Blockchain and Tokenomics for Sustainable Development, Volume II

This is the second volume of the Research Topic titled ‘Blockchain and Tokenomics for Sustainable Development '. You may find the first volume linked here.

The essence of innovation lies in crafting a better world for future generations. Over the past decade, blockchain technology has emerged as a pivotal catalyst, propelling the evolution of the Internet and capturing the attention of both academia and industry alike. As the blockchain landscape matures, it's crucial to discern how these new global infrastructures can generate societal value. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by the United Nations in 2015, offer a holistic framework to tackle critical global issues like poverty, inequality, climate change, and sustainable growth. This call for scientific contributions aims to explore and assess how blockchain technology can expedite the realization of the SDGs.

The main objective of this Research Topic is to illuminate how blockchain can facilitate the achievement of a triple-sustainability paradigm in the global economy. By encouraging innovation in business and governance, along with incentive systems focused on optimized resource allocation, redistribution, and conservation, blockchain can play a transformative role. Additionally, the global scale of pressing policy challenges necessitates enhanced international collaboration and coordination. In this context, blockchain, with its transparency and immutability, is essential in establishing trust—a fundamental requirement for collaborative endeavors both institutionally and individually.

This Research Topic prioritizes the cultivation of pioneering research on blockchain's potential in developing sustainable solutions aligned with the SDGs. We seek interdisciplinary contributions that investigate blockchain's capacity to tackle diverse environmental, social, and economic challenges highlighted by the SDGs, and stimulate dialogue on the sustainable applications and implications of blockchain technology in achieving these objectives.

We welcome submissions from researchers, academics, industry experts, and policymakers, offering abstracts and original research papers grounded in rigorous qualitative (e.g., case studies, review articles) and quantitative methods (e.g., performance assessment). Published articles are anticipated to be approximately 8,000 words in length (3,000 words for mini-reviews).

Topics covered by the Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:
- Token-based incentive systems including carbon emissions tracking and offsetting for the promotion of climate-neutral behaviors (climate change adaptation and mitigation) (SDG 13: Climate Action)
- Transparency in food origin and production processes leveraging blockchain and data space technology (SDG 2: Zero Hunger)
- Token-enabled business models for regenerative finance (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth)
- Token-based systems for biodiversity management and protection (SDG 15: Life on Land)
- Blockchain-based business and governance models for philanthropy (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals)
- Blockchain for transparent and accountable governance in sustainability initiatives including cross-border I-Voting and privacy, security, and ethical considerations (SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions)
- Sustainable transportation, DPP and blockchain technology (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities)
- Decentralized energy systems and renewable energy trading using blockchain (SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy)
- Blockchain applications in waste management and circular economy (SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production) including biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management (SDG 15: Life on Land)
- Blockchain-enabled solutions for sustainable supply chain management (SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production)
- Tokenization and Decentralized Autonomous Organizations for local communities' governance and socio-economic models (SDG 1 (Sustainable Cities and Communities))
- Sustainable agriculture and food transparency and traceability using blockchain (SDG 2: Zero Hunger) including consumer goods (SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production)
- Social impact of blockchain technology in underserved communities (SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities)
- Integration of blockchain and AI for enhanced predictive analytics in sustainable resource management

This Research Topic accepts various article types, including original research, mini-reviews, case studies, and review articles, applying both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

Keywords: Token-based incentive systems, Tokenomics, Blockchain governance models, Decentralized systems, Blockchain Technology, Sustainability aspects of Blockchain, Social impact of Blockchain, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Transparency and immutability, Governance models, Circular economy, AI-enhanced blockchain solutions, Supply chain transparency

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.