Blockchain Technology in Accounting and Auditing: A Comprehensive Analysis and Review of Feasible Applications

Blockchains are an emerging technology expected to considerably transform the accounting and auditing professions. This study reviews the academic literature on blockchain in accounting and auditing. The methodology involves a semi-systematic literature review, as prescribed by (Snyder 2019), of 80 studies from the top 60 international accounting journals. This study also involves a comprehensive analysis of selected 80 studies to determine which year the most studies were published, the research methodologies they used, and the aspects of accounting that were involved. The number of studies published in international accounting journals has considerably increased. The most commonly used methodology is conceptual; empirical research is rare in the data pool. Most studies involve accounting information systems (AIS) and auditing. This study also identifies key and feasible concepts related to blockchain technology, namely triple-entry bookkeeping, smart contracts, continuous auditing, accountability and governance, and accounting and auditing applications. Additionally, this study provides potential research questions for future research on blockchain technology in accounting and auditing.