Tokenizing Behavior Change: A Pathway for the Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

To be successful and sustainable, social impact programs require individuals and groups to change aspects of their behavior. As blockchain-based tokens are increasingly adopted to target social outcomes, it is important to properly define these activities as “behavior change interventions” and assess their design and management as such—otherwise, there is significant risk of possible unintended consequences. Designing tokens as behavior change interventions requires new constructs beyond those currently in use to model the interdependence of digital and social ecosystems, and integration of token engineering, cryptoeconomics, and behavioral skill sets to test token designs within various ecosystems. New token design and testing protocols that integrate behavior measures around the targeted social outcomes are needed, to fill a critical gap in current practice. Hence, new standards, operational frameworks, and ethics are needed to guide the use of tokens at scale, as tools to achieve social impacts such as attaining the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Meeting these needs requires a collaborative approach between token design actors (computer scientists, cryptoeconomists, token engineers, etc.) and social impact practitioners who will be increasingly called upon to use tokens as behavior change tools. This paper begins to identify common ground and address areas to further develop research and practice of tokens being used for social impact.

Review of Blockchain Tokens Creation and Valuation

“…It follows the concept of a neural network of connected blockchains in order to increase citizens' interaction with their local institutions based on tokens, incentives, and rewards, that provide voting power. Following a similar desire to incentivize the engagement of citizens in programs with a social impact, Barclay et al [61] propose the tokenization of behavior changes through interventions and techniques by designing accountability based on the interest of actors. In the case of NFTs, governance plays a pivotal role in creating a legal base to avoid legal pitfalls for the exchange and trade of NFTs, and certain countries have strict regulations [75].…”

Use Case Evaluation and Digital Workflow of Breast Cancer Care by Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain Technology Application

“…Within healthcare, blockchain technology has been identified as a viable solution for the future to enable secure and fast data sharing [ 3 ]. Beyond that, its properties have been acknowledged to be able to contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) [ 9 ]. However, the question of whether applicability can be confirmed for all medical sub-specialties remains open.…”