Blockchain and machine learning based peer-to-peer lending for the postpandemic economy

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a two-pronged effect -health and economy. Economies worldwide have been impacted and forced to shut during the lockdowns. In India, SMEs had already been struggling to stay afloat due to absence of financing, creating an inadequate cash flow. With frequent lockdowns, the situation has worsened, making bank loan applications difficult. This paper explores P2P lending in the context of micro-loans using a blockchain-powered solution to provide the necessary funds in a quick, easy, secure and contactless manner. As part of our Proof-of-Concept, a peer-to-peer decentralized Web Application is setup, utilizing the services of the Ethereum blockchain.