One of the fast growing elements of the Internet is electronic commerce, which refers to the use of electronic means to conduct business transactions within or across business entities. Nearly 80 percent of all Fortune 500 companies have been doing their core business through the Internet. Many issues, and societal implications of electronic commerce, are the subjects of recent research. A supply chain consists of all the entities and activities that enable the production, distribution, and delivery of products and services to consumers. Research in designing and managing supply chains has rapidly expanded during the last decade. In addition, increased and accessible computing power and modeling capabilities have spurred this growth, enabling researchers to simultaneously consider the many interrelated variables and decisions of a supply chain in a single tractable model.

This edited volume examines the impact of the metaverse on finance and law. As the commercial development of the internet and digital technology has done for more than thirty years, the metaverse phenomenon raises questions about the relevance of existing legal rules in dealing with new practices: between the need for adaptation, evolution, or new rules. While the Blockchain ecosystem has developed steadily over the last few years and its applications are still evolving, can we assume that the metaverse will become "the most prodigious phenomenon of the 21st century"? The term metaverse refers to a virtual world. Technically, using known but evolving technologies, the term refers to a network of 3D virtual worlds. In its current state of development, there is a metaverse and not a single virtual world as there is an internal one, simply because its development is still dependent on proprietary technologies. The development of the metaverse is no less accurate, and a few recent examples suggest that lawyers will not be able to escape this phenomenon, which looks set to involve individuals, companies, and institutions. The financial world is not immune to the emergence of the metaverse either. Traditional finance is moving into new virtual worlds. Several banks and insurance companies are entering this world, far removed from their traditions. Some have even set up branches there. However, what are these financial institutions trying to achieve by entering this market segment? This book addresses these questions with contributions from academics and experts from both fields.

Blockchain, cryptoassets, and artificial intelligence protocols continue to change the roles of accounting and financial service professionals at a fundamental level. This book examines the impact and influence of these technologies in the financial sector. In particular, this second revised edition examines the impact of these technologies on megatrends such as ESG reporting, remote workforces, real-time reporting, and a shift to a virtual and digital world. It also provides insights on how automation of all kinds—highlighted by AI—are changing the ways in which financial transactions and other information are handled by accounting and finance professionals. Ranging from the implications of blockchains among various organizations, to the rise of cryptoassets for transactions and investing activities, the author provides grounded and action-oriented recommendations for financial practitioners.

This book explores how crowdfunding can effectively promote environmental sustainability and circular economy practices in businesses, emphasizing its role in providing crucial financial resources. The importance of financial resources in businesses represents an essential enabler for implementing and scaling sustainable solutions. The book is composed of six chapters, which analyze some key aspects, such as how crowdfunding has been used to develop circular products, success factors for environmental crowdfunding campaigns, the issue of greenwashing in crowdfunding campaigns.

This book explains the strong push for the security of digital currencies and the sustainability of global trade development. It studies multilateral international trade agreements such as Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. This book analyses and examines case studies from Asia and Europe presented from different trade agreements’ policies. It focuses on the role of digital currencies as the tool for global trade development used by the biggest economies and international trade organisations such as WTO. It explores the strategies of the respective countries using digital currencies in international trade to gain economic advantage. It is beneficial for international finance students and professionals working in the banking sector.

This book provides a thorough introduction of fintech in general and cryptocurrencies in particular. It describes the courses of action and policies by central banks to control and regulate these disruptive innovations, to a wide readership.

With the recent debacle surrounding the cryptocurrency exchange FTX and the crypto trading company Alameda Research, the importance of grasping the security and regulation of Web3, cryptocurrency, and blockchain projects has been magnified. To avoid similar economic and security failures in future Web3 projects, this book provides an essential guide and a comprehensive and systematic approach to addressing security concerns. Written by experts in tech and finance, it provides an objective, professional, and in-depth analysis of security and privacy issues associated with Web3 and blockchain projects.

This book explores how decentralized finance (DeFi) can disrupt traditional centralized finance including the business areas of insurance companies, banks, money markets, and bonds. DeFi is not a company or a single product, rather it is a collection of products or services. As part of the Ethereum ecosystem, DeFi services are provided as Decentralized Applications (dApps), which require smart contracts to lock in assets for processing transactions. Changing consumer expectations, the availability of affordable technologies, and entrepreneurial drive create space for DeFi. Geopolitical crises and trust deterioration exacerbate the need. This book explains the concept of DeFi, the technological opportunities, the current reality and status quo of business transactions, and demonstrates the potential for future use and the eventual transformation of the financial industry.