Uncertainties toward permissioned distributed ledgers: a multi-actor uncertainty conceptualization

Abstract

Distributed ledger technology (DLT) is an emerging technology, which allows for the creation of novel applications, services, and business models by enabling innovative collaborations among organizations and individuals. Although DLT arose from the idea of a self-regulated and publicly usable infrastructure, permissioned distributed ledgers (e.g., Hyperledger Fabric) are organizations’ predominant choice for the design and use of DLT applications due to their higher confidentiality-preservation, better maintainability, and higher throughput compared to permissionless distributed ledgers. Nevertheless, the use of permissioned distributed ledgers holds new uncertainties for organizations and their collaboration. In this work, we aim to lay the foundation to overcome such uncertainties by, first, conceptualizing the actors in permissioned distributed ledgers and, second, identifying the uncertainties between these actors regarding certain characteristics of distributed ledgers. We contribute to practice and research by providing detailed information on the causes, manifestations and consequences of prevalent uncertainties, and by deriving a multi-actor uncertainty conceptualization that disentangles hierarchical relations and interdependencies between actors. In this study, we form the foundation for future research and practice to mitigate these uncertainties and foster DLT diffusion.