How to cross the bridge: Interoperability among blockchain systems

Blockchain research tends to focus on technical improvements and their potential for efficiency and productivity, repeatedly at the cost of comprehending the complex reciprocal interaction between social and technical aspects. One of the technical challenges for blockchain systems is scalability. Interoperability has proven effective in addressing scalability by offloading transactions via bridges, enhancing flexibility and portability for, e.g., tokens. As a result, we investigate how interoperability is organized in blockchain systems and what implications it might bring. In this research, we develop an on-ledger analytics prototype, which facilitates the examinations of NFT bridges and theorizes about the dimensions of interoperability. Practical implications reveal that hiding a token’s track in an otherwise supposedly transparent system is possible. We provide evidence that current research may only consider a subset of a token’s history among blockchain systems. Ultimately, we claim that interoperability among blockchain systems can lead to decreased transparency

How to cross the bridge: Interoperability among blockchain systems:Interoperability among blockchain systems

Blockchain systems are, in nature, dispersed (decentralized) networks. The system, in theory, allows for a transparent and immutable system where transactions can be observed and analyzed. However, in practice, evaluating and monitoring transactions is cumbersome. Consequently, blockchain systems remain black boxes that only a few experts can understand. This undermines the raison d’etre of blockchains, namely the promise of transparency. In this research, we develop a ledger data analytics (ledgerlytics) prototype which allows for studying NFT bridges and theorizing about the dimensions of interoperability. Practical implications reveal that hiding a token ́s track in an otherwise supposedly transparent system is possible. We provide evidence that current research may only consider a subset of a token’s actual history among blockchain systems. Finally, we claim that interoperability among blockchain systems can lead to decreased transparency. Thus, ledgerlytics tools and methods are needed.Blockchain research tends to focus on technical improvements and their potential for efficiency and productivity, repeatedly at the cost of comprehending the complex reciprocal interaction between social and technical aspects. One of the technical challenges for blockchain systems is scalability. Interoperability has proven effective in addressing scalability by offloading transactions via bridges, enhancing flexibility and portability for, e.g., tokens. As a result, we investigate how interoperability is organized in blockchain systems and what implications it might bring. In this research, we develop an on-ledger analytics prototype, which facilitates the examinations of NFT bridges and theorizes about the dimensions of interoperability. Practical implications reveal that hiding a token’s track in an otherwise supposedly transparent system is possible. We provide evidence that current research may only consider a subset of a token’s history among blockchain systems. Ultimately, we claim that interoperability among blockchain systems can lead to decreased transparency

Blockchain For Food: Making Sense of Technology and the Impact on Biofortified Seeds

The global food system is under pressure and is in the early stages of a major transition towards more transparency, circularity, and personalisation. In the coming decades, there is an increasing need for more food production with fewer resources. Thus, increasing crop yields and nutritional value per crop is arguably an important factor in this global food transition. Biofortification can play an important role in feeding the world. Biofortified seeds create produce with increased nutritional values, mainly minerals and vitamins, while using the same or less resources as non-biofortified variants. However, a farmer cannot distinguish a biofortified seed from a regular seed. Due to the invisible nature of the enhanced seeds, counterfeit products are common, limiting wide-scale adoption of biofortified crops. Fraudulent seeds pose a major obstacle in the adoption of biofortified crops. A system that could guarantee the origin of the biofortified seeds is therefore required to ensure widespread adoption. This trust-ensuring immutable proof for the biofortified seeds, can be provided via blockchain technology