Yosua Pepris Karbeka, Umbu Lily Pekuwali, Detji K. E. R. Nuban
The Blockchain Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia is an independent state institution established by post-reform legislation as a public service supervisor for decentralized systems. It holds immunity rights, shielding it from arrest, detention, interrogation, prosecution, or litigation. In practice, however, the Blockchain Ombudsman faces lawsuits from the public in court. This undermines legal certainty and disrupts the separation of powers in Indonesia’s digital governance. This study employs normative legal research with statutory, historical, and conceptual approaches. Findings reveal that the Blockchain Ombudsman emerged in Indonesia to protect user rights and address the need for power separation in modern blockchain-based governance. Its immunity rights originate from universal Ombudsman practices codified in law but require tailored regulatory frameworks. The execution of the Blockchain Ombudsman’s functions, duties, and authorities is intrinsically linked to functional immunity. Consequently, it cannot be sued or reported to other enforcement entities (e.g., regulatory agencies or decentralized autonomous organizations). Objections to maladministration audit outcomes may be raised internally via complaint mechanisms or externally by contesting the underlying issue in court.
The paper presents a novel approach to enhancing the crypto-economic resilience of decentralized networks by employing a mechanism of Random Time Challenge Tokens (RTCT). Contemporary consensus mechanisms (Proof-of-Work, Proof-of-Stake, Proof-of-Burn) and their ability to deter 51% attacks and Sybil attacks are analyzed. It is shown that classical approaches secure the network by imposing substantial economic barriers to attackers – for example, miners are forced to invest in hardware and electricity, raising the cost of a 51% attack to a prohibitively high level. However, vulnerabilities remain: attackers can rent computational resources or exploit under-active validators. The proposed RTCT mechanism involves generating random cryptographic challenges at unpredictable time intervals, which network nodes must answer with a cryptographically verifiable token, followed by burning of that token. This process creates unpredictable load and continuous costs for network participants, significantly increasing the economic cost of attacks. The RTCT process is mathematically formalized and the dependence of attack cost on the challenge complexity parameter m is evaluated. The results confirm that as complexity m increases, an attack requires exponentially higher expenditures, making the network more resilient. The advantages and potential drawbacks of the RTCT approach are discussed, as well as possible directions for further research, including optimizing challenge frequency and integrating RTCT with existing consensus protocols.
Abstract: The rapid proliferation of blockchain technology has intensified concerns over the energy inefficiency of traditional consensus mechanisms, particularly Proof of Work (PoW). This study investigates alternative, scalable consensus mechanisms with a focus on enhancing energy efficiency while maintaining performance and decentralization. The evaluation centers on Proof of Stake (PoS), Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS), and Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT), using empirical simulations and statistical modeling to assess key performance indicators—energy consumption per transaction, transaction latency, and throughput. The results indicate that PoS is the most energy-efficient, consuming only 0.04 kWh per transaction, whereas DPoS offers the highest throughput at 1400 transactions per second with moderate energy requirements. PBFT demonstrates the lowest latency but at the cost of increased energy usage. Predictive regression analysis further reinforces the trade-offs between energy use and scalability across consensus mechanisms. These findings highlight the importance of selecting consensus algorithms based on specific application requirements and environmental considerations. The study provides a data-driven framework for guiding the design and adoption of energy-conscious blockchain infrastructures suitable for sustainable and large-scale deployment. Keywords: Blockchain, Consensus Mechanism, Energy Efficiency, Scalability, Proof of Stake, Delegated Proof of Stake, PBFT, Distributed Systems, Transaction Throughput, Green Blockchain Technologies
Оксана Гладченко, T. V. Ratushnyak, І. Д. Погорєловська, А. Р. Коротун · 5 authors
У статті розглянуто вплив комп’ютерних технологій, зокрема блокчейн-рішень, ІТ-інфраструктури та суміжних цифрових інструментів, на формування й розвиток криптовалют. Висвітлено історичну еволюцію ІТ-технологій у контексті ключових етапів розвитку криптовалютного середовища – від перших концепцій цифрових гро- шей у 1970-х роках до сучасної високотехнологічної екосистеми. Окреслено, як розвиток персональних комп’ютерів, глобального інтернету, криптографії, peer-to-peer мереж, хмарних обчислень, смартконтрактів і Web3-платформ сприяв можливості створення, функціонування та масштабування цифрових активів. На основі історичного та статистичного аналізу показано, що зростання інвестицій у блокчейн-технології тісно пов’язане з динамікою капіталізації криптовалютного ринку. Проведений регресійний аналіз продемонстрував високий рівень кореляції між ринками блокчейну та криптовалют, а також між ІТ-сектором і криптовалютами, що вказує на їхнє визначальне значення у цифровій економіці. У статті схарактеризовано модель формування криптовалюти, починаючи з концептуального етапу та завершуючи її інтеграцією в платформи обміну, зберігання та реального використання. Особливу увагу приділено ролі смартконтрактів, мережевих архітектур, тестових середовищ, безпекових протоколів та адаптації до регуляторних вимог. Зазначено, що комп’ютерні технології є системоутворюючим елементом сучасної криптовалютної економіки, а блокчейн відіграє роль ядра довіри, прозорості та безпеки в цифровому середовищі. У результаті визначено, що комп’ютерні технології є базовим структурним елементом у побудові функціональної криптовалютної екосистеми, а блокчейн виступає не просто інструментом обліку, а технологічним ядром для забезпечення довіри, децентралізації та безпеки. Таким чином, криптовалюта не є ізольованим цифровим активом, а є результатом системної взаємодії програмного забезпечення, мережевих інфраструктур, безпеки, ринкового середовища та технологічної інноваційності.
As democratic processes increasingly transition to digital environments, safeguarding voter privacy and maintaining electoral integrity have become paramount. This study investigates the application of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) as a cryptographic framework for developing secure and private electronic voting systems. A comparative performance evaluation was conducted between ZKP-based voting protocols and traditional systems, focusing on key metrics such as validation time, privacy leakage index, and memory usage. Quantitative data analysis, supported by statistical methods including mean comparisons and standard deviation assessments, highlights the superiority of ZKP-based systems in minimizing information leakage while maintaining verifiability. Although ZKP protocols introduce higher memory consumption, the trade-off results in substantially enhanced voter anonymity and reduced validation latency. The findings suggest that ZKPs provide a scalable and efficient solution to the dual challenge of transparency and privacy in digital voting infrastructures. This research contributes to the growing body of work on cryptographic voting technologies and underscores the importance of balancing security with performance in the design of future e-voting systems. Keywords: Zero-Knowledge Proofs, E-voting, Cryptography, Privacy, Secure Voting Systems, Digital Democracy, Voter Anonymity, Cryptographic Protocols, Electoral Integrity, Privacy-Preserving Computation
Advancements in personalized medicine require secure, transparent, and privacy-preserving genomic data management systems. This study proposes a novel hybrid blockchain-based genomic data model integrating Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI), Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs), Verifiable Credentials (VCs), and decentralized storage Interplanetary File System (IPFS) to enable secure, privacy-compliant, patient-controlled genomic data exchange. The model leverages Polygon Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchain by deploying a smart contract that enforces fully access control functions applied on 100 samples of synthetic genomic data, ensuring only authorized researchers with valid DIDs and VCs can retrieve genomic data. Later, we performed five tests to evaluate our model performance. Security evaluations confirmed 100% data integrity validation through SHA-256 hash validation on-chain, ensuring tamper-proof genomic data storage. Unauthorized access attempts resulted in zero successful breaches, demonstrating the robustness of SSI-based authentication by showing revoked access. Additionally, IPFS data availability testing confirmed reliable and decentralized data retrieval through the Content Identifier (CID) on-chain. The model's access revocation mechanism enabled real-time patient control over genomic data access, ensuring compliance with GDPR privacy regulations. The proposed model provides a scalable, secure, and privacy-compliant solution for genomic data sharing in precision medicine, empowering patients with full control over their genetic data while facilitating researchers to trustworthy, decentralized data useability for precision research.
Peter Kimemiah Mwangi, Stephen Njenga, Gabriel Kamau
Agent-Based Modelling (ABM) tools provide a cost-effective way to simulate complex systems like an Internet of Things Distributed Ledger Technology (IoT-DLT) networks, where nodes operate as autonomous agents. While physical testbeds are expensive, ABMs offer scalable and efficient alternatives. However, few studies compare ABM performance on standard consumer hardware. In this research, we evaluate NetLogo 6.3 and Agents.jl (Julia 1.9) by simulating an IoT-DLT model across two laptop configurations. Results show that Agents.jl runs up to 9× faster on newer hardware and 4× faster on older hardware compared to NetLogo, though it requires more setup. NetLogo remains user-friendly but underutilises system resources like GPU and multicore processing. The research uses inferential analysis tools, such as regression analysis, to rigorously evaluate the performance differences between the ABM tools and hardware configurations. This research helps researchers choose efficient ABM tools for large-scale simulations on personal computers, demonstrating that emerging tools like Agents.jl are promising candidates for future simulations.
The article examines methods and information technologies aimed at ensuring the secure integration of the Ethereum blockchain with Internet of Things (IoT) systems. The relevance of the study is driven by the rapid development of IoT, which is accompanied by increasing cybersecurity threats, including unauthorized data access, man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, device identifier spoofing, and the low transparency of centralized systems. The use of Ethereum blockchain technology, particularly smart contracts, opens new opportunities for creating decentralized security management models for IoT devices, enhancing trust levels, automating processes, and minimizing third-party interference risks. The “Problem statement” section outlines the key challenges in securing IoT networks, including the vulnerabilities of centralized solutions, limited computational resources of devices, and the need to develop autonomous access control systems. The “Analysis of Recent Research and Publications” section summarizes modern approaches to integrating Ethereum blockchain into the IoT field, including tokenized identification mechanisms, access control, and transaction processing using smart contracts. It is noted that leading researchers suggest Layer-2 solutions (state channels, zk-rollups, Plasma) aimed at reducing the load on the main blockchain and improving scalability. The aim of the article is to systematize modern methods of integrating the Ethereum blockchain with IoT and develop recommendations for their implementation, considering the limited resources of devices. The “Research results” section presents a secure IoT system architecture concept based on decentralized account management, local storage of cryptographic keys on devices, the use of optimized transaction signing algorithms, and the introduction of a hybrid data storage model based on IPFS. The proposed model minimizes the risk of unauthorized access, increases transparency in the interaction between IoT devices, and reduces computational resource costs. The “Conclusions and prospects for further research” section emphasizes that the implementation of the Ethereum blockchain in IoT promotes the development of secure decentralized platforms. However, it requires addressing issues such as energy consumption, transaction costs, and optimizing client applications for low-performance devices. Future research should focus on developing effective scalability tools, adapting smart contracts to IoT specifics, and improving integration with cloud computing platforms for storing large data sets.
True democracy, strong trust of people in the government and legal transfer of power in the country are possible only when elections are held honestly and correctly. Modern information technologies contribute to innovative restructuring of electoral processes, ensuring optimization of the voting process, minimizing human errors, increasing accessibility for voters. At the same time, the introduction of digital technologies creates significant problems with information security, in particular, possible changes in voting results, manipulation, threats to integrity, availability, confidentiality and anonymity. One of the effective solutions for ensuring information security in electronic voting (e-voting) is blockchain technology. This study is devoted to the problem of developing a website for electronic voting using blockchain technology. Based on the study of scientific literature, the essence, principles, advantages and disadvantages of this technology are revealed. A comparative analysis of the best practices for implementing blockchain technology in the e-voting process is presented. As an example, the process of developing a website for electronic voting using blockchain technology is described: functional requirements for this system are established, the architecture of the software application is described, and a use case diagram is modeled. TypeScript was used as the main programming language for the backend development, Nest.js as a framework, PostgreSQL for data management, and Web3.js for implementing the backend functionality. The frontend was implemented using the TypeScript programming language, the React framework, and Tailwind CSS for interface design. The developed electronic voting platform demonstrates high flexibility and can be implemented for various electoral procedures. Its functionality covers both elections of officials (for example, the rector of the university) and local votes (for example, the election of the head of an academic group), as well as referendums to evaluate the activities of structural units. The data identified during the study can enrich educational materials for students of the 12th Information Technology branch.
Open access
Blockchain Technology Applications and Security
Internet Traffic Analysis and Secure E-voting
Advanced Steganography and Watermarking Techniques
Federated Learning (FL) is a collaborative machine learning paradigm which allows participants to collectively train a model while training data remains private. This paradigm is especially beneficial for sectors like finance, where data privacy, security and model performance are paramount. FL has been extensively studied in the years following its introduction, leading to, among others, better performing collaboration techniques, ways to defend against other clients trying to attack the model, and contribution assessment methods. An important element in for-profit Federated Learning is the development of incentive methods to determine the allocation and distribution of rewards for participants. While numerous methods for allocation have been proposed and thoroughly explored, distribution frameworks remain relatively understudied. In this paper, we propose a novel framework which introduces client-specific tokens as investment vehicles within the FL ecosystem. Our framework aims to address the limitations of existing incentive schemes by leveraging a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform and automated market makers (AMMs) to create a more flexible and scalable reward distribution system for participants, and a mechanism for third parties to invest in the federation learning process.
This paper reconceptualises peer review as structured public commentary. Traditional academic validation is hindered by anonymity, latency, and gatekeeping. We propose a transparent, identity-linked, and reproducible system of scholarly evaluation anchored in open commentary. Leveraging blockchain for immutable audit trails and AI for iterative synthesis, we design a framework that incentivises intellectual contribution, captures epistemic evolution, and enables traceable reputational dynamics. This model empowers fields from computational science to the humanities, reframing academic knowledge as a living process rather than a static credential.
Mohammad Akbarzadeh Sarabi, Ata Allah Taleizadeh, Arijit Bhattacharya
With the increasing emphasis on environmental sustainability, both governments and consumers are more concerned than ever about the greenness of products. In this complex landscape, Supply Chains (SCs) face challenges in building trust and avoiding greenwashing accusations. Blockchain technology offers a promising solution by ensuring transparency and circularity within SCs, particularly in identifying customers for product recycling. This study pioneers the exploration of consumers' distrust in pricing and product greenness, alongside the impact of carbon policies (taxes and subsidies) within a closed-loop supply chain (CLSC). Using classical Stackelberg game theory, we develop two models that identify equilibrium decisions for SC members, focusing on pricing, green production investment, circularity, and blockchain adoption. Additionally, we propose an evolutionary game theory model to find the optimal government policies and identify the long-term behaviour of the CLSC and government in two heterogeneous populations. Our findings reveal that if the retailer's share of blockchain costs falls below a certain threshold, blockchain adoption becomes less profitable than exclusive investment in green production. A higher (lower) subsidy rate benefits (harms) the retailer but disadvantages (benefits) the collector. Blockchain adoption is generally more profitable for manufacturers and retailers, though less so for collectors, and it also drives greater investment in green production. While subsidies encourage blockchain adoption, they are not a sustainable long-term strategy for governments. Ultimately, the evolutionarily stable strategy for SCs involves a balanced investment in both green production and blockchain or green production alone, depending on market characteristics and cost-sharing structures.
The investigation of cryptocurrency crimes is still in its infancy with no standardised process or methodology to follow. This paper describes research that forms part of a broader project led by the second author (Botha, et al., 2025). The broader project’s aim is to develop a methodology to follow when conducting cryptocurrency crime investigations. One of the steps in the proposed methodology is web scraping. The authors of this paper present a detailed exploration of web scraping techniques within the broader context of the proposed investigation methodology. In this paper, the focus is on developing a well-structured methodology for scraping social media platforms and online forums to gather data related to fraudulent activities; the goal is to find posts that include references to the wallet address of interest. This exploration uses an iterative approach; for every new cryptocurrency wallet address discovered or revealed through on-chain analysis, a parallel path is followed by scraping the Internet. If a mention of the cryptocurrency address should be discovered it is considered to be a key finding, creating a pivot point in the investigation. From a pivot point, further open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques will be applied, though this aspect falls beyond the scope of this paper. If no relevant information or link is found, the scraping path will not be pursued, and the investigation proceeds with on-chain analysis to identify additional wallet addresses. Additionally, challenges encountered in web scraping, such as handling platform restrictions, ensuring data accuracy, and managing large volumes of data, are addressed. The goal of the proposed methodology is to enhance data extraction and analysis efficiency contributing to the proposed methodology for investigating cryptocurrency scams.
Komang Sutriani, Johannes Ibrahim Kosasih, I Made Aditya Mantara Putra
Rapid advances in information technology have fuelled the emergence of digital currencies such as Bitcoin as an increasingly popular means of transaction in Indonesia. However, behind the convenience and speed offered, the use of Bitcoin also poses a high risk of fraud in online transactions. The main objective of this research is to analyse the nature of legal protection for Bitcoin users in Indonesia. This research applies normative juridical method with statutory approach, conceptual approach, case study analysis, and refers to legal protection theory, online transaction theory, and legal economic theory. One of the case studies studied is the High Court Decision 1240/Pid.Sus/2022/PN Tng which reflects the existence of a vacuum and vagueness of legal norms in the protection of Bitcoin users. The analysis shows that although Bitcoin has been regulated under the legal framework of digital asset trading, there are still inefficiencies in the application of legal protection in a comprehensive and effective manner. This research emphasises the need for more progressive regulatory reforms, as well as strengthening the role of law enforcement agencies and financial technology supervisors to ensure fair, certain and comprehensive protection for Bitcoin users in the territory of Indonesia. It is hoped that the results of this research can strengthen theoretical contributions in enriching the development of digital economy law and become a practical reference for policy makers.
The primary focus of this study is to monitor significant changes compared to the author's previous articles, with the objective of identifying alterations in the legality of cryptocurrency; the extent of its volatility; its profitability; and its use as a medium of exchange. The author asserts that, in 2025, the legality of cryptocurrencies underwent significant changes on a global scale. The regulatory approach to digital assets varies across nations, with some adopting a regulatory framework that encompasses these assets, while others have opted for a prohibitionist stance. The profitability of mining has been observed to decrease in consequence of rising time and energy costs, whilst the volatility index has been noted to decrease due to the entry of institutional investors and the adoption of merchant strategies. In summary, the profitability of crypto asset acquisition has reached a state of maturity. The focus has shifted from the initial hype to the development of effective strategies, the optimal timing of transactions, and the conducting of thorough research.
Karthika Veeramani, Suresh Jaganathan, Venkatavara Prasad D
Attendance systems that exist currently are time consuming and vulnerable to modification.The attendance system proposed here is efficient and immutable, using facial recognition for marking and blockchain technology (BT) to secure attendance data.Though facial recognition for marking attendance has overtaken other biometric methods for its convenience, the program to mark attendance is not free from modification by some third party.The novel idea of using permissioned blockchain technology as the solution helps create an immutable privately-owned ledger in a distributed manner for storing attendance data where the code to automate the process of the attendance system is also immutable.
Healthcare data management has undergone significant transformation with the widespread adoption of Electronic Health Records (EHR). However, this evolution also presents critical challenges related to data security, privacy, and interoperability. Traditional EHR systems often fall short in implementing robust safeguards against unauthorized access, data tampering, and breaches, putting sensitive patient information at risk. Addressing these concerns is vital to ensure trust in healthcare systems and compliance with stringent regulatory frameworks. This paper investigates the potential of blockchain technology as a solution to enhance the security and reliability of EHR systems. Blockchain's inherent characteristics, including its immutable and decentralized architecture, align closely with the requirements for improving data integrity, privacy, and accessibility. Key features of blockchain, such as distributed ledgers, cryptographic security, and consensus mechanisms, offer a compelling framework to address vulnerabilities in conventional EHR systems. By conducting a comprehensive literature review, this study identifies recurring issues in existing EHR platforms, such as susceptibility to breaches, unauthorized data manipulation, and the lack of seamless interoperability among stakeholders. To evaluate blockchain's viability, the research developed a prototype solution by integrating blockchain technology with an open-source EHR platform, OpenEMR. Smart contracts were employed to automate data access permissions and enforce data integrity. The prototype underwent rigorous testing in simulated healthcare environments to assess its performance in ensuring data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The results demonstrate that the proposed blockchain-based system effectively mitigates many of the security and privacy concerns prevalent in traditional EHR systems. Additionally, it enhances transparency and facilitates secure data sharing among authorized stakeholders without compromising patient confidentiality.
The integration of blockchain technology introduced smart contracts, which revolutionized the automation and security of executing transactions. This article focuses on using smart contracts to manage information service subscriptions where reliability, transparency, and efficiency are required. Subscription management suffers from payment delays, trust issues, errors, and many other problems. Through automation and smart contracts, the self-executing nature of these agreements helps organizations streamline subscriptions, enforce terms with less risk, and greatly reduce operational blunders. Blunders. In this paper, I thoroughly review smart contracts, explore current gaps within subscription management, and explain how integrating blockchain can fill them. Some successful implementations are presented as case studies. Others discuss technical and organizational hurdles for practical adoption. Future scope widens by providing insight into blockchain-based decentralized solutions' role in contemporary subscription-centered business models. The research ends by recommending information service providers adopt smart contracts for better operational efficiency, reduced costs, and stronger customer relations.
Access to financial services and efficient cross-border payments are vital for fostering global economic inclusion.However, the traditional bank-based ecosystem is hindered by centralized control, slow transaction speeds, and high costs for both local and international payments.The emergence of cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, was intended to address these challenges by providing decentralized alternatives.Despite their potential, cryptocurrencies have failed to serve as reliable means of payment or stores of value due to issues such as price volatility, limited scalability, complex user interfaces, and regulatory uncertainties.This paper proposes a novel model for creating a stable cryptocurrency backed by fiat currency to overcome these limitations and support global electronic commerce.The study explores the integration of stability mechanisms, scalability, and regulatory compliance, providing a framework for a cryptocurrency that balances innovation with practical usability.
This paper analyses and investigates a cryptocurrency investment scam involving the suspicious and fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platform, Elite-Bit, through a detailed case study of a victim's experience. With the rapid rise of cryptocurrency, deceptive platforms like Elite-Bit exploit unsuspecting investors by presenting a façade of legitimacy. This case study chronicles the victim's journey, beginning with a seemingly romantic connection through a dating platform, to an introduction to an investment opportunity, and subsequently a financial loss. After investing a substantial amount, the victim faced unexpected barriers when attempting to withdraw funds, including exorbitant transaction fees and other fabricated costs. The analysis reveals how Elite-Bit employs manipulative tactics such as social engineering and false urgency to maintain control over investors, ultimately leading to significant financial loss. These manipulative tactics are referred to as pig butchering. The paper utilises qualitative data from interviews and correspondence with the victim, along with an examination of platform behaviours to highlight common patterns in cryptocurrency scams. An on-chain and off-chain analysis was conducted using the limited input data provided by the victim. To contextualise the collected information, a link analysis was done, utilising the tool Maltego. The link analysis visually maps the entities associated with the suspect within a network of nodes and connections. By situating the Elite-Bit case within the broader context of cryptocurrency regulation and consumer protection, this paper underscores the urgent need for enhanced regulatory frameworks and public awareness initiatives. This study aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on financial fraud in the cryptocurrency sector, providing insights that may assist in the prevention of future scams and the promotion of more secure investment and trading practices.
El Salvador's adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021 represented a bold but ultimately flawed experiment in national cryptocurrency integration.This paper critically examines the key challenges that led to the policy's failure, including public rejection, technological deficiencies, market volatility, and international financial pressure.Despite government incentives, Bitcoin adoption remained minimal, with security issues in the Chivo wallet further eroding trust.The collapse of cryptocurrency markets in 2022 exposed the country's economic vulnerability, forcing El Salvador to scale back its Bitcoin strategy under IMF loan conditions.The findings highlight critical lessons for other nations considering similar policies, emphasizing the need for phased implementation, robust financial infrastructure, and regulatory clarity.Future research should explore alternative digital currency models, particularly Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), and the socio-economic implications of large-scale cryptocurrency adoption.
Cui-Ping Wen, Kai‐Hua Wang, Chi‐Wei Su, Xin Li · 5 authors
This study examines the impacts of bitcoin price (BTP), crude oil price (COP), and economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on China’s green bonds (GBs) in a period from 2014: M10 to 2024: M04 using the quantile autoregressive distributed lag model. Results demonstrate that BTP and EPU positively and negatively affect GBs in the long-term across all quartiles, respectively, while COP enhibits insignificance. In the short-term, all variables positively affect GBs and are concentrated in the low quantiles. This study constructs a multivariate framework to explore financial linkages across markets and examines variable interactions, enriching the theoretical framework of the GB market.
Ensuring consistent progress toward cities’ net-zero emission goals requires understanding key dimensions of urban climate governance—particularly the motivations driving municipalities toward net zero and the critical barriers and enablers along this pathway. Current knowledge on these critical aspects is fragmented, lacking a holistic framework and empirical prioritization of key factors. We developed an integrated analytical framework and empirically distilled the most salient motivations, barriers, and enablers through a large-scale survey targeting 489 net-zero-committed municipalities—known as “Zero Carbon Cities”—across Japan. With responses from 309 municipalities, we deliver the first systematic mapping of factors perceived as most influential by Japanese local authorities. The results indicate that municipalities are primarily motivated by seizing local economic development opportunities (enhanced local energy conditions, financial gains and savings, and local industry revitalization), future-proofing communities against disasters, and enhancing the local quality of life. Key barriers and enablers were identified across four categories: municipal resources and authority (budgets, dedicated staff, and empowered climate agencies), knowledge and expertise (staff climate competence), institutional coherence (cross-departmental coordination and stakeholder involvement), and political will and leadership (the presence of climate champions and awareness within city halls and among residents). Accordingly, we discuss implications and derive recommendations toward strengthened local action in Japan and beyond.