Master's Thesis from the year 2021 in the subject Business economics - Miscellaneous, grade: Merit, University of Salford, course: International Business, language: English, abstract: The research aimed to analyse the impact of blockchain technology on international trade and find out how blockchain technology can improve the various fields of international trade. The research also intended to find the challenges regarding the implementation of blockchain technology in international trade to help companies achieve successful collaboration and understand what requirements need to be met in advance. The literature review of this research covered the fundamentals of blockchain technology, blockchain's role in facilitating supply chain and trade finance, the impact and adoption of blockchain technology, and blockchain implementation's key challenges. A qualitative approach was used based on 12 semi-structured in-depth interviews with ten companies operating in different business fields and two blockchain specialists to obtain empirical data. This research found that blockchain technology has significantly impacted international trade by improving supply chain efficiency, reducing the complexity of the paper-based trade process, and enabling faster cross-border payments. The empirical findings presented that blockchain can facilitate the supply chain by providing a high level of transparency and better product traceability. Furthermore, the findings showed that smart contracts could facilitate trade finance by providing automatic payments and eliminating intermediaries and blockchain-based ICOs could be a great fundraising option for innovative projects. However, this research also found that the large-scale implementation of blockchain in trade finance is still not possible due to government regulations. Blockchain technology ensures to transform the supply chain and trade finance and reduce the complexity of the current international trade process. However, some critical challenges are associated with blockchain implementation, and some essential requirements need to be met in advance for successful implementation, which was discussed in this research. Furthermore, several suggestions regarding the large-scale implementation of blockchain in trade finance were presented. The empirical findings will help companies develop their adoption strategies and prepare to implement the technology in the trade process. Furthermore, the findings of this research can bring new insight into the policymaking process regarding the implementation of blockchain in trade finance.

Since its inception, blockchain has evolved to become a crucial trending technology that massively impacts the fast-paced digital world. It has been a game-changing technology that is underpinned with cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Bitcoin that eventually closed the doors for hacking activities. As blockchain is utilized across areas such as banking, voting, finance, healthcare, and manufacturing, it is important to examine the current trends, difficulties, opportunities, and future directions in order to utilize its full potential. Blockchain Technologies and Applications for Digital Governance addresses the impacts and future trends of blockchain, particularly for digital governance, and demonstrates the applications of blockchain in digital governance using case studies. Covering a range of topics from cybersecurity to real estate tokenization, it is ideal for industry professionals, researchers, academicians, instructors, practitioners, and students.

Trade has always been shaped by technological innovation. In recent times, a new technology, Blockchain, has been greeted by many as the next big game-changer. Can Blockchain revolutionize international trade? This publication seeks to demystify the Blockchain phenomenon by providing a basic explanation of the technology. It analyses the relevance of this technology for international trade by reviewing how it is currently used or can be used in the various areas covered by WTO rules. In doing so, it provides an insight into the extent to which this technology could affect cross-border trade in goods and services, and intellectual property rights. It discusses the potential of Blockchain for reducing trade costs and enhancing supply chain transparency as well as the opportunities it provides for small-scale producers and companies. Finally, it reviews various challenges that must be addressed before the technology can be used on a wide scale and have a significant impact on international trade.

Nobody can deny the importance of currency in the financial or economic world. With the advancements in technology, there was a need for some digital way to store data. Then Blockchain arrived and changed the thinking of people and businesses. Yes, Blockchain is definitely a breakthrough in the digital financial world and it is going to be the stronger technology for future generations. Big companies, as well as businesses, have felt the importance of this new technology. That is why many of the biggest organizations, business owners and businesses are focusing on Blockchain. They also think that this is going to be the front line method to transfer or send money from one place of the world to the other place within a few seconds. There is no doubt that Blockchain has already made great changes in the financial as well as the other fields of the world. In the future, it is expected to grow more and surely its future is bright.

Blockchain technology is one of the most talked about topics in the sphere of information technology as well as in the facilitation of electronic business. The cryptocurrency Blockchain applications are well known and well-publicized, however, this technology has the potential to influence the way that we do business today, as its use expands to new areas. Blockchain, which is one form of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), offers opportunities to increase the reliability and security of trade transactions. The repetition of data among multiple ledgers in a network, as well as the immutability of information after it has been integrated into the Blockchain, can increase levels of confidence for both traders and regulators.

Besides love, money and health are the most valuable human yearnings. Therefore, blockchain technology is paramount: a new foundation of confidence for human valuable transactions. Like information sharing was catalyzed on the pre-blockchain internet, transactions are now triggered on the new internet of value. In this second digital inflection point, economic media encompasses value beside information, and individuals can privately transact digital assets for the first time in history. Decentralized but structured organizations running on blockchain networks reduce transaction costs and are particularly competitive insofar as they guarantee data authenticity, confidentiality, and integrity, providing functional autonomy with disintermediation and smart contracts. Everything changed after user data were made public on the internet and privately traded by big tech companies, and nothing will be the same once that data is made private on the internet and publicly transacted by their rightful owners. While the internet of information reshaped the world, the internet of value will reform it, and everything will depend politically on this being done freely. Political and Economic Implications of Blockchain Technology in Business and Healthcare provides relevant theoretical frameworks on the civilizational impact of blockchain technology, which redesigns human interactions concerning value transactions. It gives ideas, concepts, and instruments to advance the knowledge on cryptoeconomics and decentralized governance in the new distributed trust paradigm. The chapters explore the ethical repercussions and profound political-economic consequences to society, providing insights into business applications focusing on the healthcare sector. In a blockchain era affected by the post-COVID-19 new normal, which mixes politics, economics, and health, this book is essential for students and researchers in social and life sciences; professionals and policymakers working in the fields of public and business administration; and healthcare workers and researchers, academicians, and students interested in blockchain technology and its political and economic impacts in the industry and society.