A Critical Investigation into Identifying Key Focus Areas for the Implementation of Blockchain Technology in the Mining Industry

Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2023.The value of digital information is ever-increasing as more companies utilize digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to gain deeper insight into their business operations and drive productivity gains. It is therefore important to safeguard and ensure the integrity of digital information exchange. Blockchain technology (BCT) was identified as potentially providing the mining industry with a trusted system for securely exchanging digital value. However, there is little evidence or understanding of how/where BCT can be implemented and what benefits the industry could obtain. This research study provides a fundamental understanding of what the technology is in order to identify the associated capabilities and potential application benefits for the mining industry. From a technology push perspective, blockchain capabilities are used to evaluate how the technology’s value drivers map to the mining industries core value chain processes. This was done to identify potential focus areas within the mining enterprise for further research and development of blockchain applications.ARMMining EngineeringMEngUnrestricte

The Applications of Blockchain To Cybersecurity

A blockchain is a decentralized public ledger facilitating secure transactions between untrusted network nodes. It has garnered significant recognition for its pivotal role in cryptocurrency systems, where it ensures secure and decentralized transaction records. Over the past decade, blockchain has attracted considerable attention from various industries, as it holds the potential to revolutionize multiple sectors, including cybersecurity. However, this field of study is relatively new, and numerous questions remain unanswered regarding the effectiveness of blockchain in cybersecurity. This research adopted a qualitative research design to investigate the current implementations of blockchain-based security and their applicability in the current cybersecurity context. Additionally, this work explored the mechanisms employed by blockchain to uphold the security triad. Findings indicate that blockchain exhibits substantial potential in addressing existing challenges in cybersecurity, particularly those related to the Internet of Things, data integrity and ownership, and network security. Nonetheless, widespread adoption faces limitations due to technological immaturity, high-cost complexity, and regulatory hurdles. Therefore, utilizing blockchain-based solutions in cybersecurity necessitates a thorough analysis of their applicability to an organization\u27s specific needs, a clear definition of implementation goals, and careful navigation of challenges

Property Blockchains have Failed to Realize Their Promise

We analyze the introduction of blockchain technology in the U.S. home sales market. The introduction of blockchain technology into the real estate industry has failed to meet high expectations to streamline operations and reduce costs. Required legal changes in the management of property deeds, high investment costs and unproven technology met resistance in a fragmented industry with many players, some holding monopoly control. Many parties in the complex chain of real estate transactions have resisted the natural Schumpeterian wave of creative destruction which, at the macro level, should bring huge savings. At the micro level, title insurers have the most to lose if a decentralized ‘trustless’ chain is created, since they extract high rents as middlemen

Renewable Energy Access and Resilience in Urban Developing Areas: Distributed Solar Networks and Peer-to-Peer Energy Trading in Puerto Rico

This senior essay under the Environmental Studies major at Yale University explores the environmental and social benefits of applying innovative technology to the energy sector. Three types of energy networks are analyzed, focusing on the use of distributed energy and peer to peer energy trading on a blockchain platform. The benefits of distributed renewable energy networks can most strongly be applied to locations in need of more reliable, resilient, and cost-effective electricity. Puerto Rico is a case study. Methods include analysis of U.S. Energy Information Administration and Census Bureau data as well as personal interviews with Puerto Rican energy developers. A financial model was created to tailor a power-purchase-agreement format to residential solar in order to develop an alternative funding method to the current grid price of electricity of 22.77 cents per kWh in Puerto Rico. The hurricanes of 2017 damaged the entire island, and every problem was exacerbated by the prolonged and total lack of power. Building a network of distributed solar energy through residential and school rooftops in Puerto Rico is argued in this thesis to be the best post-hurricane action to take in order to improve energy reliability, affordability, access, and resilience to future disasters and risks

Developing decentralized business within highly institutionally centralized environment: the case of blockchain-based business in China

Blockchain-based business and therefore cryptocurrency-related activities are spreading globally developing the newly emerging crypto economy. However, regulatory responses to the crypto economy and businesses within it were very diverse in different countries. Given the above, the main research aim was to investigate how blockchain-based business (BBB) with idea of opposing the institutional regulations can be developed in the regula-tory adverse institutional environment. More specifically, this thesis investigated, how BBB are developed within the ultimate institutional constrains in the environment, such as China, where crypto-related activities are banned. The research question for the thesis was how to develop decentralized BBB in highly centralized institutional environment of China? The research objectives were to assess blockchain technology's impact on Chinese companies; to explore the situation of BBB in China; and to explore how companies in BBB in China cope with the institutional environment. The case study approach was undertaken for this research. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with six interviews, leaders of successful BBB in China. To sup-port primary data, secondary data was collected to deeper learn about the BBB cases in-vestigated. The findings suggest that strict institutional environment for BBB in China has a significant impact on BBB innovation and growth in several diverse ways. On the one hand, the Chi-nese government is promoting blockchain technology and innovations related to it. On the other hand, the cryptocurrency, as one of the most prominent blockchain technology application, is a contentious issue that the Chinese government opposes. As a result, the Chinese government considers BBB regulation to be necessary and essential. Firms that are operating in Chinese market do not necessarily need to stop their operations and de-velopment of the BBB. However, they need to make various adjustments to balance out the requirements of the regulatory regime. The thesis contributes to the literature by showcasing how innovative decentralized busi-nesses, such as BBB can remain active within adverse and regulatory pressing institutional environment

Evaluating the perceptions of hoteliers- on web3

The aim of this study was to assess hoteliers' impressions of Web3, which includes blockchain, cryptocurrencies, smart contracts, NFTs, and the metaverse. The study comprises an analysis of prior research on Web3 and its uses in the hotel industry, followed by interviews with hoteliers. The key conclusions include what hoteliers don't expect to happen because of Web3, as well as what will. resulting in suggestions for Web3 companies and other research topics

Blockchain, data protection and P2P energy trading. A review on legal and economic challenges

Blockchain technology (BCT) enables the automated execution of smart contracts in peerto-peer (P2P) energy trading. BCT-based P2P platforms allow the sharing, exchange and trade of energy among consumers or prosumers as peers, fostering the decarbonization, decentralization and digitalization of the energy industry. On the other hand, BCT-based P2P energy trading relies on the collection, storage and processing of a large amount of user data, posing interdisciplinary challenges, including user anonymity, privacy, the governance of BCT systems and the role of energy market players. First, this paper seeks to review the state of the art of European data protection law and regulations by focusing on BCT compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of 2018. Second, it explores both the potentials and the challenges of BCT-based P2P energy trading from a legal–economic perspective. To do so, the paper adopts an interdisciplinary approach which intertwines both law and economics, by reviewing the recent literature on BCT and P2P energy trading. Findings have revealed that the deployment of BCT-based P2P energy trading is still in its pilot stage because of technology immaturity, data protection uncertainty, incomplete disintermediation and the lack of both user awareness and collaboration among market players. Drawing on the review, the paper also proposes a selection of solutions to foster the implementation of BCT-based P2P energy trading

Blockchain technology and initial coin offerings: a legislative & business challenge

Treballs Finals del Doble Grau d'Administració i Direcció d'Empreses i de Dret, Facultat d'Economia i Empresa i Facultat de Dret, Universitat de Barcelona, Curs: 2018-2019, Tutor: David Avilés Herrera(eng)Technological advancement across our digital planet continues to take place at an exponential rate. Blockchain technology and distributed ledger networks are considered one of the most transformative technologies since the invention of the Internet and an important breakthrough that is changing how business is executed nowadays. There is, therefore, a clear need to understand which its uses are and how legislations are facing this worldwide invention. This Final Project presents a comprehensive analysis of blockchain technology. It will provide an overview of blockchain and cryptocurrency, before focusing on Initial Coin Offerings, a method of raising capital or participating in investment opportunities using blockchain technology. Initial Coin Offerings (or ICO’s) are said to be either a valuable innovation or a dangerous bubble. This assignment will try to depict that dilemma with the aim to clarify which alternative is more reasonable to believe in. Furthermore, it will consider a thorough explanation of legislative challenges and recent law enforcements regarding blockchain technology and ICOs. It will be explained how some countries and organizations are regulating the phenomenon and why uniformity and clarity is not a feature of its legislation