Trusting the trust machine: Evaluating trust signals of blockchain applications

Abstract

Information systems research emphasizes that blockchain requires trust in the technology itself. However, we lack knowledge on the applicability of established trust cues to blockchain technology. Thus, this paper’s objective is to empirically evaluate the effectiveness of several established IS trust formation factors on end user trust. We do so by conducting a between-groups experiment. While we can validate the applicability of previous IS trust research for blockchain technology to some extent, we find that trust signals emphasizing the technology’s underlying trust-building characteristics are most effective. Hence, we highlight the need for contextualization of trust research on blockchain technology. We provide both researchers and practitioners with insights for building trustworthy blockchain applications that enable trust-less interactions not only in theory but in practice.