COMMUNICATIONS

News, Polycentrism, ReportsResearch Report – Blockchain Constitutionalism: The Role Of Legitimacy In Polycentric SystemsResearch Report - Blockchain Constitutionalism: The Role Of Legitimacy In Polycentric Systems Primavera de Filippi, Morshed Mannan, Kelsie Nabben, Jamilya Kamalova, Sofia Cossar, Tara Merk, Silke Noa, Marco Crepaldi, Joshua Dávila. Between 5 and 7 June 2023, BlockchainGov organized a conference on “Blockchain Constitutionalism: The Role of Legitimacy in Polycentric Systems” at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute in Florence, Italy. Blockchain networks and Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) have seen a surge in adoption in recent years. To fulfill their promise of widespread structural innovation and change meaningfully, they require governance that maintains legitimacy for internal and external stakeholders. As permissionless, globe-spanning technologies with significant effects on the general public, there has been a growing interest in viewing these blockchain-based systems in constitutional terms. Early analysis regarded the rules expressed through software code as a form of ‘on-chain constitution.’ At the same time, more recently, these have been supplemented with written documents that articulate additional rules and principles regarding the governance of the blockchain-based system (‘off-chain constitutions’). The common thread among the various examples of blockchain “constitutions” seems to be that they define aspects of a system’s decision-making process and make them relatively difficult to change. However, both blockchain practitioners and legal scholars do not agree on whether we should consider these as ‘constitutions’ or ‘constitutionalization’ processes in a strict sense, nor to what extent these efforts can render blockchain systems more legitimate. The EUI Conference brought together experts, academics, and practitioners to explore this intersection. You can read the full report here. [...]
October 26, 2023View
Blog postsBlog Posts 2022-2023Blog Posts 2022-2023 Our researchers’ network is publishing its work not only in academic journals but all around the Web. Here you can find a list of the most relevant blog posts from the last two years · 2023:· Lotti, L., Houde, N., Merk, T. (2033) “Web3 Work research report: The DAO contributor’s perspective” in Other Internet Substack.· De Filippi, P., Schingler, J.K, (2023) “Coordi-nations: a new institutional structure for Global Cooperation” in the Berkman-Klein Center blog, at Harvard.· Hubbard, S., Merk, T., Douglas, T. (2023) “DAO Harvard Event Recap” in Harvard Belfer Center Blog.· Lotti, L., Houde, N., Merk, T. (2033) “Making DAOs Work” in Other Internet Substack.· Merk, T., Lotti, L., Houde, N. (2023) “Introducing Web3 Work” in Other Internet Substack.· Merk, T. (2023) “Rewards Systems Galore: a gateway drug to fundamental discussions” in The DAOist Blog.· Merk, T. (2023) “Wild, wilder, what? – a structured way to exploring your wildest ideas in DAOs” in The DAOist Blog.· 2022:· De Filippi, P. (2022) “Blockchain technology as a means to create Virtual Property in the Metaverse” in OECD Forum Network.· Balazs, Bodo, De Filippi, P. (2022) “’Trust in Context: The Impact of Regulation on Blockchain and DeFi” in Oxford Business Law Blog (OBLB)· Merk, T., & Mam, J. (2022). “Introducing the DADA Exit to Community” in Dada.art. · Merk, T., Rennie, E., Miller, L. (2022) “Introduction and Documentation of the Telescope Bot” in The Metagovernance Project [...]
October 26, 2023View
Conference Organizations, EventsDAO Harvard 2023DAO Harvard 2023 DAO Harvard took place on April 2-4, 2023 bringing together policymakers, blockchain experts and scholars to discuss and explore different aspects of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations. The conference was co-organized by Blockchain Gov alongside Harvard Kennedy School, Belfer Center, and the Safra Center for Ethics,as well as Metagov, COALA, and the DAO Research Collective. The event was organized in different tracks – Research Summit, Law Summit, and Summit on Equitable Ownership and Governance in the Online Economy.The Law SummitThe Law Summit at DAO Harvard featured multiple working groups focused on legal aspects of DAOs. They discussed topics like incorporation benefits, liability, taxation, legal pathways, and regulatory compliance standards. BlockchainGov and COALA co-organized the event, building on the COALA DAO Model Law. This model law offers guidelines for regulatory frameworks to provide legal clarity for DAOs while considering their unique characteristics. This approach has gained momentum, as seen in the passage of the Utah DAO Bill. Each group included legal experts, academics, and practitioners, and their insights will contribute to a revised COALA DAO Model Law (V2)On CostitutionalismIn the latter, Primavera De Filippi discussed the relationship between blockchains and constitutions, highlighting that decentralized technology doesn’t necessarily equate to decentralized power. Decentralization isn’t inherent; it must be intentionally designed, and it’s not always without costs. Blockchain systems incorporate both formal (on-chain protocols and smart contracts) and informal (off-chain rules) constitutions.Our friends at Belfer Center compiled a complete report at this link. [...]
September 26, 2023View
Conference Organizations, EventsConference Organizations Update 2022-23Conference Organizations Update 2022-23 We organized conferences, seminars and workshops as part of our research activity all over the world. Conferences 2023: Organizer of the conference on “Blockchain Constitutionalism: the Role of Legitimacy in Polycentric Systems” at European University Institute, 6-7 June 2023 Organizer of the Conference “Overthrowing the Network States with Coordi-Nations“ organized in collaboration with Zuzalu. Lustica Bay, Montenegro. May 16-18 2023 Co-organiser of the DAO Harvard Conference, organized in collaboration with the Harvard Kennedy School, Belfer Center, and the Safra Center for Ethics, as well as Metagov, COALA, and the DAO Research Collective. Harvard University. April 2-3-4, 2023. 2022: Co-organiser of the conference “What’s Governing Web3? Advancing research on blockchain-enabled Web3 governance” organized in collaboration with RMIT at Melbourne University. 12-15 December 2022. Melbourne, Australia“ 2021: Co-organiser of the conference “La blockchain : enjeux juridiques, économiques, de sécurité et de coûts énergétiques” organised by CERSA and LITEM, in collaboration with CREIS-Terminal. 26 March 2021 (online). Promoter and co-organiser of the conference “Blockchain, Imaginaires religieux et Théologie”, organized by le Collège des Bernardins. March 17 & 31, 2021 (online) Workshops 2023: Organizer of a workshop on “Blockchain Constitutionalism: the Role of Legitimacy in Polycentric Systems” at European University Institute, 5 June 2023 Co-organizer of “The Emergence of Platform Cooperatives. Values, Governance and Design” in collaboration with Scuola Normale Superiore. Florence, 16 May 2023. Organizer of the “Overthrowing the Network State with Coordi-Nations” in collaboration with Zuzalu. Lustica Bay, Montenegro, 9-13 May 2023. Organizer of the 9th Meeting of European Research Council BlockchainGov Project, March 6th, 2023, CERSA – Paris, France 2022: Co-organiser of “What’s Governing Web3? Internal workshop” organized in collaboration with RMIT. 16-19 December. Paradise Trust, New Zealand. Organizer of the 9th Meeting of European Research Council BlockchainGov Project, Oct 14-15-16, 2022, CERSA – Paris, France Organiser of the Extitutions & Blockchain / Web3 Research Workshop. 13-16 September 2022. Berkman-Klein Center at Harvard Law School. Organizer of the ERC BlockchainGov Public Workshop. Sept 11, 2022. CERSA, Paris, France. Organizer of the 8th Meeting of European Research Council BlockchainGov Project, Sept 10, 2022, CERSA – Paris, France Co-Organizer of the Stanford DAO Workshop during the Science of Blockchain Conference. Sept 1 2022. Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center at Stanford University, Palo Alto, USA. Co-Organizer of the Open Questions in DAO Science Workshop during the Researching Web3 Workshop, organized in collaboration with SCRF. July 13-14 2022. Online. Organizer of the 7th Meeting of European Research Council BlockchainGov Project, July 18, 2022, CERSA – Paris, France Co-organiser of the COALA Blockchain Workshop, organized in collaboration with the European Crypto-Initiative (EUCI) and the BlockchainGov project of the European Research Council (ERC). July 17-18 2022. Paris. France. Organizer of the 6th Meeting of European Research Council BlockchainGov Project, May 31, 2022, CERSA – Paris, France Organizer of BlockchainGov Research Workshop: Legitimacy, Confidence and Trust in Blockchain Governance. European University Institute. May 17 2022. Florence, Italy Organizer of the 5th Meeting of European Research Council BlockchainGov Project, May 2, 2022, CERSA – Paris, France Co-organizer of the Open Problems in DAO Science Workshop, organized in collaboration with the Metagovernance Project, the European Crypto-Initiative (EUCI), the Smart Contracts Research Forum (SCRF) and the DAO Research Collective. April 18, at Tobacco Theater, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Co-organiser of the COALA Blockchain Workshop, organized in collaboration with the European Crypto-Initiative (EUCI) and the BlockchainGov project of the European Research Council (ERC). April 19-20, at Creative Point, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Organizer of the 4th Meeting of European Research Council BlockchainGov Project, March 28, 2022, CERSA – Paris, France Organizer of the 3rd Meeting of European Research Council BlockchainGov Project, February 28, 2022, CERSA – Paris, France Organizer of the 2nd Meeting of European Research Council BlockchainGov Project, January 31, 2022, CERSA – Paris, France [...]
September 11, 2023View
Articles, Books, News, PublicationsSeptember 2023 Papers UpdateSeptember 2023 Papers Update Our team has been keeping busy with a variety of research projects, focus groups, and initiatives, analyzing from different perspectives the evolution of the blockchain space! It’s been a while since we last updated our website with these exciting developments, so we wanted to share some of the latest happenings with you. Here you can find the list of our most recent papers and book chapters. Papers Von Blomberg, M., Reijers, W. (2023) “Who Deserves Credit? Banks for the Virtuous in Rural China” in Journal of Contemporary China. Taylor & Francis. Bühler, M.M.; Calzada, I.; Cane, I.; Jelinek, T.; Kapoor, A.; Mannan, M.; Mehta, S.; Mookerje, V.; Nübel, K.; Pentland, A.; Scholz, T.; Siddharth, D.; Tait, J.; Vaitla, B.; Zhu, J. (2023) “Unlocking the Power of Digital Commons: Data Cooperatives as a Pathway for Data Sovereign, Innovative and Equitable Digital Communities”. Digital 2023, 3, 146–171. https://doi.org/10.3390/digital3030011 Merk, T., Tan, J., Hubbard, S., Oak, E. (2023) “Open Problems in DAOs”, website publication (and under process for submission) De Filippi, P., Santolini, M. (2023) “Extitutional Theory: Modeling Structured Social Dynamics Beyond Institutions” in Ephemera: Theory in Politics and Organisation Mannan, M., Pek, S. & Scholz, T. (2023) “Platform Cooperatives and Poverty Eradication: Building on the Legacy of Johnston Birchall”, in Journal of Entrepreneurial & Organizational Diversity (accepted, forthcoming) Mannan, M. & Pek, S. (2023) “Platform Cooperatives and the Dilemmas of Labor-Member Participation”, in New Technology, Work and Employment. https://doi.org/10.1111/ntwe.12273. De Filippi, P., Enguehard, C., Fayon, D., Gagnebien, A., Vidal, G. (2023) “Quelques enjeux de sécurité, juridiques, économiques, et énergétiques des blockchains” in Terminal. https://doi.org/10.4000/terminal.8995 Special Issues De Filippi, P., Enguehard C., Fayon D., Gagnebien A., Vidal G. (eds) (2023) special edition on “Blockchains : enjeux de sécurité, juridiques, économiques, et coûts énergétiques” for Terminal. [...]
September 11, 2023View
News, Publications, Reports, researchBlockchainGov Observations on PoH DAO GovernanceBlockchainGov Observations on PoH DAO Governance Jamilya Kamalova, Sofia Cossar, Tara Merk.In early 2021, the first Sybil-resistant registry of humans was launched. The Proof of Humanity (PoH) registry and the PoH DAO is the first decentralized autonomous organization democratically governed running on the Ethereum network. To help us conduct this research, we relied on academic articles from a lot of different disciplines, such as political science, digital ethnography, democratic theory (especially literature conceptualizing Western liberal democracies to make sense of our empirical observations and findings), but also studies on blockchain systems and blockchain-based governance.The problem of this research is: What governance dynamics led to the Proof of Humanity DAO’s crisis and decision to fork?Our theory was that such a decision came from a persistent governance crisis caused by the absence of strong democratic elements, procedures, regulations, and institutions that could have supported the coexistence of its diverse community rather than leading to its growing and ultimately irreparable division. So we conducted this ethnographic study involving online observation, interviews, events, and institutional analysis. Participants signed community consent forms under BlockchainGov’s research ethics, approved by EUI/CERSA, and agreed to the use and publication of data collected about the PoH DAO community for this research project.Read the paper to discover more about our findings! This document is available in English and Spanish.Ethnographic Research of Proof of Humanity DAO – Full Document of FindingsInvestigación Etnográfica de Proof of Humanity DAO Documento Completo de HallazgosFinally, feel free to express any feedback by filling up this document. [...]
February 3, 2023View
Events, News, PressThe first issue of the Blockchaingov Newsletter is out!We are excited to announce that the 1 st issue of the newsletter is out!Check this out if you’re interested in our recent research in the field of blockchain! Newly published papers, events, conferences and so much more! We believe in the power of #community and that knowledge should be shared and multiplied. This newsletter aims to provide updates on the projects, conferences, and events that our team members take part in. We are excited to share this first newsletter issue that we plan to publish each month. We are open to collaborations, and feedback and we are also hiring! Hope you like the material we prepared for you! Click here to read the first issue of the Blockchaingov news! You can click on the button bellow to subscribe to the newsletter! Subscribe to BlockchainGov News! Facebook Twitter LinkedIn [...]
August 14, 2022View
Articles, Books, News, Publications, ReportsNew Academic Papers Alert!New Academic Papers Alert ! De Filippi, P, Mannan, M. presentation of “The BlockchainGov Report on Trust and Confidence in Blockchain Technology”, in the framework of the EUI Tech Cluster research seminar series. European University Institute. 18 May 2022. Florence. Italy Our team is involved in a variety of research projects, focus groups and initiatives that aim to explore challenges of the blockchain technology. Here are some of the recently published selected papers authored by our members, advisors and affiliates: 1. De Filippi, P., Poux, P., Deffains, B. (2022) “MEV ou la tragédie des blockchains en tant que communs, in Terminal. (forthcoming) 2. Rennie, E., Zargham, M., Tan, J., Miller, L., Abbott, J., Nabben, K., De Filippi, P. (2022) “Towards a participatory digital ethnography of blockchain governance.” 3. Reijers, W., Orgad, L., De Filippi, P. (2022) “The Rise of Cybernetic Citizenship” in Citizenship Studies, Special Issue on “Digital Citizenship in the Post-Pandemic Urban Realm. 4. De Filippi, P., Mannan, M., Reijers, W. (2022) “The Alegality of Blockchain Technology”, in Policy & Society, special issue: “The Policy Dilemmas of Blockchain”. 5. De Filippi, P., Leiter, A. (2021) “Blockchain in Outer Space” in American Journal of International Law (AJIL) Unbound, special issue: “The Global Governance Implications of Blockchain” [...]
August 6, 2022View
Blog posts, Publications1st Meeting of ERC BlockchainGov Project1st Meeting of ERC BlockchainGov Project After introductions, the agenda included sessions on Legitimacy, Outreach & Policy, OpEds, a potential documentary, PhD Consultancy, and multiple sessions on theory concerning the following topics: Blockchain, Coercion & Legitimacy: Dyzenhaus, David. 1997. “Legality and Legitimacy: Refractions from Weimar” Decentralized/Polycentric governance: Aligica, Paul D., and Vlad Tarko. 2012. “Polycentricity: From Polanyi to Ostrom, and Beyond.” Blockchain and Commons-based governance: Grisel, Florian. 2021. “How Migrations Affect Private Orders: Norms and Practices in the Fishery of Marseille“ Constitutional guarantees in blockchain tech: Suzor, Nicolas. 2018. “Digital Constitutionalism: Using the Rule of Law to Evaluate the Legitimacy of Governance by Platforms.” Stay tuned to learn more about our new scholars! From left to right: Primavera De Filippi, Morshed Mannan, Tara Merk, Philemon Poux, Vashti Maharaj (virtual), Sofia Cossar (virtual), Jamilya Kamalova (virtual), Nathan Vandy, Yann Aouidef, Simona Ramos, Wessel Reijers. [...]
December 6, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsHow to Govern Decentralized Digital Public Goods? Blockchains Between Innovation and RegulationHow to Govern Decentralized Digital Public Goods? Blockchains Between Innovation and Regulation De Filippi, P. “How to govern decentralized digital public goods? Blockchains between innovation and regulation” panel presentation at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2021, organised by the United Nations. 6 December 2021 (online). [...]
December 6, 2021View
Conference Organizations, EventsEuropean Crypto-Initiative (EUCI) WorkshopCo-organiser of the first European Crypto-Initiative (EUCI) Workshop, organised in collaboration with COALA and the BlockchainGov project of the European Research Council (ERC). December 2-3, Citizen Corner Brussels, Belgium. [...]
December 2, 2021View
Conference Organizations, Events1st Meeting of ERC BlockchainGov ProjectOrganiser of the 1st Meeting of European Research Council BlockchainGov Project, December 4-5, 2021, CERSA – Paris, France [...]
December 2, 2021View
Conference Organizations, EventsCryptogovernance WorkshopCo-organiser of the Cryptogovernance Workshop, organized by Wharton’s Blockchain & Digital Asset Project at University of Pennsylvania. 30 November 2021 (online) [...]
November 30, 2021View
Misc, TeachingSmart Contracts & Legal ContractsDe Filippi, P., Guest Lecture: “Smart Contracts & Legal Contracts” at Fordham Law School (1 hour) as part of the “Securities” course, run by Donna Redel. [...]
November 28, 2021View
Misc, TeachingThe Economic Impact of BlockchainDe Filippi, P., Module 3: Deep Dive Blockchain – Unit 0: The Economic Impact of Blockchain at DT2 Invest Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). Online course sponsored by the European Commission, developed by France Digitale. [...]
November 28, 2021View
Misc, TeachingRole of Platform Cooperatives at the Base of the PyramidMannan, M., Guest Lecture: “Role of Platform Cooperatives at the Base of the Pyramid” for the Online Course “Platform Cooperatives Now!” at The New School, New York City & Mondragon University, Spain (1 hour) [...]
November 28, 2021View
Events, Focus GroupsPlatform Cooperative Working GroupDe Filippi, P., Mannan, M., “Platform Cooperative Working Group” at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University [...]
November 28, 2021View
Events, Focus GroupsTechnological Change & SocietyDe Filippi, P., Mannan, M., Research cluster on “Technological Change & Society” (EUI) [...]
November 28, 2021View
Events, Focus GroupsAlternative Data Futures: Cooperative Principles, Data Trusts, and the Digital EconomyDe Filippi, P., Mannan, M., Research sprint on “Alternative Data Futures: Cooperative Principles, Data Trusts, and the Digital Economy” at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society (October-December 2021) During the fall of 2021, The New School’s Platform Cooperativism Consortium and BKC ran a Research Sprint with a cohort of early-career researchers, cooperative leaders, and activists from 8 countries across 4 continents. The “Alternative Data Futures: Cooperative Principles, Data Trusts, and the Digital Economy” Research Sprint brought together this group to explore new pathways for democratic governance of collective data.Archives and Recap Here. [...]
November 28, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsBlockchain & the LawDe Filippi, P. “Blockchain & the Law”, presentation at the EUIPO Observatory “Impact of Technology” expert group workshop. 18 November 2021 (online) [...]
November 18, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsDistributed Autonomous Organizations and CooperativesDe Filippi, P. “Distributed Autonomous Organizations and Cooperatives” presentation at the conference #TheNewCommonSense: Forging the Cooperative Digital Economy, organised by the Platform Cooperativism consortium. 17 November 2021 (online). Video archives and Recap on the official website page! [...]
November 17, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsPersonhood, Blockchain & LegitimacyDe Filippi, P. “Personhood, Blockchain & Legitimacy” panel presentation for the RadicalXchange TV series. 16 November 2021 (online) [...]
November 16, 2021View
Interviews, MiscThe Ethics of Social Credit SystemsPodcast appearance on Philosophical Disquisitions – The Ethics of Social Credit Systems (26/02/2021) [...]
November 15, 2021View
Interviews, MiscBlockchain et Organizzazioni decentralizzatePodcast appearance on Idee SottoSopra — Blockchain et Organizzazioni decentralizzate (18/04/2021) [...]
November 15, 2021View
Interviews, MiscArt Crytpo : la porte est ouverte, elle ne va pas se refermerInterview for an article on “Art Crytpo : la porte est ouverte, elle ne va pas se refermer” in the online media Libération (22/03/2021) [...]
November 15, 2021View
Interviews, MiscPourquoi les NFT envahissent le monde de l’artInterview for an article on “Pourquoi les NFT envahissent le monde de l’art” in Beaux Arts Magazine (19/04/2021) [...]
November 15, 2021View
Interviews, MiscTaking the crypto out of digital currencyInterview for Harvard Gazette on “Taking the crypto out of digital currency” (25/05/2021) [...]
November 15, 2021View
Interviews, MiscComment les NFTs révolutionnent le monde de l’artInterview for an online video on “Comment les NFTs révolutionnent le monde de l’art” for the “Decryptage” series in Les Echos (10/06/2021) [...]
November 15, 2021View
Interviews, MiscEuforia en el arte digital: ¿burbuja o revolución de los NFT?Interview for an article on “Euforia en el arte digital: ¿burbuja o revolución de los NFT?” in El Pais (18/09/2021) [...]
November 15, 2021View
Misc, News, PressLessons Bangladesh can learn from others about blockchain regulationLessons Bangladesh can learn from others about blockchain regulation De Filippi, P., Mannan, M. (2021) “Lessons Bangladesh can learn from others about blockchain regulation” in Whiteboard Magazine. 16 June 2021. Read the Article [...]
November 15, 2021View
Misc, News, PressLet Users Own the Tech Companies They Help BuildLet Users Own the Tech Companies They Help Build Schneider, N., Mannan, M. (2021) “Let Users Own the Tech Companies They Help Build”, in WIRED Magazine. 19 June 2021. The law might even make “exit to community” the price of success, such as by expecting large social media companies to have user representatives on their boards, with or without transferring equity.PHOTOGRAPH: ANDRIY ONUFRIYENKO/GETTY IMAGES Read the Article [...]
November 15, 2021View
Misc, News, PressCould Blockchain end Big Tech?Could Blockchain end Big Tech? Reijers, W., Mannan, M. (2021) “Could Blockchain end Big Tech?”, in IAI.TV. 25 October 2021. Read the Article Blockchain is both a cure and a new poison [...]
November 15, 2021View
Blog posts, PublicationsIntroduction to Extitutional TheorySchingler, J. K., De Filippi, P. (2021) “Introduction to Extitutional Theory”. Berkman-Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. “Extitutional theory is an emerging field of scholarship that provides a set of conceptual tools to describe and analyse the underlying social dynamics of a variety of social arrangements, such as communities, companies, organisations, or any other types of institutions. Extitutional theory posits that the institutional framework is just one specific lens through which we can make sense of social behaviour. Social dynamics that are not part of an institution are not unstructured, just differently structured. Specifically, institutions focus on the static and inert elements of social structures — the aspects that persist over time — whereas extitutions focus on the dynamic and mutating elements of social structures — the aspects that continuously evolve over time. Both serve as filters to observe different aspects of the underlying social arrangements. This means that if we look at structured social dynamics only and exclusively through an institutional lens, we are only seeing one part of the larger picture. Extitutional theory provides an alternative lens — and the choice to use it is a normative decision to look at another part of the picture.” Read the following of the blogpost here. [...]
November 15, 2021View
Publications, ReportsA meta-proposal for Twitter’s bluesky projectEsber, J., Sender, B., Zuckerman, E., Lee, C., Nwachukwu, N., Ly, O., Suber, P., De Filippi, P., Massachi, S., Klein, S., Zick, T. (2021). A meta-proposal for Twitter’s bluesky project (March 31, 2021). [...]
November 15, 2021View
Publications, ReportsModel Law for DAOsThere are ongoing debates surrounding the legal status of DAOs, their participants and procedures. For example, how can an organization that is inherently transnational in nature, benefit from affordances such as legal personality and limited liability without incorporation in a single jurisdiction? Or conversely, how can legal requirements like “registration” & “reporting” be translated to an organization made of bits? This legal insecurity has significantly hampered the development and broader adoption of this new form of social organization. The DAO Model Law is a multistakeholder effort led by COALA (Coalition of Legal Automated Applications) to provide legal certainty for DAOs and their participants, and unlike other regulatory frameworks, accommodate flexibility for their unique features and further innovation. The Model Law seeks to strike a balance between the importance of innovation and experimental freedom in technological development, and the importance of legal protections and a sound regulatory framework in encouraging broader societal engagement with this new organizational structure. Who is the DAO Model Law aimed for? For policy-makers who wish to support the formation and management of DAOs, the DAO Model Law provides a harmonized model for legislation that still harnesses the unique properties of DAOs that make them alegal, or not currently seen by the legal system, in the first place. For instance, rather than seeking to draw DAOs within a territorial legal order, the Model Law emphasizes recognition by states, rather than registration in states, to accommodate the transnational nature of DAOs. It also combines extensive party autonomy for DAO members and separate legal personality for the DAO in order to facilitate, rather than hinder, pseudonymous participation and recognize that human-to-machine or machine-to-machine interactions can carry out valid legal acts. For participants in DAOs, the Model Law provides the benefits of legal personality, legal capacity and limited liability. Although no governmental authority could directly enforce the Model Law provisions onto a DAO, these benefits offer ample incentive to comply with the Model Law. The recognition of legal personhood for DAOs entails many rights and protections—such as the right to own assets, enter into contractual relationships, sue or be sued, and potentially benefit from a limited liability regime. Some will forgo legal recognition, preferring instead autonomy in their operation and governance. DAOs that seek legal personality and limited liability of its members might need to implement specific features and technological guarantees that accommodate important policy objectives, such as publicity about the formation and governance of business organizations. How does the DAO Model law work? The Model Law task force studied the provisions of corporate law, aiming for a light-touch approach to regulation based on the principles of functional and regulatory equivalence. Functional equivalences work as a pathway to establish the equivalence of an object that is already contemplated by legal rule and another that is not. Such equivalences broaden the means by which a regulated activity can be considered legally compliant. A well-known precedent is the UNCITRAL Model Law for Electronic Commerce, which establishes functional equivalence between a paper-based document and an electronic document. For the regulation of DAOs, the Model Law aims to establish functional equivalence between the transfer of corporate shares on the official company share registers and the use of blockchain-based infrastructure to achieve the same function. Regulatory equivalences work with a similar logic, identifying the policy objective behind any given regulation and how this same goal can be achieved through different means, in this case through the affordances of blockchain technology. To establish regulatory equivalence the Model Law holds that the publication of certain information on a publicly-accessible blockchain meets the publicity objective of corporate registration. Using these conceptual frameworks, the Model Law addresses the following points: Identification of legal corporate rules that can be fulfilled through technological guarantees in the blockchain space (e.g. smart-contract-based separation of funds, blockchain-enforced “corporate veil”, real-time audits and reporting, agency problem, etc. ) Discussions on the specificities of blockchain-based organisations that must be accounted for from a legal perspective(e.g. forking, protocol changes, etc.) and elaboration of techno-legal solutions to address these specificities. Identification of legal corporate rules that do not have a technical equivalent solution (e.g., KYC identification of all participants) and elaboration of techno-legal alternatives that better account for the technical guarantees of blockchain technology. Establishing the legal foundations of ‘regulatory equivalence’ — collecting previous examples of “functional equivalence” (e.g. the UNCITRAL electronic contracts) and “regulatory equivalence” (e.g. EU ‘principle-based’ regulatory approaches). The DAO Model Law draws on lessons from model laws for flexible business organizations (e.g., OAS Model Law for the Simplified Stock Corporation) to pursue specific objectives like the uniform treatment of DAOs across States—particularly with respect to recognizing the legal personality and/or limited liability of its members. It also considers a series of new scenarios that are not encountered during the ordinary operations of more traditional organisations, by setting out procedures for hard forking decisions and remedying technical bugs or exploits that would otherwise render the DAO unoperational. It stipulates a series of governance rules for handling exceptional events such as TheDAO attack and other contentious forks, thereby mitigating both public policy concerns regarding unaccountability and participant concerns about potential joint and several liability. What’s next? The task force has already identified ways to extend the Model Law moving forward. Through a series of case studies looking at current DAO governance models and their stakeholders, the Model Law might address common problems in corporate governance, such as agency problems and conflicts of interest among multiple stakeholders, by examining how blockchain addresses these issues that would otherwise be addressed by legal means. The Model Law might also identify functional equivalence between existing corporate governance requirements and the governance procedures of DAOs and their internal controls for decision-making, participation and funds management. In the coming months the task force hopes to engage a broad audience of people and diverse stakeholders in order to raise awareness on the topics addressed, foster discussions and collaborate on the model’s continuous evolution. With this first iteration, the goal was to convene legal scholars in blockchain to bridge the gap between a variety of existing and potential activities of DAOs and the various regulatory frameworks currently or yet to be implemented in different jurisdictions. But this is only the beginning of a much longer journey: the DAO Model Law will depend on ongoing exchanges between lawyers, technologists and eventually policy makers to thoughtfully address the fast-moving landscape of blockchain-based systems and achieve broad and participatory adoption. Read the DAO Model Law in full here. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at info@coala.global if you would like to learn more or contribute to the DAO Model Law project. Choi, C., De Filippi, P., Dudley, R., Elrifai, S., Fannizadeh, F., Guillaume, F., Leiter, A., Mannan, M., McMullen, G., Riva, S., Shimony O. (2021) [...]
November 15, 2021View
Publications, ReportsFinancial Inclusion through Fintech: Building Confidence and Encouraging Adoption of Emerging Technologies in BangladeshMannan, M. & Kamal, S. (2021) In Holla, N. & Kathura, V. (eds.) Regulating Cyberspace: Perspectives from the Private Sector in Asia. ORF and Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung, New Delhi. [...]
November 15, 2021View
Books, PublicationsPeer Governance in Online CommunitiesDe Filippi, P., Schneider, N. (eds.) (2021) Peer Governance in Online Communities. Frontiers in Blockchain. [...]
November 15, 2021View
Books, PublicationsGlossary of Distributed TechnologiesBodo, B., De Filippi, P., Scheuermann, B., Hassan, S., Fischer, A., Palmirani, M. (eds.) (2021) Glossary of Distributed Technologies. Internet Policy Review The glossary is a project of the Blockchain and Society Policy Research Lab at University of Amsterdam, in collaboration with the P2P Models project at Complutense University, the Weizenbaum Institute in Berlin, and the The Future of Distributed Governance project at CNRS. It is supported financially thanks to European Research Council grants. [...]
November 15, 2021View
Books, PublicationsBlockchains: enjeux de sécurité, juridiques, économiques, et coûts énergétiquesDe Filippi, P., Enguehard C., Fayon D., Gagnebien A., Vidal G. (eds) (2021) special edition on “Blockchains : enjeux de sécurité, juridiques, économiques, et coûts énergétiques” for Terminal. [...]
November 15, 2021View
Books, PublicationsCryptoart: The Paradox of Digital ScarcityDe Filippi, P. (eds) (2021) Special Issue on “Cryptoart: The Paradox of Digital Scarcity” in Technoetic Arts: A journal of speculative research [...]
November 15, 2021View
Books, PublicationsProlegomenon to Contemporary Ethics of Machine TranslationReijers, W., Dupont, Q. (2023) Prolegomenon to Contemporary Ethics of Machine Translation. In Escartin, C. and Moniz, H. Towards Responsible Machine Translation. Machine Translation: Technologies and Applications, vol 4. Heidelberg: Springer. Abstract Globalisation has triggered a proliferation of translation practises, many of which are mediated by machines. This development raises fundamental philosophical questions about language, writing, meaning, reference, and representation. This chapter builds a bridge between the ethics of machine translation and philosophy of technology. It starts by considering the activity of translation as such and argues that this is an inherently ethical activity because it involves sacrifice, establishes commonality between foreign elements, and invokes certain professional virtues. Consequently, the chapter asks what machines ‘do’ to translation practises, arguing that they fundamentally transform the activity of translation into the transcription of notations. This raises the philosophical questions of logocentrism, the extent to which machines translate the ‘presence’ of lived experience, and phonocentrism, the extent to which machines transcribe the spoken word. Based on this analysis, the chapter turns to three ethical questions that pertain to machine translation. The first is about responsibility: while machines rely on retrospective responsibility, can they deal with prospective responsibility in translation? The second is about hospitality: can machines adapt to foreign worlds without having the lived experience attached to these worlds? And the third is about virtue: can the exchangeability inherent to machine translation cohere with the incommensurability of the work of translation? More information here. [...]
November 15, 2021View
Books, PublicationsSolidarity in the Sharing Economy: The Role of Platform Cooperatives at the Base of the PyramidMannan, M., Pek, S. (2021) “Solidarity in the Sharing Economy: The Role of Platform Cooperatives at the Base of the Pyramid.” In: Qureshi I., Bhatt B., Shukla D.M. (eds) Sharing Economy at the Base of the Pyramid: Opportunities and Challenges. Springer, Singapore. [...]
November 15, 2021View
Books, PublicationsCooperatives: Local Businesses, Global LawsMannan, M. (2021) “Cooperatives: Local Businesses, Global Laws.” In: Lee S. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Public International Law in Asia (3 vols.). Brill, Leiden [...]
November 15, 2021View
Books, PublicationsDigital Assets, Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain TechnologyDe Filippi, P. (2021) “Digital Assets, Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain Technology” in “Fintech & Law”, FGV Direito São Paulo. (forthcoming) [...]
November 15, 2021View
Books, PublicationsLe Ius artificiale entre intériorité et boîte noire: Le droit de l’IA est-il soluble dans le droit?Aidan, G., De Filippi, P. (2022) “Le Ius artificiale entre intériorité et boîte noire : Le droit de l’IA est-il soluble dans le droit? » in Gentelet, K. (Ed.) “Social Justice & AI”, Laval University Press (forthcoming). [...]
November 15, 2021View
Books, PublicationsCompliance with FATF Recommendation 15: Prospects and Challenges of Adopting Emerging Technologies in BangladeshMannan, M., Gazi, S. (2022) “Compliance with FATF Recommendation 15: Prospects and Challenges of Adopting Emerging Technologies in Bangladesh” in Azinge-Egbiri, Esoimeme & Ryder (eds.) Global Anti-Money Laundering Standards: Errors in Transplantation and Unintended Consequences for Developing Countries, Oxford University Press (forthcoming) [...]
November 15, 2021View
Articles, PublicationsThe Alegality of Blockchain TechnologyDe Filippi, P., Mannan, M., Reijers, W. (2021) “The Alegality of Blockchain Technology”, in Policy & Society, special issue: “The Policy Dilemmas of Blockchain” (forthcoming) [...]
November 15, 2021View
Articles, PublicationsBlockchain in Outer SpaceDe Filippi, P., Leiter, A. (2021) “Blockchain in Outer Space” in American Journal of International Law (AJIL) Unbound, special issue: “The Global Governance Implications of Blockchain” Extract “Blockchain technology has spurred the emergence of powerful narratives to promote new ways of governing outer space. The list of proposed uses for blockchain applications in outer space is endless—from property registries for asteroid mining, to supply chain management systems, or interplanetary cryptocurrencies for the space economy—along with Elon Musk claiming that “SpaceX is going to put a literal Dogecoin on the literal moon.” Yet, thus far, none of these projects have gone beyond simple declarations or white papers, mostly due to the inherent limitations on the effective enforcement of blockchain-based rules outside of their own technical framework. In this essay, we argue that blockchain technology is relevant for outer space because it fosters novel narratives advancing possible futures characterized by new modes of governance. The strongest and most prominent of these narratives is the crypto-libertarian one, which draws heavily on the absence of a state, the sanctity of property, and the primacy of private ordering through decentralized markets. But there are other narratives proposed by relevant actors in the blockchain space that are dedicated to other modes of governance. By focusing on alternative narratives for blockchain technology, we illustrate how the possible applications of blockchain technology in outer space may extend beyond the current libertarian dreams, to support a more commons-based approach to outer space governance.” Read the following here. [...]
November 15, 2021View
Articles, PublicationsExtitutional Theory: Modeling Structured Social Dynamics Beyond InstitutionsDe Filippi, P., Santolini, M. (2021) “Extitutional Theory: Modeling Structured Social Dynamics Beyond Institutions” in Ephemera: Theory in Politics and Organisation (forthcoming). [...]
November 15, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsBlockchain, NFT and Metaverse in a Post-Pandemic WorldDe Filippi, P. “Blockchain, NFT and Metaverse in a Post-Pandemic World”, presentation for the Brand Week Istanbul conference organised by Kapital Media, 10 November 2021 (online) [...]
November 10, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsBlockchain Technology as a Catalyst for Blockchain InnovationDe Filippi, P. “Blockchain Technology as a Catalyst for Blockchain Innovation”, presentation for the “New Models of Urban Governance: Experimenting with Technology” session at the “In The City” conference organised by Strelka in St. Petersburg, Russia. 30 October 2021 (online) [...]
October 30, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsPublic Sector and Non-Profit Use Cases of Blockchain TechMannan, M. “Public Sector and Non-Profit Use Cases of Blockchain Tech”, panel presentation at e-Governance seminar of the International Blockchain Olympiad. Dhaka, Bangladesh, 9 October 2021 (online) [...]
October 9, 2021View
Conference Organizations, Events, Focus GroupsLegitimacy in the Metaverse: The Case of DecentralandDe Filippi, P., Mannan, M., Promoter and organizer of two Focus Groups on “Legitimacy in the Metaverse: The Case of Decentraland” as part of the ERC Blockchain Gov project. 10 September & 7 October 2021 (online). [...]
October 7, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsTowards a Legal Framework for Platform CooperativesMannan, M. “Towards a Legal Framework for Platform Cooperatives”, panel presentation at the first Global Forum on Democratizing Work. 6 October 2021 (online) Replay available here [...]
October 6, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsWho Owns the Metaverse? The Tokenization of EverythingDe Filippi, P. “Who Owns the Metaverse? The Tokenization of Everything”, talk at the King’s College London’s interdisciplinary seminar series on Blockchain Technology, 6 October 2021 (online) [...]
October 6, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsWho Owns the Metaverse?De Filippi, P. “Who Owns the Metaverse?” talk presentation for the 8th Hackers Congress Paralelní Polis (#HCPP21) organized by the Institute of Cryptoanarchy. Prague, Czech Republic. 1 October 2021 [...]
October 1, 2021View
Conference Organizations, Events, Reading GroupsBlockchain & LegitimacyPromoter and co-organiser of the seminar series on “Blockchain & Legitimacy” as part of the ERC Blockchain Gov project (bi-weekly reading group, running from July to Sept 2021). [...]
September 30, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsBlockchain GovernanceMannan, M. “Blockchain Governance”, talk presentation for the Max Weber Programme at the European University Institute. Fiesole, Italy. 29 September 2021 [...]
September 29, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsCreative NFTs: Using Blockchain Technology and NFTs to Support Creative CommonsDe Filippi, P. “Creative NFTs: Using Blockchain Technology and NFTs to Support Creative Commons”, talk presentation at the Creative Commons Global Summit 2021. 23 September 2021 (online) [...]
September 23, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsWill the Revolution be Tokenized? Assessing Blockchain’s Promise and Progress in the Public SphereDe Filippi, P. “Will the Revolution be Tokenized? Assessing Blockchain’s Promise and Progress in the Public Sphere”, panel presentation at the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum 2021. 15 September 2021 (online) Decentralised technologies are emerging as an important feature in the next evolution of the digital economy, and the foundation on which many beneficial new products, services and markets could be built, from new forms of finance to novel governance models and means for social connection. At the same time, successive waves of blockchain innovation have demonstrated the need to fully reflect the legal rights and responsibilities of participants – and the expectations of wider society – in these networks, the activities they support and the governance structures that have sprung up around them. The lack of geographic boundaries in decentralised systems, and the global nature of digital markets more broadly, have made cooperation between countries crucial. Establishing approaches, practices and frameworks to guide blockchain towards responsible and trustworthy innovation is an imperative for business and a priority for governments – and an important precondition to widespread use in the future. The fifth edition of the OECD’s annual Global Blockchain Policy Forum brought together policy makers, innovators and thought leaders to address key challenges and promote action towards this goal, including with the launch the OECD Recommendation on Blockchain and Other DLT – the world’s first government-endorsed policy standard on blockchain technology. [...]
September 15, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsTeaching and Training in Data EthicsReijers, W. “Teaching and Training in Data Ethics” presented at Teaching Data Science for Non-Data Scientists and Data Ethics for Non-Ethicists at the Hertie School, Berlin. 19-20 August 2021 This workshop, which is sponsored by APSIA, the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs, brings together academic instructors from data science and philosophy to address neglected issues on both sides of the data science curriculum. The workshop facilitates a knowledge exchange and aims to thereby improve teaching strategies, develop teaching materials and reflect on the topical priorities. All participants in the workshop teach their subject to outsiders of their field. But all are united in the belief that to train the next generation of data science practitioners and researchers, we need to develop ways of teaching data science and data ethics that integrate “the other side of the picture”. Over two afternoons, we will discuss how to teach applied ethics for non-ethicists and data science for non-data-scientists. We will focus on key materials and topics for both areas, scenarios, and case studies. Recap of the Workshop [...]
August 20, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsLegal Challenges of NFTs as Applied to the Art WorldDe Filippi, P. “Legal Challenges of NFTs as Applied to the Art World” presented at EthCC 4 (Ethereum Community Conference). 22 July 2021 (Paris) [...]
July 22, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsBlockchain is a Platypus: A New Theory of Rapid Technological EvolutionDe Filippi, P., Lane, A., Potts, J. “Blockchain is a Platypus: A New Theory of Rapid Technological Evolution” presented at the 18th ISS Conference organised by the International Joseph Schumpeter Society on “Schumpeterian perspective on Radical Change: Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and Broad Societal Transformations”. 8-10 July 2021. [...]
July 10, 2021View
Conference Organizations, Events, Reading GroupsBlockchain, Trust, and ConfidencePromoter and co-organiser of the seminar series on “Blockchain, Trust, and Confidence” as part of the ERC Blockchain Gov project (bi-weekly reading group, running from Jan to June 2021). [...]
June 30, 2021View
Conference Organizations, Events, Reading GroupsExtitutional TheoryPromoter and co-organiser of the working group on “Extitutional Theory” at the Berkman-Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, as part of the ERC Blockchain Gov project (weekly reading group, running weekly from Jan to June 2021). [...]
June 30, 2021View
Misc, TeachingLegal Aspects of MediaMannan, M., Module “Legal Aspects of Media” — Master in Critical Media Studies at Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia (20 hours), May/June 2021. N.B. Lectures, among other things, covered governance of media industries by blockchain technologies. [...]
June 30, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsThe Promises and Pitfalls of Platform Cooperative Governance: A Qualitative StudyMannan, M. (with Pek, S.) “The Promises and Pitfalls of Platform Cooperative Governance: A Qualitative Study”, paper presentation for International Co-operative Governance Symposium, Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Canada. 18 June 2021 (online) The 2021 International Co-operative Governance Symposium was an online gathering attended by over 100 delegates, including over 60 presenters from a dozen countries. The symposium discussed pressing issues in co-operative governance, with presentations on various co-operative models and practices from around the world. The symposium emphasized the co-op difference and alternatives to standard corporate governance approaches. The event also included debates on co-op professionalization, governance innovations, and ideal legislative and regulatory regimes. Recap here! [...]
June 18, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsBlockchains and Crypto-Commons: Community Governance Through Decentralized SystemsDe Filippi, P. “Blockchains and Crypto-Commons: Community Governance Through Decentralized Systems” panel presentation for the session “Are Blockchain Commons Actually a Commons?” at the IASC 2021 Knowledge Commons Conference. 10 June 2021 (online). A three-day virtual conference will be held to discuss issues related to knowledge systems such as innovation spaces, digital resources, open-source software development, and education. The conference will address both the opportunities and challenges associated with these systems, including low costs of sharing and collaboration, as well as privacy, security, inequality, and biases. The conference will also explore the role of knowledge commons in addressing the consequences of COVID-19, which is considered the most serious global pandemic in over a century. Official Website [...]
June 10, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsTowards a Legal Framework for Platform Cooperatives: Potential and ObstaclesMannan, M., “Towards a Legal Framework for Platform Cooperatives: Potential and Obstacles”, paper presented at Virtual Expert Group Meeting on The Role of Cooperatives in Economic and Social Development: Recover Better from the COVID-19 Pandemic organised by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and International Co-operative Alliance. 4 June 2021. [...]
June 4, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsWhy Blockchain Governance Matters for BangladeshMannan, M., “Why Blockchain Governance Matters for Bangladesh”, presented at Blockchain Economy Summit 2021: The Upcoming Impact of Blockchain in Bangladesh, organized by FASSET and Inspiring Bangladesh, sponsored by the ICT Division of the Government of Bangladesh. 25 May 2021 (online). [...]
May 25, 2021View
Conference Presentations, Events, Focus GroupsAsia Pacific PerspectivesMannan, M., “Asia Pacific Perspectives”, presented at “International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) Consultation on Cooperative Law” for UN Secretary General Report on Cooperatives in Social Development 2021, organized by the International Co-operative Alliance and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. 24 May 2021 (online). [...]
May 24, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsGenerative & Autonomous Art – Protocols: Implications for Copyright LawDe Filippi, P. “Generative & Autonomous Art – Protocols: Implications for Copyright Law” presented at the International Conference on AI Art organized by the College of Design & Innovation at Tongji University. 20 May 2021 (online) [...]
May 20, 2021View
Conference Organizations, EventsBlockchain Perspectives Joint Research Initiative Interdisciplinary WorkshopPromoter and co-organizer of the “Blockchain Perspectives Joint Research Initiative Interdisciplinary Workshop“, organized by CNAM and CERSA. May 18-19, 2021 (Château du Fey, France). [...]
May 19, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsSelf-Sovereign Identity, Trust in Next-Generation InternetDe Filippi, P., “Self-Sovereign Identity in a Globalized World: Credentials-Based Identity Systems as a Driver for Economic Inclusion“, presented at the seminar “Self-Sovereign Identity, Trust in Next-Generation Internet” organized by the European Commission, DG-Connect. 17 May 2021 (online). [...]
May 17, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsHow to Make the Perfect Citizen? Lessons From China’s Social Credit SystemReijers, W., “How to Make the Perfect Citizen? Lessons From China’s Social Credit System” GlobalCit Seminar at the European University Institute. 13 May, 2021 (online). [...]
May 13, 2021View
Conference Presentations, Events, Focus GroupsSocial Credit System: China and the WestReijers, W., European Parliament’s expert consultation on ”Social Credit System: China and the West”, organised by the AIDA Committee rapporteur Mr Axel Voss. 30 April 2021. [...]
April 30, 2021View
Conference Organizations, EventsExtitutional Theory and PracticePromoter and organiser of the seminar “Extitutional Theory and Practice” organized as part of the ERC Blockchain Gov project, in collaboration with COALA. April 19th – 23rd, 2021 (Château du Fey, France). [...]
April 23, 2021View
Conference Organizations, EventsLegitimacy & NFTsPromoter and organiser of the Blockchain Workshop “Legitimacy & NFTs” organized as part of the BPJRI and ERC Blockchain Gov project, in collaboration with CNAM, CNRS and COALA. April 19th – 23rd, 2021 (Château du Fey, France). [...]
April 23, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsMake Your Own Economy: The Tokenization of EverythingDe Filippi, P., “Make Your Own Economy: The Tokenization of Everything” presentation at the Center for Innovation, Technology and Organisation (CITO) Lecture at University College Dublin. April 13th, 2021 (online). [...]
April 13, 2021View
Conference Organizations, EventsBlockchain, Imaginaires religieux et ThéologiePromoter and co-organiser of “Blockchain, Imaginaires religieux et Théologie”, organized by le Collège des Bernardins. March 17 & 31, 2021 (online). [...]
March 31, 2021View
Conference Organizations, EventsLa blockchain : enjeux juridiques, économiques, de sécurité et de coûts énergétiquesCo-organiser of a workshop on “La blockchain : enjeux juridiques, économiques, de sécurité et de coûts énergétiques” organised by CERSA and LITEM, in collaboration with CREIS-Terminal. 26 March 2021 (online). [...]
March 26, 2021View
Misc, TeachingBlockchain and Legal ChallengesDe Filippi, P., Module “Blockchain and Legal Challenges” — Master in Financial Regulation at Externado University, Colombia (8 hours), 25-26 Feb 2021. [...]
February 26, 2021View
Conference Organizations, EventsTheorizing Extitutions : Faites Rhizome et pas Racine!Promoter and organiser of the seminar “Theorizing Extitutions : Faites Rhizome et pas Racine!” organized as part of the ERC Blockchain Gov project, in collaboration with COALA. Feb 15th – 20th, 2021. (Château du Fey, France). [...]
February 20, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsSocial Credit: The Circulation of Reputational ValueReijers, W., “Social Credit: The Circulation of Reputational Value” CITO lecture at University College Dublin. 2 February 2021 (online). [...]
February 2, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsSharing is Caring: Legal & Technical Frameworks for Data SharingDe Filippi, P.: “Sharing is Caring: Legal & Technical Frameworks for Data Sharing”, presented at session on “Data Governance Act: Data protection meets competition, IP rights, and innovation” of the Computer Privacy Data Protection (CPDP) conference. 27-29 January 2021 (online). [...]
January 29, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsExtitutions and Institutional InnovationDe Filippi, P.: “Extitutions and Institutional Innovation” presented at the CODEX Blockchain Law and Policy Symposium, organized by the University of Stanford. 26-27 January 2021 (online). [...]
January 27, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsData as Infrastructure and Infrastructure for Data-SharingDe Filippi, P.: “Data as Infrastructure and Infrastructure for Data-Sharing” presented at the “Data and Policy Seminar” of the Next-Generation Internet (NGI) initiative of the European Commission. 20 January 2021 (online). [...]
January 20, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsBlockchain Technology and Financial Regulation: A Risk-Based Approach to the Regulation of ICOsCollomb, A., De Filippi, P.: “Blockchain Technology and Financial Regulation: A Risk-Based Approach to the Regulation of ICOs” presented in the framework of a research lecture series on “Financial Technologies” organised by the EU-funded “FinTech Risk Management project”. 8 January 2021 (online). [...]
January 8, 2021View
Conference Presentations, EventsBlockchain as a Confidence Machine: The Problem of Trust and Challenges of GovernanceDe Filippi, P., Mannan, M., Reijers, W.: “Blockchain as a Confidence Machine: The Problem of Trust and Challenges of Governance” presented at the seminar on “Trust & Regulatory Governance in the Age of Crisis” organised by TIGRE (Trust in governance and Regulation in Europe). 7 January 2021 (online). [...]
January 7, 2021View

Research Report – Blockchain Constitutionalism: The Role Of Legitimacy In Polycentric Systems

Alessandro Longo October 26, 2023

Research Report – Blockchain Constitutionalism: The Role Of Legitimacy In Polycentric Systems Primavera de Filippi, Morshed Mannan, Kelsie Nabben, Jamilya Kamalova, Sofia Cossar, Tara Merk, Silke Noa, Marco Crepaldi, Joshua Dávila. Between 5 and 7 June 2023, BlockchainGov organized a conference on “Blockchain Constitutionalism: The Role of Legitimacy in Polycentric Systems” at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European

September 2023 Papers Update

Alessandro Longo September 11, 2023

September 2023 Papers Update Our team has been keeping busy with a variety of research projects, focus groups, and initiatives, analyzing from different perspectives the evolution of the blockchain space! It’s been a while since we last updated our website with these exciting developments, so we wanted to share some of the latest happenings with you. Here you can find

Compliant Book-Keeping for DAOs through “Proof of Trusted Origin:” A Technical Guide

Jamilya Kamalova May 8, 2023

Isaac Patka, Sofia Cossar, Eric Alston, Primavera De Filippi, Frederick Dudley, Fatemeh Fannizadeh, Jake Hartnell, Rolf Hoefer, Aaron Lane, Will Papper, Joshua Tan, & Michael Zargham The Problem As novel organizational and socio-technical architectures, Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) continue proliferating. Even after a somewhat turbulent 2022 for the blockchain industry, recent reports show that DAOs have continued growing exponentially in

OTNS: Institutional Design and Recognizing the Value of Politics

Jamilya Kamalova April 21, 2023

Overthrowing the Network States: “Institutional Design and Recognizing the Value of Politics” with Jason Potts For the first time of the series, Primavera de Filippi and The Blockchain Socialist welcome a fan of Balaji. Jason Potts is a professor of economics but also the co-director of the blockchain innovation hub of RMIT. We discussed his dissatisfaction with the book, the

The BlockchainGov Newsletter #3 | April 21st, 2023

Jamilya Kamalova April 21, 2023

The latest edition of the BlockchainGov Newsletter is out!This edition covers a wide range of topics, such as the recent research papers published by BlockchainGov members, upcoming events, the various participation of all the researchers, and more. Read it here Don’t forget to subscribe not to miss the next ones. They will be published quarterly. Subscribe on LinkedIn!

OTNS: Maximum Freedom in Complex Social Organizations

Jamilya Kamalova April 4, 2023

New episode of Overthrowing The Network State (OTNS) online! This time, Primavera De Filippi and The Blockchain Socialist are joined by Eric Alston, a researcher at BlockScience and Scholar-in-Residence at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder. Eric’s work focuses on the study of institutions, with particular emphasis on property, constitutions, and blockchains. During the interview,

Overthrowing The Network State: How to Optimize for Reality

Jamilya Kamalova March 27, 2023

Overthrowing The Network State: “How to optimize for reality?” with Michael Zargham We are thrilled to announce the newest episode of Overthrowing The Network State (OTNS), featuring Michael Zargham, the CEO of Block Science. The Blockchain Socialist, Primavera De Filippi, and their guest continue their efforts to overthrow the ontological framework of network states from the perspective of complex systems

Overthrowing The Network State: Dictatorship by Tech CEO with Nathan Schneider

Jamilya Kamalova March 13, 2023

Overthrowing The Network State: Dictatorship by Tech CEO with Nathan Schneider Overthrowing The Network State: Dictatorship by Tech CEO with Nathan Schneider We are excited to announce the 6th episode of Overthrowing The Network State (OTNS) featuring returning guest Nathan Schneider, who joins The Blockchain Socialist and Primavera de Filippi, to discuss his experience at ETH Denver and the limitations

Overthrowing The Network State: Colonize the Memes, the Narratives, and the Land

Jamilya Kamalova March 7, 2023

Overthrowing The Network State: Colonize the Memes, the Narratives, and the Land Check out the latest episode of Overthrowing the Network State (OTNS)! In this episode, Primavera de Filippi and Morshed Mannan joined The Blockchain Socialist to speak with Raymond Craib, a historian of modern Latin America and author of Adventure Capitalism: A History of Libertarian Exit, from the Era

Overthrowing The Network State: Untangling Balaji’s Helical Theory of History

Jamilya Kamalova February 28, 2023

Overthrowing The Network State: Untangling Balaji’s Helical Theory of History Be sure not to miss the latest Overthrowing the Network State (OTNS) episode! Technology historian Quinn DuPont joins the Blockchain Socialist and Keslie Nabben to discuss his recent critiques of TNS at the Commons Stack Unconference and his article on A Progressive Web3. Together, they delve into Balaji’s misinterpretations of