A comparative study of token offering mechanisms ICOs vs. STOs

A comparative study of token offering mechanisms ICOs vs. STOs

Author: Nico Dambmann

Publisher: GRIN Verlag

Published: 2021-07-30

Total Pages: 41

ISBN-13: 3346453960

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Bachelor Thesis from the year 2021 in the subject Business economics - Investment and Finance, grade: 1,7, University of Frankfurt (Main), language: English, abstract: A token offering is a novel mechanism that enables firms to raise funding by issuing tokens to external investors. Tokens are digital assets that are cryptographically secured and based on distributed ledger technology (DLT), whereas blockchain technology is the most prevalent type of DLT. Depending on the type of token issued in a token offering, one can distinguish between initial token offerings (ICOs) and security token offerings (STOs). Utility and currency tokens are issued in ICOs, security tokens are issued in STOs. Both mechanisms differ in their degree of regulation as STOs fall under much stricter securities regulations. Fundraising mechanisms are a prime topic in finance literature as firms require capital to grow, and there is fierce competition for capital. Initial work examining token offerings predominantly provides studies focusing ICOs. However, there is a lack of studies focusing on STOs, with the exception of Lambert et al. (2020). I seek to extend the finance literature by focusing on both ICOs, and STOs. Hence, I provide a comparative analysis of both fundraising mechanisms: ICOs vs. STOs.


Book Synopsis A comparative study of token offering mechanisms ICOs vs. STOs by : Nico Dambmann

Download or read book A comparative study of token offering mechanisms ICOs vs. STOs written by Nico Dambmann and published by GRIN Verlag. This book was released on 2021-07-30 with total page 41 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bachelor Thesis from the year 2021 in the subject Business economics - Investment and Finance, grade: 1,7, University of Frankfurt (Main), language: English, abstract: A token offering is a novel mechanism that enables firms to raise funding by issuing tokens to external investors. Tokens are digital assets that are cryptographically secured and based on distributed ledger technology (DLT), whereas blockchain technology is the most prevalent type of DLT. Depending on the type of token issued in a token offering, one can distinguish between initial token offerings (ICOs) and security token offerings (STOs). Utility and currency tokens are issued in ICOs, security tokens are issued in STOs. Both mechanisms differ in their degree of regulation as STOs fall under much stricter securities regulations. Fundraising mechanisms are a prime topic in finance literature as firms require capital to grow, and there is fierce competition for capital. Initial work examining token offerings predominantly provides studies focusing ICOs. However, there is a lack of studies focusing on STOs, with the exception of Lambert et al. (2020). I seek to extend the finance literature by focusing on both ICOs, and STOs. Hence, I provide a comparative analysis of both fundraising mechanisms: ICOs vs. STOs.

Decentralizing the Future

Decentralizing the Future

Author: Raunak Bhatt

Publisher: The Write Order Publication

Published: 2024-06-18

Total Pages: 265

ISBN-13: 9357762914

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About the book : Are you curious about the world of blockchain and cryptocurrencies? Look no further! This comprehensive book delves into the history and evolution of blockchain technology, as well as the different types of cryptocurrencies and consensus mechanisms that exist today. From exploring smart contract platforms like Ethereum to diving into decentralized finance and security tokens, you'll gain a deep understanding of the exciting world of blockchain and its endless possibilities. The book also covers real-world applications of blockchain in fields such as supply chain management, cybersecurity, gaming, and the music industry. And don't miss out on the fascinating discussion of the metaverse and its potential to revolutionize the way we live, work, and play in a virtual world. Get ready to be inspired and amazed by the future of decentralized technology!"


Book Synopsis Decentralizing the Future by : Raunak Bhatt

Download or read book Decentralizing the Future written by Raunak Bhatt and published by The Write Order Publication. This book was released on 2024-06-18 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: About the book : Are you curious about the world of blockchain and cryptocurrencies? Look no further! This comprehensive book delves into the history and evolution of blockchain technology, as well as the different types of cryptocurrencies and consensus mechanisms that exist today. From exploring smart contract platforms like Ethereum to diving into decentralized finance and security tokens, you'll gain a deep understanding of the exciting world of blockchain and its endless possibilities. The book also covers real-world applications of blockchain in fields such as supply chain management, cybersecurity, gaming, and the music industry. And don't miss out on the fascinating discussion of the metaverse and its potential to revolutionize the way we live, work, and play in a virtual world. Get ready to be inspired and amazed by the future of decentralized technology!"

Tokenomics

Tokenomics

Author: Sean Au

Publisher: Packt Publishing Ltd

Published: 2018-10-08

Total Pages: 487

ISBN-13: 1789132606

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Explore the differences between ICOs, cryptocurrencies, and tokens (offerings), enabling the reader to understand the ICO landscape, how millions were raised in minutes, and where the future of the tokenized economy is heading. Take a real-time journey, cutting through the myths, understanding token choices available to everyone. Key FeaturesInterviews with key figures in TokenomicsUnbiased evaluation and comparison of the different offeringsConceptual analysis of the market’s reactionLeague table showing current exposureAn account of the theoretical and current legal foundations of alt coins and tokensA complete introduction to the phases of an initial coin offeringBook Description Tokenomics is the economy of this new world. This is a no-holds-barred, in-depth exploration of the way in which we can participate in the blockchain economy. The reader will learn the basics of bitcoin, blockchains, and tokenomics; what the very first ICO was; and how over a period of 5 years, various projects managed to raise the enormous sums of money they did. The book then provides insights from ICO experts and looks at what the future holds. By comparing the past, current, and future of this technology, the book will inform anyone, whatever motivates their interest. The crypto shift of blockchains, ICOs, and tokens is much more than just buying bitcoins, creating tokens, or raising millions in a minute in an ICO. It is a new paradigm shift from centralized to decentralized, from closed to open, and from opaqueness to transparency. ICOs and the creation of tokens during the craze of 2017 needed a lot of preparation, an understanding of cryptocurrencies and of emerging legal frameworks, but this has spurred a new movement to tokenize the world. The author gives an unbiased, authoritative picture of the current playing field, exploring the token opportunities and provides a unique insight into the developing world of this tokenized economy. This book will nourish hungry minds wanting to grow their knowledge in this fascinating area. What you will learnThe background of ICOs and how they came to beThe difference between a coin and a token, a utility and a security, and all the other acronyms you’re likely to ever encounterHow these ICOs raised enormous sums of moneyTokenomics: structuring the token with creativityWhy it’s important to play nicely with the regulatorsA sneak peak into the future of ICOs from leaders in the industryWho this book is for With the media hype about bitcoin, this book appeals to anyone, from those with a general interest in anything crypto, or those with some knowledge of the nuances between cryptocurrency, ICOs, IPOs and the Token economy.


Book Synopsis Tokenomics by : Sean Au

Download or read book Tokenomics written by Sean Au and published by Packt Publishing Ltd. This book was released on 2018-10-08 with total page 487 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Explore the differences between ICOs, cryptocurrencies, and tokens (offerings), enabling the reader to understand the ICO landscape, how millions were raised in minutes, and where the future of the tokenized economy is heading. Take a real-time journey, cutting through the myths, understanding token choices available to everyone. Key FeaturesInterviews with key figures in TokenomicsUnbiased evaluation and comparison of the different offeringsConceptual analysis of the market’s reactionLeague table showing current exposureAn account of the theoretical and current legal foundations of alt coins and tokensA complete introduction to the phases of an initial coin offeringBook Description Tokenomics is the economy of this new world. This is a no-holds-barred, in-depth exploration of the way in which we can participate in the blockchain economy. The reader will learn the basics of bitcoin, blockchains, and tokenomics; what the very first ICO was; and how over a period of 5 years, various projects managed to raise the enormous sums of money they did. The book then provides insights from ICO experts and looks at what the future holds. By comparing the past, current, and future of this technology, the book will inform anyone, whatever motivates their interest. The crypto shift of blockchains, ICOs, and tokens is much more than just buying bitcoins, creating tokens, or raising millions in a minute in an ICO. It is a new paradigm shift from centralized to decentralized, from closed to open, and from opaqueness to transparency. ICOs and the creation of tokens during the craze of 2017 needed a lot of preparation, an understanding of cryptocurrencies and of emerging legal frameworks, but this has spurred a new movement to tokenize the world. The author gives an unbiased, authoritative picture of the current playing field, exploring the token opportunities and provides a unique insight into the developing world of this tokenized economy. This book will nourish hungry minds wanting to grow their knowledge in this fascinating area. What you will learnThe background of ICOs and how they came to beThe difference between a coin and a token, a utility and a security, and all the other acronyms you’re likely to ever encounterHow these ICOs raised enormous sums of moneyTokenomics: structuring the token with creativityWhy it’s important to play nicely with the regulatorsA sneak peak into the future of ICOs from leaders in the industryWho this book is for With the media hype about bitcoin, this book appeals to anyone, from those with a general interest in anything crypto, or those with some knowledge of the nuances between cryptocurrency, ICOs, IPOs and the Token economy.

Introducing Ethereum and Solidity

Introducing Ethereum and Solidity

Author: Chris Dannen

Publisher: Apress

Published: 2017-03-16

Total Pages: 197

ISBN-13: 148422535X

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Learn how to use Solidity and the Ethereum project – second only to Bitcoin in market capitalization. Blockchain protocols are taking the world by storm, and the Ethereum project, with its Turing-complete scripting language Solidity, has rapidly become a front-runner. This book presents the blockchain phenomenon in context; then situates Ethereum in a world pioneered by Bitcoin. See why professionals and non-professionals alike are honing their skills in smart contract patterns and distributed application development. You'll review the fundamentals of programming and networking, alongside its introduction to the new discipline of crypto-economics. You'll then deploy smart contracts of your own, and learn how they can serve as a back-end for JavaScript and HTML applications on the Web. Many Solidity tutorials out there today have the same flaw: they are written for “advanced” JavaScript developers who want to transfer their skills to a blockchain environment. Introducing Ethereum and Solidity is accessible to technology professionals and enthusiasts of all levels. You’ll find exciting sample code that can move forward real world assets in both the academic and the corporate arenas. Find out now why this book is a powerful gateway for creative technologists of all types, from concept to deployment. What You’ll Learn See how Ethereum (and other cryptocurrencies) work Compare distributed apps (dapps) to web apps Write Ethereum smart contracts in Solidity Connect Ethereum smart contracts to your HTML/CSS/JavaScript web applications Deploy your own dapp, coin, and blockchain Work with basic and intermediate smart contracts Who This Book Is For Anyone who is curious about Ethereum or has some familiarity with computer science Product managers, CTOs, and experienced JavaScript programmers Experts will find the advanced sample projects in this book rewarding because of the power of Solidity


Book Synopsis Introducing Ethereum and Solidity by : Chris Dannen

Download or read book Introducing Ethereum and Solidity written by Chris Dannen and published by Apress. This book was released on 2017-03-16 with total page 197 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Learn how to use Solidity and the Ethereum project – second only to Bitcoin in market capitalization. Blockchain protocols are taking the world by storm, and the Ethereum project, with its Turing-complete scripting language Solidity, has rapidly become a front-runner. This book presents the blockchain phenomenon in context; then situates Ethereum in a world pioneered by Bitcoin. See why professionals and non-professionals alike are honing their skills in smart contract patterns and distributed application development. You'll review the fundamentals of programming and networking, alongside its introduction to the new discipline of crypto-economics. You'll then deploy smart contracts of your own, and learn how they can serve as a back-end for JavaScript and HTML applications on the Web. Many Solidity tutorials out there today have the same flaw: they are written for “advanced” JavaScript developers who want to transfer their skills to a blockchain environment. Introducing Ethereum and Solidity is accessible to technology professionals and enthusiasts of all levels. You’ll find exciting sample code that can move forward real world assets in both the academic and the corporate arenas. Find out now why this book is a powerful gateway for creative technologists of all types, from concept to deployment. What You’ll Learn See how Ethereum (and other cryptocurrencies) work Compare distributed apps (dapps) to web apps Write Ethereum smart contracts in Solidity Connect Ethereum smart contracts to your HTML/CSS/JavaScript web applications Deploy your own dapp, coin, and blockchain Work with basic and intermediate smart contracts Who This Book Is For Anyone who is curious about Ethereum or has some familiarity with computer science Product managers, CTOs, and experienced JavaScript programmers Experts will find the advanced sample projects in this book rewarding because of the power of Solidity

Blockchain and Crypto Currency

Blockchain and Crypto Currency

Author: Makoto Yano

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2020-04-15

Total Pages: 151

ISBN-13: 9811533768

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This open access book contributes to the creation of a cyber ecosystem supported by blockchain technology in which technology and people can coexist in harmony. Blockchains have shown that trusted records, or ledgers, of permanent data can be stored on the Internet in a decentralized manner. The decentralization of the recording process is expected to significantly economize the cost of transactions. Creating a ledger on data, a blockchain makes it possible to designate the owner of each piece of data, to trade data pieces, and to market them. This book examines the formation of markets for various types of data from the theory of market quality proposed and developed by M. Yano. Blockchains are expected to give data itself the status of a new production factor. Bringing ownership of data to the hands of data producers, blockchains can reduce the possibility of information leakage, enhance the sharing and use of IoT data, and prevent data monopoly and misuse. The industry will have a bright future as soon as better technology is developed and when a healthy infrastructure is created to support the blockchain market.


Book Synopsis Blockchain and Crypto Currency by : Makoto Yano

Download or read book Blockchain and Crypto Currency written by Makoto Yano and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-04-15 with total page 151 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This open access book contributes to the creation of a cyber ecosystem supported by blockchain technology in which technology and people can coexist in harmony. Blockchains have shown that trusted records, or ledgers, of permanent data can be stored on the Internet in a decentralized manner. The decentralization of the recording process is expected to significantly economize the cost of transactions. Creating a ledger on data, a blockchain makes it possible to designate the owner of each piece of data, to trade data pieces, and to market them. This book examines the formation of markets for various types of data from the theory of market quality proposed and developed by M. Yano. Blockchains are expected to give data itself the status of a new production factor. Bringing ownership of data to the hands of data producers, blockchains can reduce the possibility of information leakage, enhance the sharing and use of IoT data, and prevent data monopoly and misuse. The industry will have a bright future as soon as better technology is developed and when a healthy infrastructure is created to support the blockchain market.

Fostering Innovation and Competitiveness With FinTech, RegTech, and SupTech

Fostering Innovation and Competitiveness With FinTech, RegTech, and SupTech

Author: Boitan, Iustina Alina

Publisher: IGI Global

Published: 2020-09-11

Total Pages: 313

ISBN-13: 1799843912

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Due to the emergence of innovative technologies, various professional fields are transforming their traditional business practices. Specifically, the financial and legal markets are experiencing this digital transformation as professionals and researchers are finding ways to improve efficiency, personalization, and security in these economic sectors. Significant research is needed to keep pace with the continuous advancements that are taking place in finance. Fostering Innovation and Competitiveness with FinTech, RegTech, and SupTech provides emerging research exploring the theoretical and practical aspects of technologically innovative mechanisms and applications within the financial, economic, and legal markets. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as crowdfunding platforms, crypto-assets, and blockchain technology, this book is ideally designed for researchers, economists, practitioners, policymakers, analysts, managers, executives, educators, and students seeking current research on the strategic role of technology in the future development of financial and economic activity.


Book Synopsis Fostering Innovation and Competitiveness With FinTech, RegTech, and SupTech by : Boitan, Iustina Alina

Download or read book Fostering Innovation and Competitiveness With FinTech, RegTech, and SupTech written by Boitan, Iustina Alina and published by IGI Global. This book was released on 2020-09-11 with total page 313 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Due to the emergence of innovative technologies, various professional fields are transforming their traditional business practices. Specifically, the financial and legal markets are experiencing this digital transformation as professionals and researchers are finding ways to improve efficiency, personalization, and security in these economic sectors. Significant research is needed to keep pace with the continuous advancements that are taking place in finance. Fostering Innovation and Competitiveness with FinTech, RegTech, and SupTech provides emerging research exploring the theoretical and practical aspects of technologically innovative mechanisms and applications within the financial, economic, and legal markets. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as crowdfunding platforms, crypto-assets, and blockchain technology, this book is ideally designed for researchers, economists, practitioners, policymakers, analysts, managers, executives, educators, and students seeking current research on the strategic role of technology in the future development of financial and economic activity.

The Palgrave Handbook of Technological Finance

The Palgrave Handbook of Technological Finance

Author: Raghavendra Rau

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2021-09-09

Total Pages: 888

ISBN-13: 3030651177

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This handbook provides the first comprehensive overview of the fast-evolving alternative finance space and makes a timely and in-depth contribution to the literature in this area. Bringing together expert contributions in the field from both practitioners and academics, in one of the most dynamic parts of the financial sector, it provides a solid reference for this exciting discipline. Divided into six parts, Section 1 presents a high-level overview of the technologically-enabled finance space. It also offers a historical perspective on technological finance models and outlines different business models. Section 2 analyses digital currencies including guides to bitcoins, other cryptocurrencies, and blockchains. Section 3 addresses alternative payment systems such as digital money and asset tokenization. Section 4 deals with crowdfunding models from both a theoretical perspective and from a regulatory perspective. Section 5 discusses data-driven business models and includes a discussion of neural networks and deep learning. Finally, Section 6 discusses welfare implications of the technological finance revolution. This collection highlights the most current developments to date and the state-of-the-art in alternative finance, while also indicating areas of further potential. Acting as a roadmap for future research in this innovative and promising area of finance, this handbook is a solid reference work for academics and students whilst also appealing to industry practitioners, businesses and policy-makers.


Book Synopsis The Palgrave Handbook of Technological Finance by : Raghavendra Rau

Download or read book The Palgrave Handbook of Technological Finance written by Raghavendra Rau and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2021-09-09 with total page 888 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This handbook provides the first comprehensive overview of the fast-evolving alternative finance space and makes a timely and in-depth contribution to the literature in this area. Bringing together expert contributions in the field from both practitioners and academics, in one of the most dynamic parts of the financial sector, it provides a solid reference for this exciting discipline. Divided into six parts, Section 1 presents a high-level overview of the technologically-enabled finance space. It also offers a historical perspective on technological finance models and outlines different business models. Section 2 analyses digital currencies including guides to bitcoins, other cryptocurrencies, and blockchains. Section 3 addresses alternative payment systems such as digital money and asset tokenization. Section 4 deals with crowdfunding models from both a theoretical perspective and from a regulatory perspective. Section 5 discusses data-driven business models and includes a discussion of neural networks and deep learning. Finally, Section 6 discusses welfare implications of the technological finance revolution. This collection highlights the most current developments to date and the state-of-the-art in alternative finance, while also indicating areas of further potential. Acting as a roadmap for future research in this innovative and promising area of finance, this handbook is a solid reference work for academics and students whilst also appealing to industry practitioners, businesses and policy-makers.

International Macroeconomics in the Wake of the Global Financial Crisis

International Macroeconomics in the Wake of the Global Financial Crisis

Author: Laurent Ferrara

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2018-06-13

Total Pages: 298

ISBN-13: 3319790757

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This book collects selected articles addressing several currently debated issues in the field of international macroeconomics. They focus on the role of the central banks in the debate on how to come to terms with the long-term decline in productivity growth, insufficient aggregate demand, high economic uncertainty and growing inequalities following the global financial crisis. Central banks are of considerable importance in this debate since understanding the sluggishness of the recovery process as well as its implications for the natural interest rate are key to assessing output gaps and the monetary policy stance. The authors argue that a more dynamic domestic and external aggregate demand helps to raise the inflation rate, easing the constraint deriving from the zero lower bound and allowing monetary policy to depart from its current ultra-accommodative position. Beyond macroeconomic factors, the book also discusses a supportive financial environment as a precondition for the rebound of global economic activity, stressing that understanding capital flows is a prerequisite for economic-policy decisions.


Book Synopsis International Macroeconomics in the Wake of the Global Financial Crisis by : Laurent Ferrara

Download or read book International Macroeconomics in the Wake of the Global Financial Crisis written by Laurent Ferrara and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-06-13 with total page 298 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book collects selected articles addressing several currently debated issues in the field of international macroeconomics. They focus on the role of the central banks in the debate on how to come to terms with the long-term decline in productivity growth, insufficient aggregate demand, high economic uncertainty and growing inequalities following the global financial crisis. Central banks are of considerable importance in this debate since understanding the sluggishness of the recovery process as well as its implications for the natural interest rate are key to assessing output gaps and the monetary policy stance. The authors argue that a more dynamic domestic and external aggregate demand helps to raise the inflation rate, easing the constraint deriving from the zero lower bound and allowing monetary policy to depart from its current ultra-accommodative position. Beyond macroeconomic factors, the book also discusses a supportive financial environment as a precondition for the rebound of global economic activity, stressing that understanding capital flows is a prerequisite for economic-policy decisions.

The Symbolic Species: The Co-evolution of Language and the Brain

The Symbolic Species: The Co-evolution of Language and the Brain

Author: Terrence W. Deacon

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Published: 1998-04-17

Total Pages: 532

ISBN-13: 0393343022

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"A work of enormous breadth, likely to pleasantly surprise both general readers and experts."—New York Times Book Review This revolutionary book provides fresh answers to long-standing questions of human origins and consciousness. Drawing on his breakthrough research in comparative neuroscience, Terrence Deacon offers a wealth of insights into the significance of symbolic thinking: from the co-evolutionary exchange between language and brains over two million years of hominid evolution to the ethical repercussions that followed man's newfound access to other people's thoughts and emotions. Informing these insights is a new understanding of how Darwinian processes underlie the brain's development and function as well as its evolution. In contrast to much contemporary neuroscience that treats the brain as no more or less than a computer, Deacon provides a new clarity of vision into the mechanism of mind. It injects a renewed sense of adventure into the experience of being human.


Book Synopsis The Symbolic Species: The Co-evolution of Language and the Brain by : Terrence W. Deacon

Download or read book The Symbolic Species: The Co-evolution of Language and the Brain written by Terrence W. Deacon and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 1998-04-17 with total page 532 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A work of enormous breadth, likely to pleasantly surprise both general readers and experts."—New York Times Book Review This revolutionary book provides fresh answers to long-standing questions of human origins and consciousness. Drawing on his breakthrough research in comparative neuroscience, Terrence Deacon offers a wealth of insights into the significance of symbolic thinking: from the co-evolutionary exchange between language and brains over two million years of hominid evolution to the ethical repercussions that followed man's newfound access to other people's thoughts and emotions. Informing these insights is a new understanding of how Darwinian processes underlie the brain's development and function as well as its evolution. In contrast to much contemporary neuroscience that treats the brain as no more or less than a computer, Deacon provides a new clarity of vision into the mechanism of mind. It injects a renewed sense of adventure into the experience of being human.

Can Blockchain Solve the Hold-up Problem in Contracts?

Can Blockchain Solve the Hold-up Problem in Contracts?

Author: Richard Holden

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2021-11-18

Total Pages: 94

ISBN-13: 100902017X

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A vexing problem in contract law is modification. Two parties sign a contract but before they fully perform, they modify the contract. Should courts enforce the modified agreement? A private remedy is for the parties to write a contract that is robust to hold-up or that makes the facts relevant to modification verifiable. Provisions accomplishing these ends are renegotiation-design and revelation mechanisms. But implementing them requires commitment power. Conventional contract technologies to ensure commitment – liquidated damages – are disfavored by courts and themselves subject to renegotiation. Smart contracts written on blockchain ledgers offer a solution. We explain the basic economics and legal relevance of these technologies, and we argue that they can implement liquidated damages without courts. We address the hurdles courts may impose to use of smart contracts on blockchain and show that sophisticated parties' ex ante commitment to them may lead courts to allow their use as pre-commitment devices.


Book Synopsis Can Blockchain Solve the Hold-up Problem in Contracts? by : Richard Holden

Download or read book Can Blockchain Solve the Hold-up Problem in Contracts? written by Richard Holden and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2021-11-18 with total page 94 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A vexing problem in contract law is modification. Two parties sign a contract but before they fully perform, they modify the contract. Should courts enforce the modified agreement? A private remedy is for the parties to write a contract that is robust to hold-up or that makes the facts relevant to modification verifiable. Provisions accomplishing these ends are renegotiation-design and revelation mechanisms. But implementing them requires commitment power. Conventional contract technologies to ensure commitment – liquidated damages – are disfavored by courts and themselves subject to renegotiation. Smart contracts written on blockchain ledgers offer a solution. We explain the basic economics and legal relevance of these technologies, and we argue that they can implement liquidated damages without courts. We address the hurdles courts may impose to use of smart contracts on blockchain and show that sophisticated parties' ex ante commitment to them may lead courts to allow their use as pre-commitment devices.