Title: Blockchain law

Authors: Antonios Maniatis

Addresses: Hellenic Open University Tutor, Koutifari Street 8, Kalamata, p.c. 24134, Greece

Abstract: Very few studies have been made on the question of normativity relevant to the blockchain technology, initiated with the proposal for the cryptocurrency 'bitcoin' (BTC). The purpose of the current study is to examine the status of norms relevant to blockchain, emphasising the question whether it is about a field of law. In the short period of its existence, blockchain has already enacted an important role, in both aspects of legality and illegality. The current research takes an approach to some cases of criminality being relevant to blockchain and to mainstreaming applications of this technology, by analysing particularly the literature on the matter. The outcome of this paper consists not only in the view that a field of law has emerged, called 'blockchain law', against the generic branch of internet law, but also in the finding that in a parallel way traditional institutions and legal branches are in motion, towards new rights and institutions.

Keywords: automation; blockchain law; bitcoin; BTC/XBT; distributed ledger technology; DLT; contract law; cryptocurrency; OneCoin; silk road; smart contracts.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBDM.2022.119436

International Journal of Big Data Management, 2022 Vol.2 No.1, pp.25 - 41

Received: 15 Dec 2019
Accepted: 06 Oct 2020
Published online: 05 Dec 2021 *

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