For master students, who want to carry out their master thesis, the SITM Chair offers a topic dealing with stakeholders in public blockchain networks.

Background and Motivation:

Blockchain governance remains a contested and evolving field, where diverse stakeholder groups exert influence over technical and economic decision-making. The study by Schmid et al. (2022) provided one of the first systematic attempts to map stakeholders in public, permissionless blockchains, identifying their roles, motivations, and governance preferences. Given the rapid evolution of the blockchain space, including the rise of Layer 2s, DAOs, and changing regulatory landscapes, there is a strong need to replicate and update this foundational work.

Research Objectives:

The goal of this thesis is to replicate and extend the stakeholder mapping study conducted by Schmid et al. Specifically, the project will:

1. Replicate the original stakeholder survey and cluster analysis, using an updated and larger respondent base;
2. Extend the original framework by incorporating new developments (e.g. DAO governance, cross-chain ecosystems, rollups);
3. Compare findings across time to identify shifts in stakeholder motivations and governance priorities;
4. Assess how these shifts affect the design and functioning of blockchain governance systems.

Methodology:

• Conduct a structured literature review to contextualize current blockchain governance debates.  
• Replicate the stakeholder survey, improving reach and demographic diversity.
• Apply cluster analysis to identify updated stakeholder types.
• Compare 2021 and 2025 stakeholder profiles using statistical and qualitative methods.
• Conduct follow-up interviews with select stakeholders for deeper insights.

Expected Contribution:

The thesis will deliver an updated and nuanced understanding of stakeholder dynamics in public blockchains. It will validate or challenge previous typologies and contribute empirically grounded insights to the field of blockchain governance, useful for both academics and practitioners.

Interested students are invited to send an e-mail to erik.karger (at) uni-due.de. 

References

Schmid, Roman; Ziolkowski, Rafael; Schwabe, Gerhard (2022). Together or Not? Exploring Stakeholders in Public and Permissionless Blockchains. In: 55th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, Maui, Hawaii, USA, 3 January 2022 - 7 January 2022. HICSS, 6093-6102.