Combining with other technologies to amplify blockchain's value creation

Nir Kshetri

Chapter 3 in The Rise of Blockchains, 2026, pp 45-59 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter addresses the critical “first-mile” and “last-mile” problems of blockchain—the vulnerability of data integrity before it reaches the ledger and the physical security of assets thereafter. It argues that blockchain alone cannot guarantee the veracity of input data or prevent physical tampering. To resolve these challenges, the chapter explores the synergistic integration of blockchain with Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, primarily Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things, and remote sensing. We examine how AI-driven “fingerprinting” and decentralized oracles (e.g., Chainlink) validate physical assets and automate complex corporate actions. Furthermore, the analysis details how IoT networks and satellite imagery provide objective, real-time data feeds for “green” smart contracts and autonomous machine-to-machine transactions. By synthesizing these technologies, firms can achieve a “trustless” bridge between digital records and physical reality, significantly enhancing the credibility, scalability, and value proposition of decentralized ecosystems.

Keywords: Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR); Artificial Intelligence (AI); Internet of Things (IoT); Decentralized Oracles; First-mile/Last-mile Problems; Synergistic Effects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035394333
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