Applicability of Blockchain Technology to The Normal Accounting Cycle

Abstract

Blockchain technologyis a distributed, unchangeable ledger that makes recording transactions and managing assets in a business network much easier and nowa type of accountingsoftwareconcernedwith the transfer of assetownership and the maintenanceof anaccuratefinancial ledger. Despitethenumerousbenefits ofblockchaintechnology,there is no study on theapplicability of blockchain technologytothenormalaccountingcycle in emerging economies in Africa.Thus,thispaperprovidesgeneralinsightsonhowblockchaintechnologymaybeusedinthenormalaccountingcycle in West Africa.Thestudyadoptedaqualitativeresearchmethodandcontentanalysisresearchdesigntounderstand the extent to which business leaders in West Africa are aware, understand, and utilize blockchain technology in the processing of accounting transactions to the preparation of financial statements.Results indicatethat West African business leaders are well aware, understand and applyblockchaintechnologyapplicationsinthenormalaccountingcycle,anditprovidescostsavings,digitalidentity,andsecurity.Thestudyrecommendsfurtherinvestigationsintohowtoaddressscalabilitywhen dealingwith recurrent and large transactions.