The impact of blockchain technology on public sectors

(Image: Pixabay CC0) - VUB research shows that blockchain technology can strengthen democratic values - Ledger technology or Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), of which blockchain is one system, offers new ways to bring government services to citizens and businesses. Governments have therefore started experimenting and investing in blockchain and DLT solutions for the public sector. But what impact does this new technology have on public sectors, and on public values, and what role should government play in its development? Research by Marlen Komorowski, Laurence Claeys and Thomas Van Dam of imec-VUB-SMIT shows that ledger technology can transform, and even strengthen many public sectors. Marlen Komorowski: "Our analysis shows that decentralized technology in public sectors can enhance democratic values by increasing public integrity and overall efficiency, as well as improving inter-government cooperation. But the technology still struggles with several limitations and imperfections, such as issues regarding the environmental impact, legal framework, interoperability and low adoption rate." Distributed Ledger Technology - DLT . The public sector is determined by regulations and agreements, registers and transactions. These are usually managed by government institutions, which largely still function as they did in the 20th century.