Publications & Reports

This paper is about exploring how blockchain technology, combined with 3D virtual reality, is revolutionizing international development by enhancing transparency, automating processes through smart contracts, advancing sustainability initiatives, and leveraging innovative visualization tools to empower decision-making and strategic planning. It highlights real-world applications of platforms like Ethereum and Hyperledger Fabric in creating modular, scalable, and secure solutions that drive compliance, optimize resource management, and verify renewable energy and fair trade claims.

In this rapidly evolving technological landscape, it is imperative that we address the implications of emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain on society. This paper delves deep into the convergence of these two transformative technologies and their potential to shape the future.

This article explores the complex and intricate world of intellectual property rights in the digital era, analyzing how technological advancements reshape traditional notions of ownership, creativity, and distribution. 

Our key request was to ensure that the future sustainability indicators are designed to be applicable across all consensus mechanisms. This approach is essential for fostering transparency, comparability, and accountability within the crypto-asset sector. While we can draw inspiration from existing frameworks like CSRD and SFDR, it’s crucial to emphasize that a simple copy-and-paste approach won’t work. We must consider the unique characteristics of blockchain and conduct a thorough feasibility assessment before implementing these indicators. It’s imperative that we develop methodologies that issuers and CASPs can realistically and effectively implement” says Mariana de la Roche-Wills. “The significance of conducting a feasibility study to ascertain the practicality of these regulations in the crypto space is a must. We understand that for any regulation to be effective, it must be implementable and realistic within the crypto industry’s unique ecosystem

This document presents a series of structured tables that categorize various staking mechanisms, ranging from direct technical staking to what's termed "Staking in Name Only" (SINO). 

This policy position report explore the definition of 'smart contracts' in the context of the EU’s Data Act. Smart contracts are defined as self-executing contracts with terms directly written into code on a blockchain, enabling transparent and irreversible transactions without central authority. The report contrasts smart contracts with automated data sharing agreements, highlighting their key differences.

This paper presents and addresses some of the most common misconceptions about blockchain.  Addressing misconceptions in the blockchain and DLT space is vital to achieve global scalability, allowing consumers and users to have informed decision-making processes, while also promoting trust and effective risk management. Individuals, businesses, and policymakers must understand these technologies to make strategic decisions, whether for investing, implementing a solution, or developing regulations. 

This report presents a summary of the conversations held during an open dialogue between policymakers and industry players. This report sheds light on where the key pain points are on both sides, and to address legislative and regulatory needs while allowing innovation to flourish, their primary key points and pain points. It includes reflections and recommendations for both industry and policymakers

The overall objective of the experts and associations that contributed to this paper is to showcase the
environmental potential of blockchain to policy and decision-makers that develop regulatory frameworks
for the safe and sustainable development of blockchain technology around the world. 

The report titled "Social Impact Model for Small and Medium-Size Blockchain Projects," authored by Luis Cavaco, details the efforts of INATBA's Social Impact and Sustainability Working Group (SISWG) to address challenges in demonstrating the social impact of blockchain initiatives. Highlighted in their previous publication, "Blockchain for Social Impact" from September 2021, the report recognizes the specific difficulties that small to medium-sized blockchain projects face in illustrating their impact effectively.

This blog post delves into the innovative deployment of DLT to address longstanding inefficiencies within global supply chains. Highlighting the transition from paper-based to digital systems, the post discusses a new digital trade corridor established between the UK and Kenya, which aims to enhance trade efficiency by significantly reducing paperwork and improving transparency across supply chains. 

This summary explores the legal recognition of digital assets and carbon credits, focusing on recent UK legislation and key court cases that classify these assets as personal property. It highlights unresolved issues around carbon credit ownership, especially in land-use agreements and derivative trading. The document underscores the need for robust legal frameworks to protect asset holders and support transparency in digital and environmental markets.

This report explores how AI and blockchain technologies can converge to redefine industries and societal norms, from decentralized finance to healthcare. It examines their role in enabling data economies and enhancing digital interactions.

The Data Act Open Letter, crafted by leaders in the technology and blockchain industry, called for a revision of the Data Act to safeguard technological neutrality and ensure the adaptability of regulations across different technologies. It highlighted concerns that the language around Smart Contracts, particularly those based on public/permissionless blockchains, may unintentionally restrict their use and bring about uncertainty for existing implementations. The suggestions aimed to ensure that all technological solutions receive equal treatment, promoting an environment that encourages innovation and growth while aligning with the EU's principle of technological neutrality.

This comprehensive report explores the landscape of sustainability, conservation, and social impact within Latin America (LATAM) and the Caribbean. In a region marked by its unparalleled biodiversity and immense potential for innovation, this report serves as a compass, guiding us toward a future defined by global solutions.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive report of the process that led to the formulation of the consolidated definition of DeFi outlined above. Several stages were completed to achieve this definition, including the literature review that served as the basis, the open survey conducted to gather the opinions of various stakeholder groups,
and the valuable feedback received from academia

This position paper seeks to differentiate staking from lending based on technical processes and to clarify various types of staking. Amid recent tax reforms, such as the discussions around “DAC8,” which initially classified staking as a crypto-asset service, the lack of consensus on its definition has spotlighted the necessity for clear legal definitions to ensure compliance and foster sector growth.

This paper presents and addresses some of the most common misconceptions about blockchain.  Addressing misconceptions in the blockchain and DLT space is vital to achieve global scalability, allowing consumers and users to have informed decision-making processes, while also promoting trust and effective risk management. Individuals, businesses, and policymakers must understand these technologies to make strategic decisions, whether for investing, implementing a solution, or developing regulations. 

The report discussed during the event on June 12, 2023, titled "Bridging the gap between technology and regulation with dialogue," focuses on the crucial need for ongoing conversations between technology innovators and regulators to address the evolving landscape of decentralized finance (DeFi). It highlights the collaborative efforts of key stakeholders including IOTA, EUCI, and EBA, alongside other industry and regulatory bodies, to form a cohesive response to regulatory challenges posed by DeFi innovations. 

This article explores the intersection of blockchain technology and sustainability. Highlighting the contrast between the slow progress at international climate forums like COP27 and the rapid advancements in blockchain technology, the article underscores the potential of blockchain to drive sustainable practices. It specifically notes the significant reduction in energy consumption following Ethereum's merge and showcases various blockchain projects aimed at environmental improvement.

Common definitions provide the sector with a basis for a joint understanding. To do so in 2022 the SISWG, in cooperation with members of the GAB of INATBA, reviewed different social impact definitions and derived a social impact definition for the blockchain sector.

We believe that a common definition of social impact is crucial to align projects working on the topic to cooperate and achieve greater impact together but it will also help to decipher the potential of blockchain technology and expand the horizon of our actions, so those within and outside the blockchain ecosystem can see and understand the potential of these technologies to achieve a greater good.

This report highlights the underutilized potential of blockchain technology in climate adaptation strategies. As the impacts of climate change increasingly disrupt human and environmental systems, there is a pressing need for innovative solutions beyond mere mitigation. The report emphasizes the lack of adequate tools and resources that encompass analytical, financial, and operational technologies aimed at adaptation, which blockchain can significantly enhance. It calls for robust collaboration among the blockchain community, governments, and climate-vulnerable sectors to foster an environment conducive to developing blockchain applications that enhance climate resilience, urging a unified approach to raising awareness, fostering engagement, and setting standards to effectively utilize blockchain for climate adaptation.