Dec 23, 2025·Proceedings of the ... Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences/Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences
Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) integrate blockchain-based automation with novel forms of collective governance, yet research on them remains fragmented across technical and organizational silos, hindering a comprehensive understanding of DAOs as socio-technical systems. To bridge these gaps, we first conduct a systematic umbrella review of 12 prior surveys to map research themes and persistent gaps. Based on this analysis, we propose a novel, three-layer framework that explicitly links (i) technical artefacts (the infrastructure, e.g., tokens, smart contracts), (ii) governance logics (the rules, e.g., incentives, consensus mechanisms), and (iii) organizational manifestations (the outcomes, e.g., proposals, votes). By making cross-layer dependencies explicit, the framework enables more holistic theorizing, supports comparative empirical work, and provides a diagnostic tool for practitioners dealing with design trade-offs between decentralization, efficiency, and participation.
. This study aims to explore the transformation of human resource management in the Web3 era through a bibliometric analysis of global research trends. The research investigates how decentralized technologies, such as blockchain, smart contracts, tokenization, and Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAO) reshape human resource management practices toward transparency, autonomy, and efficiency. Using a descriptive qualitative approach combined with bibliometric analysis, data were collected from the Scopus database (2020–2025) and analyzed using VOSviewer to map keyword networks, identify clusters, and determine research evolution. The findings reveal four major research clusters focusing on blockchain applications, human resource analytics, organizational transformation, and smart contract implementation. Results indicate a paradigm shift in human resource management from administrative functions to strategic, technology-driven roles emphasizing digital competence and data transparency. Moreover, the study highlights challenges in privacy, data regulation, and digital literacy as critical barriers to Web3 adoption in human resource systems. The research provides conceptual insights and a framework for understanding human resource management digital evolution, offering implications for policymakers and organizations to design adaptive, decentralized, and human-centered human resource management strategies.
The development of web technology from Web 1.0 to Web 5.0 has revolutionized the way humans interact digitally, influencing identity, autonomy, employment, government, education, and culture. The modern web is now intelligent, contextual, and emotional, powered by AI, IoT, blockchain, and quantum computing. Digital identities are evolving towards decentralized models such as Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI), while governance is beginning to implement Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs). The world of work is changing through the gig economy and the token economy, although it comes with challenges in the form of digital divides and algorithmic manipulation. Education and cultural preservation are also digitized through adaptive learning and immersive technology. With this great opportunity also arises the issue of ethics, digital rights, and the need for inclusive and visionary policies. The web of the future must be not only smart, but also fair, ethical, and humane.
How may digital platforms be redesigned to better serve the interests of the artists whose creative work gives them value? An artist- and user-owned streaming platform is proposed that would decentralize control and redistribute revenue from corporations to creators. Using Web3 infrastructure, the model enables direct artist payment through blockchain-based transactions that scale based on user consumption, minimizing fees and ensuring transparency. The design also emphasizes community governance and localized music discovery to encourage the regrowth of music culture. By reducing reliance on profit-driven intermediaries, the system aims to create a sustainable environment where independent artists can thrive. Spotify exemplifies how a platform’s designed-in incentives can perpetuate exploitation. The social construction of technology framework suggests that Spotify’s ownership model, pro- rata payment system, and algorithmic design prioritize shareholder value over fairness. Spotify’s supposed mission to “unlock the potential of human creativity” is undermined by its own architecture, which locks artists into dependency. Together, these projects show that achieving fairness in a digital music economy requires not only reforming compensation models but rethinking the infrastructures that define creative labor itself.
Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) represent a transformative shift in organizational structures, leveraging blockchain technology to enable decentralized governance, transparency, and automation through smart contracts
Abstract This study aims to sociologically understand the ideas about organizations, mechanisms to realize those contained in Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO), and Web3. It specifically focuses on the unique relationship between people and objects in this context. In this study, DAO refers to an organization on the Internet that uses blockchain technology and that has no specific administrator (that is decentralized and flat), whereas Web3 refers to the way that the Web is organized premised on such an organization. A DAO attempts to reduce uncertain elements and create a firm, flat organization by introducing the physical technology of blockchain into an organization composed of people. However, its operation is more intricate. For example, blockchain is not purely an object but humans are embedded within it and their desires are harnessed as its driving force. This study attempts to describe such an intricate construct and specifically focuses on the effort needed to create a “flat” organization. It is not simply realized mechanically through the blockchain but people are also substantially involved, including in the pre-discussion process (off-chain). For example, whether a DAO becomes a flat organization may depend on the original relationships between its members. The workings of the blockchain are more dependent on the people participating in it and their relationships than they appear. Recently, some DAOs have placed less emphasis on protocols, such as on the automatic execution of the content of contracts, and more emphasis on community. However, irrespective of where they place the emphasis, no essential difference exists between them on the point that people are involved in them to a greater or lesser extent.
Blockchain is one of the most consequential innovations since the world wide web. Although blockchain is argued to remove, displace, or redistribute expertise, there is little understanding of the role of expertise in blockchain ecosystems, and more generally the expertise that fuels the development of new technologies by means of open, fluid, and heterogeneous knowledge contributions. An empirical study of the social organization of the Ethereum community, the second largest blockchain ecosystem after Bitcoin, reveals the contrasting tensions involved in setting up a system of decentralized expertise. The alternate community mantras “rough consensus, running code” and “wide consensus, better code?” suggest that the Ethereum community enacts expertise centralization and decentralization practices simultaneously to create a fragile balance between individualized accountabilities and a generalized sense of diffused participation. These practices unfold along a continuum of routine operations punctuated by critical events and are both essential for navigating the uncertainties of decentralized organizations. The study contributes to research on new forms of expertise occasioned by emerging technologies, and in particular to our understanding of blockchain expertise. The study’s relational perspective on expertise adds to research on the dynamics of knowledge de/centralization in online communities.
The rapid rise of the gig economy has reshaped modern labour markets, offering flexibility but also exposing workers to instability, low protection, and algorithmic control. This paper explores how Blockchain technology and Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) can address these structural challenges by decentralizing trust, governance, and value distribution. Drawing upon institutional theory, transaction cost economics, and network governance frameworks, the study analyses how blockchain’s core features—immutability, transparency, and smart contracts—enable fairer, more autonomous work environments. DAOs, as digital cooperatives, allow workers to participate directly in decision-making and profit-sharing, reducing dependence on centralized platforms. The literature reviewed highlights both opportunities and limitations: while blockchain can ensure transparent payments and portable reputations, issues of scalability, regulation, and digital inclusion persist. Overall, the analysis suggests that blockchain-enabled DAOs represent an emerging paradigm for equitable and trust-based digital labour, redefining how work, ownership, and governance operate in the gig economy.
Abstract Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) promise to transform governance through blockchain-enabled transparency and communal decision-making. However, unresolved legal responsibilities and speculative governance token dynamics complicate their ability to maintain trust, encourage participation, and secure legitimacy. Drawing primarily on Social Capital Theory (SCT), this study shows how bonding, bridging, and linking social capital intersect with liability ambiguities and token concentration to undermine institutional confidence and grassroots engagement. Public Goods Theory (PGT) clarifies how free-rider tendencies can deter infrastructural support, while Principal-Agent Theory (PAT) highlights incentive misalignments when whales prioritize short-term gains over collective welfare. Through a theoretical lens, this study illuminates how token-based power asymmetries, a lack of regulatory clarity, and conflicting motivations strain the viability of DAOs in fulfilling the promise of decentralized governance. In synthesizing these frameworks, this study advocates tailored governance strategies, ranging from reputation-based voting models to legally compliant organizational wrappers, to mitigate power imbalances, foster inclusive decision-making, and ultimately strengthen DAOs’ resilience in an evolving blockchain ecosystem. By bridging the sociological, economic, and legal perspectives, this study illustrates the interplay of trust, accountability, and incentives that shape DAO sustainability.
ABSTRACT Research Question/Issue Blockchain technology promises to revolutionize governance through strong commitments, trustlessness, and transparency. This paper examines how these promises have failed to materialize in practice. Research Findings/Insights Drawing on case evidence from major blockchains, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, I argue that blockchains have evolved into technocracies where developers, foundations, and companies exercise disproportionate control. Rather than being exceptional, blockchain governance suffers from the same coordination problems, collective action failures, and centralization tendencies that plague traditional governance systems. Theoretical/Academic Implications The paper concludes that while blockchains offer valuable experiments in governance design, their alleged advantages over traditional institutions remain largely mythical. Practitioner/Policy Implications Blockchain organizations should acknowledge their reliance on off‐chain coordination and informal authority. Investors must understand that blockchain governance depends on trusting technical elites, while regulators should recognize that decentralization claims often mask concentrated power structures requiring traditional oversight.
This article examines blockchain governance as a cultural and algorithmic paradigm, moving beyond code to constitutional logic. It analyzes Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) as a form of programmed democracy, highlighting its tension between efficiency and fairness and its risk of oligarchic drift. The study contrasts algorithmic transparency with centralized control in Web2, framing blockchain as a new public square where trust flows through cryptography rather than ballots. Cryptocurrencies are interpreted as algorithmic artifacts—symbols of a democratized code economy—while cases like Dogecoin reveal how humor and creativity shape value systems in decentralized networks. Ultimately, the paper argues that blockchain governance requires not only technical precision but symbolic legitimacy, balancing innovation with ethical responsibility.
La tesi esplora il fenomeno della trasformazione digitale, evidenziandone l’evoluzione storica, le tecnologie abilitanti e i benefici strategici per le imprese lungo dimensioni operative, decisionali, innovative e di customer experience. La trasformazione digitale viene presentata come un processo sistemico che coinvolge la digitizzazione, digitalizzazione e infine una profonda ridefinizione dei modelli di business, delle strutture organizzative e delle strategie competitive. Particolare attenzione è dedicata alla tecnologia blockchain, analizzata nei suoi aspetti tecnici fondamentali (nodi, transazioni, blocchi, meccanismi di consenso come Proof of Work e Proof of Stake) e alle sue caratteristiche distintive di sicurezza, immutabilità e decentralizzazione, che la rendono idonea a supportare nuovi paradigmi economici e istituzionali. La tesi approfondisce l’impatto organizzativo della blockchain, con focus sulla digitalizzazione dei processi aziendali, la ridefinizione della divisione del lavoro e i nuovi assetti regolativi e di coordinamento. Si analizzano le Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAO) come forme emergenti di organizzazione digitale, fondate su regole programmabili e governance distribuita, che sfidano i modelli tradizionali introducendo automatismi decisionali e nuovi criteri di fiducia. Vengono inoltre discussi i benefici e le sfide connesse all’adozione della blockchain e delle DAO, incluse questioni di scalabilità tecnica, interoperabilità, sicurezza e incertezze normative, ponendo l’accento sulla necessità di integrare competenze tecnologiche, giuridiche e organizzative per sfruttarne appieno il potenziale trasformativo. La tesi presenta la blockchain come infrastruttura digitale generativa capace di abilitare modelli innovativi di collaborazione e governance, con profonde implicazioni per la competitività e la resilienza organizzativa in un contesto economico sempre più digitalizzato e distribuito.
Svitlana Popereshnyak, Dmytro Chornobryvets, Oleh Bakaiev
The accelerated growth of freelance platforms has brought to light several systemic challenges, such as elevated transaction costs, increased susceptibility to fraud, limited transparency, and inefficiencies in the selection of service providers. This study presents the design and implementation of an AI-powered platform aimed at improving the management and monitoring of freelance services. The platform architecture incorporates a multi-criteria risk assessment framework, which evaluates users based on their ratings, transaction history, account longevity, and digital wallet balance. To address issues of contractor reliability and operational anomalies, the system integrates advanced algorithms for automated selection and anomaly detection. A smart contract mechanism, implemented in Solidity and deployed on the Ethereum blockchain via Web3.js, ensures secure and verifiable transactions. For data storage and retrieval, the platform leverages PostgreSQL and MongoDB, while ECDSA cryptographic techniques are employed to reinforce transaction integrity and user authentication. Empirical evaluation indicates that the platform substantially mitigates fraud risks and enhances the efficiency and transparency of interactions between clients and freelancers. The proposed solution demonstrates the potential to support secure and scalable freelance operations and may be extended for deployment within decentralized finance ecosystems and digital commerce environments.
PURCAREA LIVIU, RADULESCU CARMEN VALENTINA, Mănescu Andreea Maria
Blockchain technology has rapidly transformed the way decentralized systems operate, offering new possibilities for transparency, security, and autonomy. However, these benefits come with a notable drawback: the significant environmental cost associated with blockchain consensus mechanisms — particularly Proof of Work (PoW) Möser et all (2021). This paper examines the environmental impact of blockchain and investigates more sustainable alternatives, such as Proof of Stake (PoS) and other energy-efficient models. Using Ethereum’s transition from PoW to PoS as a central case study, along with examples such as Algorand and Chia, we explore how different architectural decisions affect energy consumption. Our analysis, based on recent academic research and technical data, suggests that sustainable blockchain models are technically viable—but their success depends on broader systemic changes, including clear regulations, governance reforms, and industry-wide engagement. In conclusion, blockchain can evolve into a sustainable technology, but only through a responsible and coordinated effort
Dimitrios Kasimatis, Pavlos Papadopoulos, William J. Buchanan, Christos Chrysoulas · 7 authors
In today’s digital era, identity and credentials have shifted to electronic formats, offering new opportunities for secure and efficient verification. However, recruitment processes still face inefficiencies, fraud risks, and privacy concerns. This work presents the Digital IdentitieS evaluaTion of job skIILs (DISTIL) framework, which applies digital identity principles, particularly verifiable credentials, and leverages distributed ledger technology to address these issues. DISTIL employs zeroknowledge proofs to enable privacy-preserving validation of candidate data, with an emphasis on maintaining data confidentiality. We also evaluate the performance of the DISTIL framework by thoroughly examining its computational efficiency. This approach provides a secure, streamlined, and privacy-conscious solution for modern recruitment, supporting the broader adoption of selfsovereign digital identity in this field.
This chapter explores the emergence and evolution of Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) as a disruptive model for collective governance in Web3. It explains how DAOs leverage blockchain technology and smart contracts to enable token-based decision-making, eliminating traditional hierarchical structures. The chapter details various governance models – including weighted, quadratic, and liquid democracy – that balance inclusivity and efficiency. Through real-world examples and case studies, it demonstrates how DAOs are transforming investment, social causes, business operations, and community-driven initiatives. It also addresses challenges such as legal uncertainties, security vulnerabilities, and scalability issues, while providing actionable steps for individuals to engage with, contribute to, and even launch their own DAOs. Overall, the chapter highlights DAOs’ potential to foster transparent, democratic, and resilient organizational ecosystems in the digital age.
With its potential to address persistent issues like inefficiency, fraud, and a lack of transparency, distributed ledger technology (DLT), and in particular blockchain, has become a game-changing breakthrough in the realm of international trade. With a thorough examination of its potential to revolutionize trade processes, this study examines the applications of DLT in global commerce. It starts by examining the conventional cloud-based models that predominate in global trade procedures and contrasting them with the blockchain-based approach that has been suggested. The viability and effect of blockchain technology (BCT) in this industry are evaluated by the research using both qualitative and quantitative approaches, such as data collecting, comparative analysis, and SWOT analysis. The main impediments to blockchain adoption are noted, along with suggested fixes for them. A discussion of potential future possibilities and suggestions for using blockchain technology into global trade networks round out the report. The purpose of this study is to offer theoretical understandings and useful suggestions for the successful use of blockchain technology in international trade.
Aleksandar Stojanović, Marta Alić, Brigitta Cafuta
Proof-of-Work (PoW) is a consensus mechanism used by some decentralized cryptocurrency systems as the basis of transaction agreement among independent network nodes, without the need for a central authority. It requires computational time and energy to discourage malicious activities such as double spending and manipulation of the distributed ledger. This article provides an overview of the application of PoW from a Decentralized Finance (DeFi) systems perspective and its effectiveness in supporting decentralized transactions and asset management. In addition, recent advances in enhancing scalability and reducing energy consumption are discussed to address concerns regarding the efficiency and sustainability of PoW. Drawing on recent research, this article identifies several basic criteria that can serve as a foundation for understanding and anticipating future trends for the role of PoW within decentralized finance systems.
The article argues for the sociocultural contextualization of Web3 affordances by examining play-to-earn gaming in the Philippines. It first outlines how socioeconomic factors promote blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. Against this background, and based on scholarship in cultural communication, anthropology, and critical platform studies, the article illustrates how sociocultural frames shape the interpretation and enactment of blockchain-based gameplay affordances. A Grounded Theory analysis of interviews and documents reveals that players identify persistent access and ownership as technical affordances, performing them through the cultural frame of cockfighting and its digital economy version, the side hustle. The study challenges universalist notions of Web3 adoption, highlighting how technical affordances both support and disrupt sociocultural and economic reproduction through narratives of family, competition, and inclusivity. The research calls for comparative studies on how platform corporations structure societies in emerging economies, how platforms exploit culture as use value, and how adopters strategically utilize Web3 technologies.