Blockchain Technology in Accounting and Auditing: State of the Art and Future Research Directions
TL;DR
It is concluded that blockchain redefines, rather than eliminates, the role of accountants and auditors, and that its consolidation will depend on regulatory progress, curricular updates, and further empirical evidence on its real-world implementation across diverse institutional contexts.
Abstract
The integration of blockchain technology into accounting and auditing processes has been identified as one of the most significant digital transformations affecting the financial profession over the past decade. This study aimed to synthesize the state of the art on blockchain applications in accounting and auditing, identifying their main benefits, adoption barriers, and research gaps. A narrative literature review was conducted using scientific databases, drawing mostly on sources published between 2018 and 2024 and combining search terms in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Findings show that blockchain supports triple-entry accounting, continuous auditing, and greater transparency of financial information, although its adoption faces regulatory, technological, and training-related obstacles that are particularly pronounced in developing economies and Latin America. A persistent gap was also identified between the competencies demanded by the labor market and the curricular content of accounting programs. The review concludes that blockchain redefines, rather than eliminates, the role of accountants and auditors, and that its consolidation will depend on regulatory progress, curricular updates, and further empirical evidence on its real-world implementation across diverse institutional contexts.