Blockchain Research Lab

In this blog post, BRL co-founder Dr. Ingo Fiedler argues that the global gold market, built on a highly leveraged structure with many claims backed by little physical metal, is becoming increasingly fragile. While central banks purchase and repatriate gold, investors shift from “paper” gold to tokenised, fully allocated products like Tether’s XAUt. This migration of collateral could trigger a Mi…

The rise of blockchain-based financial technologies has created new ways to send money across borders. A new study by Prof. Dr. Lennart Ante, published in Telematics and Informatics, provides fresh insights into how stablecoins are being used for remittances—and why skills in both digital technology and finance are key factors driving their adoption and continued use.

Dr. Steinmetz had the opportunity to contribute to a full-day seminar in Zurich on a topic that has become increasingly urgent in the context of gambling addiction: the entanglements between cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and gambling. The event was organized by the Ostschweizer Fachhochschule, specifically by the Institut für Soziale Arbeit und Räume, as part of their “Spielen ohne Sucht…

: In November 2024, Dr. Steinmetz had the opportunity to contribute to the 14. Fachtag der Fachstelle Glücksspielsucht Steiermark in Graz, Austria—a specialist conference that brought together professionals from the fields of gambling addiction counselling, prevention, politics and economics. Organized by the Fachstelle Glücksspielsucht Steiermark, the event provided a vital platform for addressi…

We are excited to announce that the Blockchain Research Lab is conducting an empirical study to explore the extent of the black market for online gambling in Germany. The study is funded by the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL; Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States). The aim of the study is to shed light on the size and dynamics of this significant yet hidden sector by condu…

Our report titled "Economic Valuation of Physical Activity: A Multilayered Framework" explains just how much physical activity impacts both health and the economy. The report finds that physical activity leads to significant healthcare cost savings, increased productivity, and overall economic gains at individual, corporate, and national levels. The findings demonstrate how much individuals, comp…

Our CEO and Co-Founder, Prof. Dr. Lennart Ante, presented on "Blockchain für Real Estate und Real Estate für Blockchain" hosted by Der Wirtschaftsverein für den Hamburger Süden. The event took place on September 17. We would like to thank the organizers for the successful event.

We are happy to report that our CEO, Dr. Lennart Ante, held guest lectures on "Stablecoins and their Relevance to Global Finance" at Mahidol University, hosted by Prof. Dr. Aman Saggu, whom we would like to thank for the excellent organization and warm hospitality.

Our CEO and Co-Founder, Dr. Lennart Ante, presented at the "Real Estate and Technology" conference hosted by The Breslin Center for Real Estate Studies and Hofstra University’s Frank G. Zarb School of Business. We would like to thank the organizers for the successful event.

The study "Anticipatory Gains and Event-Driven Losses in Blockchain-Based Fan Tokens: Evidence from the FIFA World Cup", recently published in Research in International Business and Finance, examines the dynamic convergence of sports, fan engagement and cryptocurrencies.

On 11.12.2023, an artist talk with photographer Prof. Danny Franzreb and Dr. Lennart Ante, Managing Director and co-founder of the Blockchain Research Lab, took place at the Museum der Arbeit in Hamburg.

We're excited to share that the Blockchain Research Lab became part of the European Blockchain Association (EBA). This allows us to broaden our network and enhances our ability to collaborate with a diverse range of organizations and experts. This partnership is an opportunity to advance our research and understanding of blockchain technology's socio-economic impacts.

Our co-founder Dr. Lennart Ante gave a presentation on business models for the metaverse at the 1st METAVERSE #wissenrockt conference, which was held digitally in the Spatial Metaverse.

Our co-founder Dr. Fred Steinmetz had the privilege of joining the Technology, Risk, and Gambling webinar series, hosted by distinguished gambling researchers Prof. Sally Gainsbury and Prof. Kahlil S. Philander. In the latest episode, they delved into 'The Interrelations of Cryptocurrency and Gambling,' exploring the evolving landscape at the intersection of these two domains.

Our co-founder Dr. Lennart Ante gave a presentation on "Blockchain-based fan tokens as a transformative force for brand communities" at the Bitkom event "Digital Marketing Meets Industry # Finance"

Our co-founder Dr. Fred Steinmetz had the privilege of participating in a panel discussion at the Erster Deutscher Lieferkettentag 2023, which delved into the transformative power of digitalization in the supply chain.

The crypto-metaverse transcends mere amusement and has evolved into a robust digital landscape. The paper "Digital real estate in the metaverse: An empirical analysis of retail investor motivations" reveals the motivations behind why ordinary retail investors purchase metaverse land.

We are excited to announce that the Blockchain Research Lab has received a grant from the DZ BANK Stiftung. The funded project started in August 2023 and seeks to explore the opportunities of security tokens as a local investment option for individual investors. Furthermore, we are investigating the viability of security tokens as a potential future business model for cooperative banks.

This blog post is an invited guest post by Dr Julian Granados. This post draws on the research conducted by Dr Granados at the Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research on the opportunities and tools that arise from blockchain technologies for facilitating Payments for Environmental Services (PES) and other environmental management schemes.

On June 15, 2023, our co-founder Professor Dr. Ingo Fiedler led an event course on the topic "Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple & Co. - About Cryptocurrencies and the Abolition of Cash. Digitalization in the German Financial and Banking System of the Future." within the Study Program Q+ at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.