Trust and Technology Adoption in Blockchain-Enabled Zakat Management: An Extended TAM Perspective From Malaysia

Abstract

This study examines the role of trust in shaping users’ intention to adopt blockchain technology in zakat management within Malaysia’s Islamic social finance ecosystem. Despite increasing digitalisation efforts, zakat institutions continue to face challenges related to transparency, efficiency, and public confidence, which may hinder the adoption of emerging technologies. Drawing on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and extending it with trust, this study investigates how perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and trust influence behavioural intention to adopt blockchain-based zakat systems. Data were collected from 482 respondents and analysed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with SmartPLS. The findings reveal that perceived ease of use and trust have significant positive effects on intention to use blockchain technology, while perceived usefulness does not exhibit a direct significant influence. These results suggest that in pre-adoption contexts involving emerging and trust-sensitive technologies, users rely more on trust than on perceived functional benefits. This study contributes to the literature on technology adoption in Islamic social finance by highlighting trust as a central determinant of blockchain adoption and offers practical insights for zakat institutions seeking to enhance transparency and user confidence through digital innovation.