| Obstacles and incentives for blockchain integration in developing regions: Extensive text examination and survey trials among African authorities and citizens |
Eliza R Oak, Dr. Emmanuel Joel Aikins Abakah, & Mohammad Abdullah |
Yale, University of Ghana, & UniSZA, Malaysia |
This initiative aims to identify the main incentives and obstacles to blockchain integration across Africa by systematically gathering information through digital trace data, surveys, and interviews. By collecting data from social platforms, news stories, and Google search patterns, the goal is to establish a Blockchain Attitudes Adoption Index at the country level for all African nations, juxtaposing it with indicators of financial sector stability. The study will place particular emphasis on Ghana as a case study to gather original information, evaluating the perceived advantages and dangers of blockchain from the viewpoints of individuals and regulators. |
| Blockchain Censorship – Quantitative Examination of Censorship on Public Blockchains |
Anton Wharstätter, Prof. Arthur Gervais, Liyi Zhou, Aviv Yaish, Kaihua Qin, Jens Ernstberger, Sebastian Steinhorst, Davor Svetinovic, Nicholas Christin, & Mikołaj Barczentewicz |
Technical University of Munich, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Hebrew University, Imperial College London, University College London, Carnegie Mellon University, & University of Surrey |
The study aims to explore the ramifications of censorship within blockchain systems. This research will define, quantify, and evaluate the security repercussions of blockchain censorship, presenting a comprehensive overview of censorship at both the consensus layer and application layer, analyzing the quantitative measure of censorship, and examining the historical transaction confirmation latency on Ethereum. |
| DAO Model Law |
Dr. Primavera De Filippi, Dr. Morshed Mannan, Silke Elrifai, Fatemah Fannizadeh, Constance Choi, Ori Shimony, & Rick Dudley |
COALA (Coalition of Legal Automated Applications) |
In a bid to improve the legal acknowledgment and safeguards for Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), this project seeks to revise and refresh the DAO Model Law v1.0, first introduced in 2021. The aim is to incorporate technological advancements and shifts in governance standards observed over the past two years and to provide necessary modifications to facilitate the enforcement of the DAO Model Law in various international legal systems. This initiative builds on earlier efforts that have already impacted DAO legal structures in states such as Utah and New Hampshire in the United States. |
| Ethereum as microcredit for financial inclusion in a developing country: Evaluating the incentives and obstacles |
Dr. Shazim Khalid, & Andrei O.J. Kwok |
Monash University |
To gain insights into the experiences, hurdles, and prospects of utilizing Ethereum as a microcredit platform in developing nations, notably Kenya, this research will conduct dialogues with essential stakeholders. Through examining user perceptions regarding Ethereum’s dependability and effectiveness, the study intends to guide policymakers, financial entities, and developers about the real-world implications of blockchain-based microcredit systems. These findings will aid in refining the Ethereum ecosystem to better align with user demands, especially in areas lacking access to conventional financial solutions. |
| Ethereum Development Unraveled: A Blockchain of Communication |
Dr. Silvia Bartolucci, Dr. Giuseppi Destefanis, Dr. Rumanya Neykova, & Dr. Marco Urtu |
University College London, Brunel University London, & University of Cagliari |
To evaluate the security, hazards, and durability of the Ethereum ecosystem, this study proposes a thorough examination of the Ethereum developer community and the software complexity of significant open-source projects. Utilizing network theory and sentiment analysis, the research aims to (1) comprehend the dynamics within the Ethereum developer community and software complexity, (2) foresee potential internal disputes and their possible influence on token valuations, and (3) create a user-friendly digital toolkit that offers interactive access to and visualization of the acquired data. This toolkit, utilizing extensive datasets from Github, will augment transparency and understanding of Ethereum’s open-source ecosystem. |
“`projects and innovation methodologies for both professionals and end-users.
| Ethereum Postdoctoral Scholar (Legal) |
Reuben Youngblom |
MIT DCI |
In an effort to narrow the divide between legal and technical comprehension in the realm of digital currencies, this funding initiative intends to create a postdoctoral research role within MIT’s Digital Currency Initiative. This position will accommodate recent law graduates, providing them with technical insight and mentorship from both MIT and Stanford Law’s Reuben Youngblom. The objective is to furnish new legal professionals with a profound understanding of the intricate technicalities in the digital currency sphere, thereby supporting improved regulation and legal practices. |
| Forking the Economy: An Ethnography of Crypto |
Annaliese Milano |
London School of Economics |
To respond to the scarcity of comprehensive academic inquiry into the culture of cryptocurrency communities, this undertaking seeks to utilize two years of observational research to create an ethnographic analysis of the Ethereum community and its ties to the Bitcoin community. Anthropologists, known for their skills in extensive, immersive community research, will spearhead this study. The main aims are to amplify understanding of the social dynamics within cryptocurrency for enhanced protocol innovation and to correct outsider misunderstandings regarding these communities’ goals. |
| Governance archaeology for decentralized communities |
Prof. Nathan Schneider, & Prof. Federica Carugati |
University of Colorado, Boulder |
To promote collective governance and stimulate institutional learning within decentralized governance, this initiative, referred to as Governance Archaeology, aspires to create a comprehensive global repository of historical governance methods, particularly from non-Western settings. The project will extend an existing prototype database to encompass a wider array of practices, scrutinize emerging trends, and provide broad public access and editability as an open-source utility. Additionally, a workshop will be organized for the Web3 community to enhance their use of this database, thus contributing to more effective and sustainable self-governance methodologies. |
| Legally credible neutrality of Ethereum |
Mikołaj Barczentewicz |
Independent |
To protect Ethereum’s identity as a public, permissionless framework, this endeavor intends to examine the legal ramifications and potential responsibilities of network participants, such as validators, particularly in situations where they hold discretionary authority. The project is motivated by the possible dangers that legal accountability might pose to Ethereum’s configuration and functioning. It aims to carry out thorough research on how these legal challenges can be managed and to what degree they should influence protocol design and progression. |
| Merging Eastern Cultures to Complete the Missing Puzzle of DAO Socialware. |
Sujin Keen, twinfin, & Sunghooon Jin |
DAOeast Movement |
To bridge the divide between technology and community trust in DAOs, this research initiative, dubbed DAOeast, aspires to investigate ‘socialware’, the element that cultivates trusted communities via reciprocal non-legal relationships. The inquiry will adopt a diachronic perspective to scrutinize socialware through ‘relation-centric’ East Asian philosophical frameworks, considering the merging of Western philosophies advocating for individual autonomy and Eastern philosophies highlighting human connection. |
| Open-Source Software Development and Community Dynamics: Historical Insights and Ethereum Implications |
Dr. Mariia Petryk & Dr. Jiasun Li |
Independent |
To acquire enhanced insights into Ethereum’s open-source ecosystem, this initiative intends to utilize data-centric analysis methodologies, building on the team’s established proficiency in open-source software investigations. The aim is to methodically evaluate several hypotheses, drawing inspiration from studies focused on the development of other open-source software. The project aims to reveal patterns relevant to Ethereum and, in doing so, seeks to offer guidance that could influence the enduring evolution of the Ethereum ecosystem. |
| The Social Layer: An Ethnography of Ethereum Development |
Ann Brody & Dr. Paul Dylan-Ennis |
Independent |
In order to comprehend the intricacies within the Ethereum development community, this project proposes to carry out an ethnographic study concentrating on Ethereum client developers engaged in the Shanghai hard fork. The research, through interviews, will delve into the developers’ viewpoints and the methods by which they navigate community expectations and demands. The aim is to gain understanding of how core Ethereum developers cultivate trust with the wider community and manage ‘transparency’ throughout the developmental journey of the Shanghai hard fork. |
