Blockchain Papers

Kabiru Uba Ibrahim, Muhammad Samir Tahir, Dr. Auwal Salisu

No abstract is available for this record.

Essa Al-Mansouri

This chapter applies classical Islamic jurisprudential principles to analyse mainstream fatwas prohibiting Bitcoin, evaluating whether their core arguments sufficiently align with the established frameworks of Islamic law. Despite frequent claims that Bitcoin's intangible nature, volatility, and lack of official state issuance render it impermissible (Haram), the research finds these arguments often rest on incomplete analogies and misinterpretations of foundational Fiqh concepts. Drawing on texts regarding Gharar (excessive uncertainty), Qimar (gambling), property (māl), and state authority in monetary issuance, the study highlights that historically, Sharia recognized various intangible or privately issued assets, and not all forms of risk equate to impermissible speculation. Additionally, the principle of ‘blocking of means’ (sadd al-dharāʾiʿ) requires a more precise linkage to clearly Haram outcomes. By scrutinizing potential methodological oversights in prohibitory rulings, this chapter underscores that blanket bans may overlook Bitcoin's potential to fulfil key Sharia objectives – such as wealth preservation – when used responsibly. The analysis ultimately advocates more nuanced, evidence-based approaches to Bitcoin's permissibility, rooted in robust Fiqh and accurate technical understanding.

Cahya Kamila Maharani, Relit Nur Edi, Ismail Septayanto Utama

The 4.0 Industrial Revolution has transformed the global economic landscape through the digitalization of financial services, trade, and industrial activities. This transformation has accelerated the growth of the Halal Market, making it one of the fastest-growing economic sectors, driven by the expanding Muslim population, increasing awareness of halal consumption, and rising demand for ethical and sustainable products. In this context, Islamic Fintech has emerged as a strategic innovation that integrates digital financial technologies with the principles of Islamic law and economics. Although studies on Sharia Fintech and the halal industry have grown substantially, research integrating these two domains from the perspectives of Islamic law and Islamic economics remains limited. This study aims to examine the strategic role of Islamic Fintech in strengthening the global Halal Market through an interconnective analytical framework. Employing a qualitative library research approach, the study critically analyzes scholarly literature, regulatory documents, international reports, and previous empirical studies. The findings indicate that Sharia Fintech enhances financial inclusion, transparency, halal traceability, value chain efficiency, and digital governance through the adoption of blockchain, artificial intelligence, smart contracts, and digital payment systems. These innovations contribute to the realization of Maqashid al-Shariah, particularly the protection of wealth (ḥifẓ al-māl) and the promotion of public welfare (maṣlaḥah). The novelty of this study lies in the development of a comprehensive conceptual framework that integrates Islamic law, Islamic economics, digital financial innovation, and Halal Market governance into a unified analytical model.

Abdul Adlim, Babun Suharto, Wildan Khisbullah Suhma, Kholida Ulfi Mubaroka

The rapid development of crypto assets has challenged the classical concept of mal (property) in Islamic jurisprudence because digital assets do not possess tangible physical characteristics traditionally associated with lawful ownership. This study aims to reconstruct the paradigm of mal within contemporary fiqh by examining the legal status of crypto assets through the framework of maqasid al-shari'ah, particularly hifz al-mal, while evaluating the role of smart contracts in reducing contractual uncertainty (gharar). This study employed a qualitative normative legal approach based on literature analysis of classical fiqh, usul al-fiqh, contemporary Islamic legal scholarship, institutional fatwas, and financial regulations. The findings demonstrate that the concept of mal has evolved from a material-based understanding toward a value-oriented paradigm that emphasizes recognized benefit, scarcity, and lawful ownership. Under these criteria, crypto assets may be recognized as mal when supported by legitimate ownership, transparent governance, and productive economic purposes. Smart contracts contribute to minimizing contractual and operational gharar through automated execution and transaction transparency, although they cannot eliminate risks arising from market volatility. This study proposes a reconstructed paradigm of mal that provides a more contextual analytical framework for assessing the legality of digital assets within contemporary Islamic law.

Muhammad Dzikri Abadi, Roudlotul Badi’ah, Dadang Wiratama, Ika Purwanti · 7 authors

This study maps the development, collaboration patterns, citation structure, and thematic evolution of research on blockchain technology in the waqf sector. A bibliometric analysis of 417 Scopus-indexed publications published from 2006 to 12 July 2024 was performed using Bibliometrix in RStudio and VOSviewer. The analysis covered publication trends, influential sources and contributors, country productivity, citation impact, collaboration networks, and keyword co-occurrence. The results show increasing scholarly attention to the intersection of blockchain, Islamic finance, fintech, and waqf management. Malaysia and Indonesia emerged as the most productive and most cited countries, while an international co-authorship rate of 29.74% indicated moderate cross-border collaboration. Keyword analysis revealed that the field is anchored in Islamic finance, fintech, blockchain, and waqf, with growing attention to cash waqf, crowdfunding, financial inclusion, digital transformation, smart contracts, cybersecurity, and technology adoption. However, these patterns demonstrate scholarly attention and thematic associations rather than empirical proof of blockchain’s operational benefits in waqf institutions. This study identifies priority gaps in empirical implementation, Shariah governance, stakeholder adoption, technical feasibility, and socioeconomic impact evaluation of blockchain-enabled waqf systems.

RAZIULLAH SADID, Farzad AHMADİ

This study aims to provide a comprehensive science mapping and bibliometric analysis of the FinTech landscape within Islamic banking and finance. It deciphers the intellectual structure and thematic evolution of the field during the transformative window from 2017 to early 2026. Methodology: Utilizing the Scopus database, a dataset of 725 scholarly documents was extracted and analyzed. The research employs a multi-tool approach, integrating R-Bibliometrix (Biblioshiny) for longitudinal performance analysis and VOSviewer for visualizing keyword co-occurrence and institutional collaboration networks. The PRISMA 2020 protocol was followed to ensure methodological transparency. Findings. The results reveal an exponential surge in scientific production, characterized by an impressive annual growth rate of 28.42%. Malaysia and Indonesia emerge as the primary global knowledge hubs, with the International Islamic University Malaysia leading institutional contributions. The analysis identifies three core intellectual clusters: (1) Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies, (2) AI and Regulatory Compliance, and (3) Financial Inclusion and Institutional Stability. Thematic evolution indicates a strategic shift from basic FinTech adoption toward advanced applications in Artificial Intelligence, Ethical Technology, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Originality,