How Will Blockchain Technology Impact Auditing and Accounting: Permissionless versus Permissioned Blockchain

Abstract

SUMMARY Blockchain offers a drastically new way to record, process, and store financial transactions and information, and has the potential to fundamentally change the landscape of the accounting profession and reshape the business ecosystem. In this article, we introduce two types (i.e., permissionless and permissioned) of blockchain and lay out their technological features. We further discuss implications of blockchain to auditing and elaborate on opportunities and challenges of the two types of blockchain to auditors. We conclude by making specific recommendations for auditors to adapt, adjust, and elevate themselves to the role of strategic partners in blockchain implementation. JEL Classifications: M15; M41; M42; O14; O33; O55.