The emergence and potential of blockchain-based technology for public governance

This chapter studies the emergence of blockchain-based technologies and how these can contribute to furthering the work of public governance entities. It specifically focuses on the issues faced by public governance and how blockchain-based technologies could help to mitigate those. It also provides an overview of some emerging developments and sheds light on the question of why, notwithstanding the enormous potential of blockchain-based solutions, so little have made it out of the pilot phase. We show that, although initial initiatives failed to materialize immediately, the learning curve public governance entities have engaged in is now leading to more fine-tuned projects, aimed at improving the functioning of public governance. In addition, other technological developments, such as the rise of Artificial Intelligence, further support the call for a deeper investigation into the usage of blockchain-based technologies for public governance.