Smart Contracts and the Digital Single Market Through the Lens of a 'Law + Technology' Approach

European Commission, 2021

60 Pages Posted: 25 Oct 2021

See all articles by Thibault Schrepel

Thibault Schrepel

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Stanford University's Codex Center; University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne; Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po)

Date Written: October 21, 2021

Abstract

The deployment of smart contracts within the European zone could fluidify economic transactions. It also risks fragmenting the Digital Single Market (“DSM”). This conundrum calls for a constructive response to preserve both the benefits brought by smart contracts and a strong DSM.

Against this background, this report adopts a “law + technology” approach. It suggests combining law and technology to develop solutions that encourage the evolution of smart contracts (rather than hindering it) in a direction that preserves and reinforces the DSM.

Keywords: blockchain, smart contracts, digital single market, law + technology, decentralization, cryptocurrencies, cyberlaw

JEL Classification: K24, K10, K12, K23, K40, K42, G32, E51, F30, K21, K2

Suggested Citation

Schrepel, Thibault, Smart Contracts and the Digital Single Market Through the Lens of a 'Law + Technology' Approach (October 21, 2021). European Commission, 2021, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3947174

Thibault Schrepel (Contact Author)

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam ( email )

De Boelelaan 1105
1081 HV Amsterdam
Netherlands

Stanford University's Codex Center ( email )

559 Nathan Abbott Way
Stanford, CA 94305-8610
United States

University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne ( email )

France

Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) ( email )

27 rue Saint-Guillaume
Paris Cedex 07, 75337
France

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