Videos by Horst Treiblmaier
The disruptive impact of blockchain technologies can be felt across numerous industries as it thr... more The disruptive impact of blockchain technologies can be felt across numerous industries as it threatens to disrupt existing business models and economic structures. To better understand this impact, academic researchers regularly apply well-established theories and methods. The vast majority of these approaches are based on multivariate methods that rely on average behavior and treat extreme cases as outliers. However, as recent history has shown, current developments in blockchain and cryptocurrencies are frequently characterized by aberrant behavior and unexpected events that shape individuals’ perceptions, market behavior, and public policymaking. In this paper, I apply various scenario tools to identify such extreme scenarios and illustrate their underlying structure as bundles of interdependent factors.
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/14/6/162
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/14/6/162
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Papers by Horst Treiblmaier
Are your strategic buyer-supplier relationships under control?
Encyclopedia of Sustainable Technologies, 2024
Blockchain has been touted as an enabler for sustainable innovations across many industries. In t... more Blockchain has been touted as an enabler for sustainable innovations across many industries. In this chapter, we scrutinize this presumed positive impact by first elaborating on the core concepts: blockchain and sustainability. We then outline features of blockchain that can potentially yield positive sustainability outcomes and list several practical examples. We end this paper with five straightforward questions that can be used to critically assess any claimed impact of blockchain on sustainability. Key Points • The terms blockchain and sustainability are defined and explained. • The relationship between blockchain and sustainability is investigated. • Potential areas are identified in which blockchain can have a positive effect on sustainability. • Practical examples are given on how blockchain can have a positive effect on sustainability. • Five questions are presented that can be used to critically assess the sustainability outcome(s) of a blockchain project.
56nd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS), 2023
In 1992, the term "Metaverse" was first introduced by the science fiction writer Neal Stephenson ... more In 1992, the term "Metaverse" was first introduced by the science fiction writer Neal Stephenson in his novel "Snow Crash". It is a portmanteau consisting of "meta" (which means "beyond"), to capture the development of a virtual world beyond the physical reality, and "verse" (which refers to a back-formation from "universe") to refer to a virtual utopia. Second Life, a multimedia game, was launched in 2003 and was considered as the most important application of Metaverse (or virtual world) at the time. Despite the great attention that Second Life attracted, the Metaverse did not manage to create a critical mass possibly due to the novelty of the technology at the time and its lack of interoperability with other solutions. Recently, technological advancements in blockchain technology, the evolution of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), technological progress in extended reality (virtual and augmented), developments in other fields like Artificial Intelligence (AI), haptic devices, and the convergence of all the above technologies have revived the interest into the Metaverse. It is expected that a new generation of the Internet will evolve from the Metaverse, built on technologies like extended reality, blockchain, and others. The dynamic of the Metaverse is huge, with many experts predicting that it will generate a multi-trillion market in the coming years. Despite the opportunities and the advantages that the Metaverse may offer, there are many open challenges that need to be addressed, including social, legal, ethical, technical issues. In this first edition of the minitrack, we received 4 interesting articles. Based on reviewers' comments, we finally accepted 2 papers that contribute to a better understanding of the metaverse. In the first paper, Nils Augustin, Khalid Durani, Tim Kollmer and Andreas Eckhardt argue that blockchain technology can help to structure ownership rights in the Metaverse and to resolve tensions between creators and users. Their research explores Decentraland, a blockchain-based Metaverse, through a socio-technical system lens. They find that the use of blockchain technology goes beyond the application of
Food Industry 4.0: Emerging Trends and Technologies in Sustainable Food Production and Consumption, 2024
Robotic technology is on the rise and is predicted to enhance sustainability in agri-food systems... more Robotic technology is on the rise and is predicted to enhance sustainability in agri-food systems. This chapter highlights the importance of robotic handling in the food system from various perspectives. Robotics as key enabling technology in Food Industry 4.0 is expected to revolutionise the processing, handling and distribution of agri-foods. The Internet of Things paradigm enables technologies to be more flexible and to produce small batches more efficiently. This chapter also illustrates the application of robotics with practical examples. In order to achieve sustainable production and consumption processes, we suggest to better exploit synergies between artificial intelligence, drones, and sensors and strengthen the collaboration between human and robots.
Blockchain Applications in the Smart Era, 2022
This paper presents a distributed e-voting system that solves the problems of vote-rigging, voter... more This paper presents a distributed e-voting system that solves the problems of vote-rigging, voter impersonation, and vote falsification, all of which are prevalent in traditional paper ballot systems. In general, the digitization of democratic decision-making is convenient, fast, and cost-saving but can become a gateway for electoral fraud if not properly secured. Authentication and the simultaneous achievement of confidentiality, integrity, and availability represent major challenges toward establishing e-voting as a reliable means of democratic decision-making. In this paper, a combination of multi-factor authentication (MFA) and blockchain techniques is used to secure electronic voting. MFA hampers the compromising of voters’ identities and allows for easy verification, while blockchain technology protects the integrity of the votes and ensures the verifiability of the cast votes. Combining a facial recognition algorithm and RFID authenticates and authorizes voters to participate in the election process. A smart contract implemented on an Ethereum network provides the required measures of integrity and verifiability for secure e-voting. Performance evaluations of the proposed approach show that the MFA yielded a 0.1% false acceptance rate and a 0.8% false rejection rate for 100 voters, respectively. This illustrates that the proposed technique can solve issues of authentication and integrity, thereby paving the way for free, fair, and credible e-democratic decision-making in digitally-enabled voting scenarios.
Blockchain Economics: Implications of Distributed Ledger Technology, 2019
Similar to the Internet several decades ago, Blockchain technology is expected to become a highly... more Similar to the Internet several decades ago, Blockchain technology is expected to become a highly disruptive technology that will presumably impact society and economy alike. In this paper we present various scenarios as to how Blockchain might affect the future of work. We build on Self-Determination Theory, which takes into account different types of human needs and motivations, as a theoretical framework. We conducted 24 qualitative interviews with Blockchain experts and created three different scenarios that outline potential future developments. The experts’ opinions range from predicting no significant impact of Blockchain on the work environment toward substantial changes that can have both beneficial and adverse consequences for the work force. In this chapter we detail the three scenarios and further illustrate Blockchain’s potential implications for basic human needs in the context of the future of work.
Handbook of e-Tourism, 2022
Blockchain technology has the potential to substantially transform the tourism industry. Its sali... more Blockchain technology has the potential to substantially transform the tourism industry. Its salient features such as immutability, transparency, programmability, and decentralization allow for innovative ways to design customer relationships, enable novel organizational structures and processes, and facilitate new forms of interorganizational collaboration. In this chapter, I first elaborate on the basic functioning of the blockchain and highlight those characteristics which are crucial for understanding the rest of the chapter. I not only equip scholars and practitioners with the knowledge needed to better comprehend blockchain technology and how to apply it in the context of the tourism industry but also highlight shortcomings and important research topics. Furthermore, I investigate the disruptive potential of the blockchain on an economic level by discussing various ways in which it can alter existing market structures und potentially lead to the disintermediation of incumbents in the tourism industry and the emergence of new players. Economic theory is referenced to better understand how blockchain characteristics might shape the future of the tourism industry and who the main beneficiaries will be. I end the chapter with several suggestions for future research and expected future developments.
Enabling the Internet of Value. How Blockchain Connects Global Businesses, 2022
The paper conceptualises the Internet of Value (IoV) as an evolution of the Internet from a mediu... more The paper conceptualises the Internet of Value (IoV) as an evolution of the Internet from a medium for information exchange to one that enables the direct transfer of value. Traditional Internet protocols are inherently stateless and therefore rely on intermediaries to facilitate payments and asset transfers. Blockchain technology overcomes this limitation by enabling peer-to-peer transfers of digitally represented assets without intermediaries, thereby reducing transaction costs and governance frictions. The paper defines the IoV as the instant, intermediary-free transfer of assets expressible in monetary terms, outlines its core attributes and enablers, and discusses its profound economic and organisational implications.
INATBA Report, 2025
The convergence of Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) represents a si... more The convergence of Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) represents a significant step toward establishing a global benchmark for digital trust, rights-based governance, and competitiveness.
Key Messages
● SSI as a Trust Anchor: SSI restores control over identity to citizens and organizations, reducing dependency on centralized intermediaries and opaque data brokers.
● AI as a driver of Intelligence and Automation: When trained on verifiable and provenance-rich data, AI improves risk detection, compliance, and decision-making at scale.
● Synergy: Together, SSI and AI form systems that are transparent, auditable, and human-centric, supporting resilience against fraud, identity manipulation, and systemic bias.
● Regulatory Alignment: The combined framework directly supports compliance with the GDPR, eIDAS 2.0, and the EU AI Act, while reinforcing the goals of the Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act, Cyber Resilience Act, Data Governance Act, and Data Act.
● Societal Impact: Beyond technical gains, SSI + AI address critical challenges such as digital inclusion, accountability of autonomous agents, and protection against synthetic identities, enabling the safeguarding of democracy, empowering citizens, and unlocking economic opportunities.
Strategic Relevance
In a digital economy where identity defines access to finance, healthcare, education, and civic rights, the convergence of SSI and AI is not optional — it is foundational. Europe has the regulatory leadership, technological infrastructure, and governance culture to set global standards. This report offers a roadmap to operationalize this leadership.
Key Messages
● SSI as a Trust Anchor: SSI restores control over identity to citizens and organizations, reducing dependency on centralized intermediaries and opaque data brokers.
● AI as a driver of Intelligence and Automation: When trained on verifiable and provenance-rich data, AI improves risk detection, compliance, and decision-making at scale.
● Synergy: Together, SSI and AI form systems that are transparent, auditable, and human-centric, supporting resilience against fraud, identity manipulation, and systemic bias.
● Regulatory Alignment: The combined framework directly supports compliance with the GDPR, eIDAS 2.0, and the EU AI Act, while reinforcing the goals of the Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act, Cyber Resilience Act, Data Governance Act, and Data Act.
● Societal Impact: Beyond technical gains, SSI + AI address critical challenges such as digital inclusion, accountability of autonomous agents, and protection against synthetic identities, enabling the safeguarding of democracy, empowering citizens, and unlocking economic opportunities.
Strategic Relevance
In a digital economy where identity defines access to finance, healthcare, education, and civic rights, the convergence of SSI and AI is not optional — it is foundational. Europe has the regulatory leadership, technological infrastructure, and governance culture to set global standards. This report offers a roadmap to operationalize this leadership.
Sustainability MDPI, 2025
In this paper, we design, implement, and empirically evaluate a tamper-evident, blockchainsecured... more In this paper, we design, implement, and empirically evaluate a tamper-evident, blockchainsecured solar energy logging system for resource-constrained edge Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Using a Merkle tree batching approach in conjunction with threshold-triggered blockchain anchoring, the system combines high-frequency local logging with energyefficient, cryptographically verifiable submissions to the Ethereum Sepolia testnet, a public Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchain. The logger captured and hashed cryptographic chains on a minute-by-minute basis during a continuous 135 h deployment on a Raspberry Pi equipped with an INA219 sensor. Thanks to effective retrial and daily rollover mechanisms, it committed 130 verified Merkle batches to the blockchain without any data loss or unverifiable records, even during internet outages. The system offers robust end-to-end auditability and tamper resistance with low operational and carbon overhead, which was tested with comparative benchmarking against other blockchain logging models and conventional local and cloud-based loggers. The findings illustrate the technical and sustainability feasibility of digital audit trails based on blockchain technology for distributed solar energy systems. These audit trails facilitate scalable environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting, automated renewable energy certification, and transparent carbon accounting.
Information Technology & Tourism, 2025
We present the case of Winding Tree, an ambitious blockchain project that set out in 2017 to radi... more We present the case of Winding Tree, an ambitious blockchain project that set out in 2017 to radically transform the tourism and travel industry. In 2024, they finally gave up, leaving behind a wealth of experience from which others can benefit. We use a rigorous case study approach to process and structure the remnants of Winding Tree. We thoroughly analyzed publicly available material, conducted a quantitative study with 86 respondents, and interviewed 19 key stakeholders. The results outline the key factors responsible for Winding Tree's ultimate failure. Additionally, we assess the findings in the light of popular theories and provide suggestions for refining existing theoretical frameworks. We end with concrete recommendations for practitioners on how future endeavors in this area can avoid the identified pitfalls and encourage academics to apply the refined theories to better explain the progress of digital transformation in the tourism and travel industry.
Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2025, 2025
Innovative technologies promise countless disruptive use cases in the travel and tourism industry... more Innovative technologies promise countless disruptive use cases in the travel and tourism industry. Despite their potential to improve the sector, technology adoption faces substantial barriers, such as high implementation costs, the need for significant infrastructure upgrades, and a lack of technical expertise among stakeholders. Existing theoretical approaches (e.g., Diffusion of Innovation, Technology-Organization-Environment framework) regularly assume a gradual adoption process and identify potentially relevant adoption drivers. However, such broad theories can only partially explain the high failure rates of startups in the industry and offer little advice for new endeavors. In this study, we use the case of Winding Tree, a startup that strived to create a decentralized, open-source marketplace for the travel industry, to illustrate the need for a stronger focus on the adoption gap and the key factors that enable or prevent enterprises from reaching a critical market size. We suggest a modification of Chasm Theory for tourism and travel research and present a framework that can help to better explore, explain, and predict the impact of digital transformation.
FinTech, 2025
The Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) is a comprehensive European Union regulatory frame... more The Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) is a comprehensive European Union regulatory framework aimed at harmonizing the crypto-asset market. The existing literature has mainly examined MiCA from a legal perspective, while empirical assessments of industry perspectives remain scarce. In this study, we examine MiCA's impact on the crypto market and its implications for both theory and practice by analyzing and integrating insights from 12 expert interviews. The findings reveal perceived benefits arising from the unified market, enhanced investor protection, and compliance clarity, alongside challenges related to the high regulatory burden, legal ambiguities, and limited innovation support. On this basis, we provide recommendations for improving the regulatory framework and its implementation. Furthermore, we integrate our findings within the technologyorganization-environment (TOE) framework to provide a theory-based starting point for rigorous academic research. These findings contribute to regulatory discourse and offer practical guidance for the relevant stakeholders, including businesses, regulators, policymakers, and academics.
ResearchGate, 2025
Dee Hock, the founder of Visa, coined the term "chaordic" to describe simultaneously chaotic and ... more Dee Hock, the founder of Visa, coined the term "chaordic" to describe simultaneously chaotic and ordered systems. Based on his reasoning, we introduce the Theory of Chaordic Economics to explain how economic systems are transformed by two disruptive technologies: Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain. Artificial intelligence can generate novel output through algorithmic yet rather unpredictable processes. Blockchain creates deterministic results without central authorities and relies on elaborated protocols that prescribe how consensus can be reached within a network of peers. The amalgamation of chaos and order produces chaordic economic systems and can yield hitherto unthinkable economic structures.
The DATABASE for Advances in Information Systems, May 1, 2018
Paul Feyerabend was presumably one of the most controversial thinkers in scientific epistemology.... more Paul Feyerabend was presumably one of the most controversial thinkers in scientific epistemology. A self-proclaimed proponent of epistemological anarchism, in his seminal book Against Method he fiercely criticized rationalist thinking, as represented by his friend Imre Lakatos. As a result, he found himself heavily under fire for allegedly propagating ideas related to anarchy, Voodoo, astrology, Dada, and even violence. At times he even admitted that he regretted having written his famous book in the first place.1 He has been labeled the "worst enemy of science" and is generally only briefly mentioned as a marginal note following the discussion of critical rationalism in philosophical textbooks. In this paper I argue that a thorough review of his thoughts and principles might provide interesting insights, discussions, and even research guidelines for the Information Systems(IS) community. Initially, I briefly introduce the philosopher Feyerabend and his key ideas together with some criticism. Next, three central propositions are distilled from his work and four experienced IS researchers express their opinions on these statements. Finally, I provide a short summary and some suggestions regarding epistemology and methodology in the IS field.
Electronic Markets, Aug 2, 2022
Depending on the chosen perspective, cryptocurrencies either constitute a unique opportunity to e... more Depending on the chosen perspective, cryptocurrencies either constitute a unique opportunity to end national patronizing built on debt-based fiat money (currency) or a menace to a well-established financial order that ensures economic stability. A central issue in the heated debate surrounding cryptocurrencies is whether they have any intrinsic value at all. In this conceptual position paper, we briefly summarize existing standpoints and suggest three alternative propositions: (1) to avoid using the term “intrinsic value” for the valuation of cryptocurrencies, (2) to refer to the sum total of all properties that could potentially qualify them as money, and (3) to consider the amount of capital and energy that is needed to create them. These suggestions bear substantial implications for the economic classification of cryptocurrencies.
Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology Use Cases: Applications and Lessons Learned,, 2020
In this descriptive study we investigate the use of blockchain in the online multimedia industry.... more In this descriptive study we investigate the use of blockchain in the online multimedia industry. We analyze the content of 30 peer-reviewed academic publications, white papers and industry websites published between 2016 and 2018 which report the application of blockchain for multimedia management. This includes diverse use cases in the music and advertising industries, healthcare, social media, and content delivery networks. Ethereum was found to be the most popular blockchain and proof of work the favorite consensus mechanism. More than half of the platforms reward their users for content curation and community development. The majority of the platforms have implemented tokens and smart contracts to automate the distribution of earnings or to enable data access. Our study further shows that the majority of multimedia blockchain platforms have already implemented monetization capabilities.
Springer eBooks, 2022
In this paper, we investigate the following research questions:
How will token offerings impac... more In this paper, we investigate the following research questions:
How will token offerings impact the economy
–– from a business point of view?
–– from a technical point of view?
–– from a legal point of view?
How will token offerings impact the economy
–– from a business point of view?
–– from a technical point of view?
–– from a legal point of view?
Daten- und Informationsqualität: Auf dem Weg zur Information Excellence, 2011
IIn diesem Beitrag wird ein Entscheidungsmodell vorgestellt, das den Dateneingabeprozess aus Sich... more IIn diesem Beitrag wird ein Entscheidungsmodell vorgestellt, das den Dateneingabeprozess aus Sicht der Nutzer in verschiedene Stufen gliedert. Auf
jeder Stufe müssen bestimmte Kriterien erfüllt sein, um eine korrekte Angabe persönlicher Daten zu gewährleisten. Sofern vorhanden, werden die einzelnen Schritte
mit empirischen Ergebnissen aus einer Internetnutzer- und einer Unternehmensbefragung unterlegt. Die Gliederung des kognitiven Gesamtprozesses der
Datenweitergabe in einzelne, von einander klar trennbare Teilschritte ermöglicht
Unternehmen eine kritische Evaluation ihrer derzeit stattfindenden Datenerhebung.
Im Gegensatz zu zahlreichen anderen Beiträgen in diesem Buch geht es in
dem folgenden Artikel somit nicht um eine ex post Bereinigung vorhandener Datensätze,
sondern um eine kritische ex ante Evaluation möglicher negativer Einflussfaktoren
auf die Qualität der zu erhebenden Datenbestände.
jeder Stufe müssen bestimmte Kriterien erfüllt sein, um eine korrekte Angabe persönlicher Daten zu gewährleisten. Sofern vorhanden, werden die einzelnen Schritte
mit empirischen Ergebnissen aus einer Internetnutzer- und einer Unternehmensbefragung unterlegt. Die Gliederung des kognitiven Gesamtprozesses der
Datenweitergabe in einzelne, von einander klar trennbare Teilschritte ermöglicht
Unternehmen eine kritische Evaluation ihrer derzeit stattfindenden Datenerhebung.
Im Gegensatz zu zahlreichen anderen Beiträgen in diesem Buch geht es in
dem folgenden Artikel somit nicht um eine ex post Bereinigung vorhandener Datensätze,
sondern um eine kritische ex ante Evaluation möglicher negativer Einflussfaktoren
auf die Qualität der zu erhebenden Datenbestände.
Future Internet, Jul 19, 2021
Blockchain is predicted to disrupt industries, economies, and societies. The properties of distri... more Blockchain is predicted to disrupt industries, economies, and societies. The properties of distributed ledgers allow the creation of immutable data structures that facilitate shared access in real time and enable a plethora of innovative applications. However, blockchain is not a uniform technology but rather a bundle of evolving components whose implications are notoriously hard to predict. At present, it is not clear how current trends will evolve, with technical evolution, legislation, and public policy being three contingency factors that make ongoing disruptive transformations par-ticularly hard to predict. In light of blockchain’s potential disruptive impact, it is surprising that scenario analysis has hitherto been largely ignored in academic research. Therefore, in this paper, we introduce the technique, clarify several misconceptions, and provide examples illustrating how this method can help to overcome the limitations of existing technology impact research. We con-clude that if applied correctly, scenario analysis represents the ideal tool to rigorously explore un-certain future developments and to create a comprehensive foundation for future research.