Blockchain Technology in Climate Finance and Carbon Markets: Emerging Infrastructure, Market Dynamics, and the Road to Net Zero

This paper examines the growing role of blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) in transforming climate finance and global carbon markets. Drawing on twenty-six peer-reviewed studies alongside current market intelligence from financial institutions, technology firms, regulatory bodies, and multilateral organizations, the research explores how blockchain infrastructure is reshaping transparency, efficiency, and trust within carbon credit ecosystems. The study presents three primary contributions. First, it synthesizes recent 2025–2026 developments in Regenerative Finance (ReFi), Web3 systems, and Layer 2 blockchain architectures influencing modern carbon market infrastructure. Second, it introduces a Blockchain Climate Finance Readiness Matrix designed to map deployment conditions to expected institutional and regional outcomes. Third, it proposes a conceptual framework for a next-generation integrated on-chain carbon ecosystem aimed at addressing structural gaps in emerging climate finance systems. Existing literature highlights significant operational benefits from blockchain adoption in carbon markets. Prior studies report improvements in market price efficiency, major reductions in monitoring and verification timelines, and substantial decreases in administrative overhead across the carbon credit lifecycle. Current industry deployments, including J.P. Morgan's Kinexys Digital Assets platform, India's blockchain-enabled Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, and emerging ReFi infrastructure initiatives, demonstrate how blockchain integration is increasingly becoming a foundational layer for next-generation climate finance ecosystems.