Abstract
Building on the work we have done in Alles and Gray (2019a, 2019b), in this chapter we try to provide a more balanced perspective on blockchain, explaining to an accounting audience why this technology has both much to contribute and what its caveats are. We will cover the basics of the technology underlying blockchain, explain its relation to bitcoin, and do so with a particular reference to what we feel accountants need to know about these technologies. For most accountants, technology such as blockchain is a means toward an end and not an end in themselves. What the technology is used for is far more important than what the technology is and, hence, what accountants need to understand is the business context of blockchain.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Information For Efficient Decision Making |
| Subtitle of host publication | Big Data, Blockchain And Relevance |
| Publisher | World Scientific Publishing Co. |
| Pages | 173-196 |
| Number of pages | 24 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9789811220470 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2020 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Economics, Econometrics and Finance(all)
- Business, Management and Accounting(all)
Keywords
- Auditing
- Bitcoin
- Blockchain
- Distributed ledger