The book The Blockchain Scholars Book, brings together leading international research on blockchain. It has been written in a format designed specifically for executives and decision-makers in financial services and related sectors.

From academic research to management insights

Blockchain research is highly interdisciplinary, drawing on economics, finance, computer science, law and organisational studies. As a result, academic publications are often difficult to access for readers outside a specific field. In addition, lengthy journal articles are not always convenient given the time constraints of senior executives. To address this gap, Trimborn and his co-editor Daniel Liebau invited authors of influential academic papers with clear industry relevance to write concise, accessible chapters aimed at practitioners. The result is a collection of 26 executive-oriented chapters, complemented by introductory chapters written by the editors. These introductions frame the 4 main themes of the book and guide readers through the broader blockchain landscape.

Four key themes in the blockchain ecosystem

The book focuses on 4 areas that are particularly relevant for financial services executives. The first part, Tokenomics and Digital Platforms, explores the economic foundations of distributed ledger technology. The second part, Markets, examines the dynamics of both centralised finance and decentralised finance. The third part, Privacy, discusses the cryptographic building blocks that enable secure blockchain-based transactions and are essential for large-scale adoption of Web3. The final part addresses Decentralised Autonomous Organisations (DAO), highlighting both their potential benefits and their organisational limits and risks.

While The Blockchain Scholars Book was written to make academic research better accessible for senior executives, the short and contribution-focused chapters make for a research collection allowing anyone to keep up to speed with high-impact research in blockchain.

Positive reception and endorsements

The book has already attracted attention within the financial sector. Ahead of publication, 5 senior executives from Deutsche Börse, Kepler Cheuvreux, Gibson Dunn, Zühlke Group, and the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association reviewed the book and provided testimonials.

Thomas Book, Deutsche Boerse AG Executive Board member said ‘Blockchain technology will revolutionise traditional financial markets beyond our imagination. Dan Liebau and Simon Trimborn offer fascinating insights into this profound transformation - a highly recommended and inspiring read!’. Stefan Grasmann, Partner and Group Head of Thought Leadership at Zühlke Group thinks “In an era of geopolitical tension, DAOs offer a new way to organise globally. This book captures both their promise and their limits – insight we urgently need as they move from experiment to institution.’

Book launch in Amsterdam

Several book launch events are planned. The Amsterdam launch will take place in collaboration with the Holland FinTech Association at the offices of the law firm Stibbe.