Article: Monday 23 February
Daniel Liebau has co-edited a new book designed to make blockchain research accessible to senior executives in financial services. The Blockchain Scholars Book summarizes a diverse set of leading international research articles on distributed ledger technology in a format tailored for decision-makers. Liebau co-edited the book with Assistant Professor Dr Simon Trimborn from Amsterdam School of Economics. The book has been published by Springer Nature. “We are grateful to have received support from so many well-known professors globally for this project”, commented Liebau.
Blockchain research has generated a rich and growing body of academic literature spanning economics, finance, computer science, law and organisational studies. However, the format of traditional journal articles, often lengthy and technically dense, makes them difficult for practitioners to engage with, particularly those whose demanding schedules leave little time for reading full academic papers. The book addresses this challenge by bringing together leading scholars to summarize their published research in over 25 short, accessible chapters that maintain academic rigour while highlighting the practical implications for financial services professionals… and at 1250 words each, can be read over lunch.
The book focuses on four areas particularly relevant for financial services executives. The first section, Tokenomics and Digital Platforms, explores the economic foundations of distributed ledger technology. The second part examines market dynamics in both centralised and decentralised finance. The third section addresses privacy essential for large-scale adoption of Web3. The final section covers Decentralised Autonomous Organisations (DAOs), highlighting their potential benefits alongside organisational limits and risks relevant to regulated financial institutions.
"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," said Thomas Book, Executive Board member at Deutsche Börse AG, who reviewed the book ahead of publication.
Stefan Grasmann, Partner and Group Head of Thought Leadership at Zühlke Group, noted: "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."
The book has attracted attention within the financial services industry ahead of publication. In addition to the already named above, three additional senior executives from Kepler Cheuvreux, Gibson Dunn, and the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association (CAIA) reviewed the manuscript and provided endorsements.
Whilst written primarily for senior executives, the book's concise, contribution-focused format that enables the reader to understand what the research insights mean to them, makes it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand blockchain and related risks and opportunities. As such, various University Professors have already started incorporating the book into their required readings.
Daniel Liebau is the founder of Lightbulb Capital and has extensive senior-level financial services industry experience. He is also completing his PhD in Finance (part-time track) at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, where his research focuses on blockchain technology and its applications in financial services. As such, he is a pracademic bridging practice and academia. This unique position enabled him to, on the one hand, choose the most important research articles for The Blockchain Scholars Book and on the other hand, suggest a format that addresses the requirements of busy industry executives.
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) is one of Europe's top-ranked business schools. RSM provides ground-breaking research and education furthering excellence in all aspects of management and is based in the international port city of Rotterdam – a vital nexus of business, logistics and trade. RSM's primary focus is on developing business leaders with international careers who can become a force for positive change by carrying their innovative mindset into a sustainable future. Our first-class range of bachelor, master, MBA, PhD and executive programmes encourage them to become critical, creative, caring and collaborative thinkers and doers. www.rsm.nl
For more information about RSM or this release, please contact Danielle Baan, science communications and PR for RSM, on +31 10 408 2828 or by email at baan@rsm.nl.
The book can be ordered here: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-95-2844-8 and on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Blockchain-Scholars-Book-Condensed-Practitioners/dp/9819528437
Science Communication and Media Officer
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) is one of Europe’s top-ranked business schools. RSM provides ground-breaking research and education furthering excellence in all aspects of management and is based in the international port city of Rotterdam – a vital nexus of business, logistics and trade. RSM’s primary focus is on developing business leaders with international careers who can become a force for positive change by carrying their innovative mindset into a sustainable future. Our first-class range of bachelor, master, MBA, PhD and executive programmes encourage them to become to become critical, creative, caring and collaborative thinkers and doers.
