Public Perceptions of Decentralized Finance under Regulatory Uncertainty: A Qualitative Study from Pakistan

Abstract

This paper examines the public perceptions of decentralized finance (DeFi) in regulatory uncertainty in Pakistan. Although the current literature mainly focuses on the technical architecture, governance, and the efficiency of DeFi, there has been little literature on how it is socially perceived in emerging economies where its legal status is not well defined. This research is based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), and the Institutional Trust Theory as its foundation of study, and it is a qualitative study. Data was gathered by conducting semistructured interviews with ten 10 participants from Karachi, who include students and working professionals from diverse occupational backgrounds. Thematic study shows six themes: Awareness of Decentralized Finance, regulatory uncertainty, perceived risk, financial literacy, perceived benefits, and institutional trust. The result shows that people have awareness but not deep knowledge; they also know the benefits, such as transparency and efficiency, but regulatory uncertainty shapes the perception of people. Regulatory uncertainty enhances perceived risk and ensures the presence of dependency on governmental approval as a legitimizing condition. The perceived usefulness in itself did not give confidence because of the lack of legal protection. The research provides empirical data on Pakistan and illustrates that regulatory clarity and institutional trust are the two key factors that determine social acceptance of decentralized financial innovation in emerging economies.