Book launch of Blockchain Governance (MIT Press, by Wessel Reijers, Primavera De Filippi and Morshed Mannan) on March 28th, 2025, from 5PM at the Critical Data Lab (Humboldt University, Medientheater, Am Kupfergraben 5, Berlin). The event will jointly be hosted by Critical Data Lab (HU Berlin/ University of Oldenburg) and Weizenbaum Institute.
The author Wessel Reijers (University of Paderborn) will present the book’s central arguments focusing particularly on how blockchain technology both challenges existing legal and political concepts, while at the same time reproducing familiar political challenges. A particular focus will be on the “Cambrian explosion” of new forms of governance that emerged out of the introduction of blockchain technology. Wessel will discuss how they mediate trust and confidence in society, how they may produce “alegality” that challenges existing legal orders, and how they build and require new forms of legitimacy. The presentation will be followed by a response by Katrin Becker (Université de Luxemburg), a discussion and a Q&A.
The event will be streamed online.