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Blockchain, Bitcoin, and ICOs: a review and research agenda

Author

Listed:
  • Romi Kher

    (City University of New York)

  • Siri Terjesen

    (Florida Atlantic University and Norwegian School of Economics)

  • Chen Liu

    (Trinity Western University)

Abstract

Blockchain, a decentralized validation protocol in which no one individual entity completely controls the process or information, is labeled both a “techno tour de force” and a “fraud.” Austrian School researchers view the blockchain application Bitcoin as an ideal example of currency decentralization while ethics scholars fret about this very lack of control. Given the significant importance of the future of blockchain technology to a range of disciplines and the fragmented knowledge base with little cross-disciplinary integration to fields such as computer science and law, we begin by offering a nontechnical explanation of the basics of blockchain and its applications such as smart contracts, cryptocurrencies, tokens, and initial coin offerings. We systematically review 152 articles in the burgeoning academic literature on blockchain and its applications and synthesize the findings from five parallel lines of enquiry for scholars: computer science, economics, entrepreneurship, and law and governance. Finally, we outline a comprehensive research agenda for scholars of regulation policy and governance, entrepreneurship and sustainability, organization design and theory, and consumer behavior, highlighting promising phenomenon, methodologies, data, and theories. We aim to simplify and explain blockchain for what it is—a valuable tool that is revolutionary, transformational, and critical for scholars to understand and investigate.

Suggested Citation

  • Romi Kher & Siri Terjesen & Chen Liu, 2021. "Blockchain, Bitcoin, and ICOs: a review and research agenda," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(4), pages 1699-1720, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:56:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s11187-019-00286-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-019-00286-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Massimo G. Colombo & Benedetta Montanaro & Silvio Vismara, 2023. "What drives the valuation of entrepreneurial ventures? A map to navigate the literature and research directions," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(1), pages 59-84, June.
    3. Patrick Gregori & Patrick Holzmann & David B. Audretsch, 2024. "Sustainable entrepreneurship on digital platforms and the enactment of digital connectivity through business models," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 1173-1190, February.
    4. Ipert, Chloé & Mauer, René, 2023. "Infrastructural or organizational decentralization? Developing a typology of blockchain ventures," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    5. Daniel Levis & Francesco Fontana & Elisa Ughetto, 2021. "A look into the future of blockchain technology," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(11), pages 1-20, November.
    6. Cynthia Weiyi Cai & Rui Xue & Bi Zhou, 2023. "Cryptocurrency puzzles: a comprehensive review and re-introduction," Journal of Accounting Literature, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 46(1), pages 26-50, June.
    7. Muhammad Farrukh Shahzad & Shuo Xu & Weng Marc Lim & Muhammad Faisal Hasnain & Shahneela Nusrat, 2024. "Cryptocurrency awareness, acceptance, and adoption: the role of trust as a cornerstone," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.
    8. Tobias Kollmann & Lucas Kleine-Stegemann & Katharina Cruppe & Christina Then-Bergh, 2022. "Eras of Digital Entrepreneurship," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 64(1), pages 15-31, February.
    9. Loh, Xiu-Ming & Lee, Voon-Hsien & Leong, Lai-Ying & Aw, Eugene Cheng-Xi & Cham, Tat-Huei & Tang, Yun-Chia & Hew, Jun-Jie, 2023. "Understanding consumers’ resistance to pay with cryptocurrency in the sharing economy: A hybrid SEM-fsQCA approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    10. Gschnaidtner, Christoph & Dehghan, Robert & Hottenrott, Hanna & Schwierzy, Julian, 2024. "Adoption and diffusion of blockchain technology," ZEW Discussion Papers 24-018, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    11. Yang, Guo-Hui & Zhong, Guang-Yan & Wang, Li-Ya & Xie, Zu-Guang & Li, Jiang-Cheng, 2024. "A hybrid forecasting framework based on MCS and machine learning for higher dimensional and unbalanced systems," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 637(C).
    12. Boukis, Achilleas, 2023. "Storytelling in initial coin offerings: Attracting investment or gaining referrals?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Blockchain; Applications; Bitcoin; Initial Coin Offerings;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • N20 - Economic History - - Financial Markets and Institutions - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • N70 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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