Barriers to blockchain implementation in supply chain finance – based on perspectives of grey transaction behaviour

The purpose of this study is to identify grey transaction behaviours that function as barriers to blockchain implementation in supply chain finance, explore which obstructions arise from these grey transaction behaviours and subsequently hinder blockchain implementation, and further measure the influence levels of the corresponding implementation barriers. The Delphi method and DANP are the main analysis methods used in this study. According to the analysis, three grey transaction behaviours that function as implementation barriers are identified, namely, kickbacks, internal and external accounting, and informal transaction relationships with banks. In addition, seven obstructions arise from these three barriers, and these obstructions can be adopted to explain why the three barriers hinder blockchain implementation. Finally, although internal and external accounting represents the main barrier, informal transaction relationships with banks may function as a critical underlying barrier that enhances the other two barriers. This study contributes in that it fills the gap of existing studies related to the intersection of supply chain finance and blockchain and provides a new perspective enabling practitioners to rethink how blockchain can be successfully implemented in the context of supply chain finance.