Harnessing Blockchain for Sustainable Development : Prospects and Challenges

Explores how blockchain is potentially a key technology in a new technological paradigm of increasing automation and integrating physical and virtual worlds. Governments of developing countries should seek to strengthen their innovation systems to strategically position themselves to benefit from this new wave of technological change.

In an increasingly digitalized economy and society, the security and accountability of data transactions are critical elements for creating trust and enabling breakthrough innovations in the digital world. In this regard, blockchain technology could be a game-changer, with the potential to revolutionize processes from finance to pharmaceutical industries, from public services to humanitarian work and development aid. The blockchain serves as the base technology for cryptocurrency, enabling open (peer-to-peer), secure and fast transactions. It can be used in many applications that could contribute to sustainable development. This publication explores how blockchain is potentially a key technology in a new technological paradigm of increasing automation and integrating physical and virtual worlds. Similar moments in the past technological revolutions offered windows of opportunity for some developing countries to catch up and others to forge ahead. Therefore, governments of developing countries should seek to strengthen their innovation systems to strategically position themselves to benefit from this new wave of technological change.