Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency are attracting increasing attention from consumers, investors, investment industry and regulators. Cryptocurrency has great potential to be used for transaction or investment in the future. However, level of awareness of the blockchain technology and cryptocurrency is still at infant stage, specifically in developing countries. Thus, this study aims to investigate the level of awareness, trust and adoption of blockchain technology among blockchain community in Malaysia. Quantitative approach was adopted in this study where a new questionnaire was developed in the first phase to measure the level of awareness, adoption, and trust of blockchain technology applications among Malaysian blockchain communities. The resulting questionnaire consists of items on respondents’ demographic, their awareness, trust, and adoption of FinTech particularly on blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. In the second phase, a pilot study was conducted to validated the new questionnaire from 304 respondents. Reliability test using Cronbach’s alpha with a value of 0.908. A real survey was also conducted in this phase using the validated queationnaire and data were obtained online from 304 respondents. Descriptive statistics were used in the analysis during the third phase of the study, and results demonstrate that the awareness level of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency are at the intermediate level. Nevertheless, the majority of respondents are confident and trust that the blockchain technology can offer a stable and secure platform, which gives positive impact on the application of the technology. Empirical results provide significant insights into the development of the blockchain technology industry in the country.

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Broadband is simply described as the transmission capacity that is faster than primary rate Integrated Services Digital Network at 1.5 or 2.0 megabits per second. Efforts have been made by the government of Malaysia to ensure that broadband should be seen as basic need and not a luxury. However, the internet users at the remote and rural areas in the world lack behind in using broadband which is always caused by lack of technology and economic factors, while the rural areas especially in the northern region of Malaysia are not excluded. This research investigated the readiness of rural dwellers in the northern region of Malaysia towards continuous usage of broadband by using a quantitative survey technique. The total numbers of 200 questionnaires were distributed to secondary school students that are residing in the rural areas of northern region of Malaysia. The results show that the rural dwellers are readily prepared for broadband continuous usage in their localization whenever they are sensitized towards it

Abstract:The insufficient broadband enabled-services in the rural areas have been identified among the reasons that prolong the behaviour of rural dwellers on the use of low-band internet while government agencies have started initiations to increase the use of broadband in the rural area. However, previous studies have failed to identify the roles played by antecedents of broadband user behavioural intention in the rural communities. Thus, this research investigates roles of some antecedents of broadband user behavioural intention in the rural areas by adapting UTAUT model. A quantitative research approach was employed by engaging 1,730 participants from 40 villages who are secondary school students that are living in rural areas of northern region of Malaysia. The result reveals that performance expectancy, effort expectancy and compatibility have large effect on broadband user behavioural intention in the rural areas, while social influence recorded medium effect. This implies that all the identified factors may help in determining the behavioural intention of users of broadband in the rural areas.

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