Introduction to the Minitrack on Blockchain: Enabling Decentralized Innovation

Abstract

Blockchain, originally developed to solve the double-spending problem in digital currencies like Bitcoin, has evolved into a foundational technology with broad applications across public and private sectors.Its key features-immutability, decentralized trust, and cryptographic security-enable authenticated data sharing without the need for a central authority.This is particularly valuable in systems like supply chains, where participants may not know or trust each other.Smart contracts further enhance blockchain's utility by automating agreements through code, reducing uncertainty and fostering trust among stakeholders.The rise of the decentralized web, combined with emerging technologies like IoT, AI, and AR/VR, signals a wave of disruptive innovation whose full impact is yet to be seen.Given the rapid pace of development, academic research is essential to understand and guide blockchain's evolution.Conferences are especially important for timely knowledge dissemination, as they can keep up with the fast-moving nature of the field better than traditional journals.This mini-track builds on a series of successful sessions from HICSS conferences (HICSS-51 through HICSS-58), which have focused on blockchain's impact in areas such as fintech, transformation, and innovation.Over the years, it has served as a valuable forum for exploring blockchain technology and its implications for process improvement and innovation.For the current edition, six accepted papers contribute to expanding the academic understanding and supporting broader adoption of blockchain solutions.The first paper, "Playing Strategic Games in The Open Network (TON): Analyzing the Robustness of Proof-of-Stake Slashing Incentives", by Sascha Hgele, analyzes how rational validators in the TON blockchain respond to slashing penalties in a proof-of-stake system.Using a game-theoretic model, it reveals that when penalty enforcement is uncertain, validators strategically weigh risks and rewards, which impacts