isaac Osei</author><author>Chettupally Anil Carie</author><author>Satish Anamalamudi</author><author>Dennis Opoku Boadu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[PurposeThis study investigates the drivers of cryptocurrency adoption in Ghana, an emerging economy where adoption patterns remain underexplored. It seeks to explain both the linear relationships and complex configurational pathways that shape user behaviour in digital financial systems.Design/methodology/approachA dual-method approach was employed, combining Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA). PLS-SEM was used to examine net effects among constructs, while fsQCA identified multiple causal configurations leading to adoption. Data were collected from 652 cryptocurrency users in Ghana through a structured online survey.FindingsThe PLS-SEM results indicate that facilitating conditions and intention to use are the most direct predictors of actual usage. However, several relationships exhibit counterintuitive effects, including negative influences of financial literacy and perceived usefulness on attitude, and a negative direct effect of behavioural intention on usage. The fsQCA results complement these findings by revealing multiple alternative pathways to adoption, including configurations in which users adopt despite low intention, driven by enabling conditions or perceived opportunity. These results highlight the non-linear, asymmetric, and context-dependent nature of cryptocurrency adoption.OriginalityThis study contributes to the technology adoption literature by integrating Technology Acceptance Model and UTAUT constructs within a combined PLS-SEM and fsQCA framework. It extends existing models by demonstrating that adoption behaviour in high-risk financial contexts cannot be fully explained through linear assumptions alone, thereby introducing a configurational perspective to cryptocurrency adoption research in emerging economies.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that policymakers and fintech developers should prioritise infrastructural support, user education, and context-sensitive strategies. Enhancing facilitating conditions and financial literacy, while reducing barriers to use, may be more effective than focusing solely on attitudinal change.]]></description>
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