# Distributed ledger

`kaal:entity:distributed-ledger`

**Status.** derived

This node is assembled mechanically from the 13 claims that carry the concept tag `distributed-ledger`. It is a roster of what the corpus says under this term. It is **not** an adjudicated definition: no single statement here has been ruled canonical, and no first-appearance call has been made. Read the claims and judge for yourself.

## Every claim under this term

13 claims across 11 works, 2017 to 2026.

**2017**

- [2959730-016](https://wulfkaal.github.io/claims/2959730-016) [definitional/asserted] -- The author stipulates that a blockchain is a shared digital ledger or database that maintains a continuously growing list of transactions among participating parties regarding digital assets, described as blocks.
  > As such, a blockchain is a shared digital ledger or database that maintains a continuously growing list of transactions among participating parties regarding digital assets –
  Wulf A. Kaal, Blockchain Applications and Fee Structure Developments in Private Investment Funds (2017). SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2959730
- [2992962-005](https://wulfkaal.github.io/claims/2992962-005) [failure/argued] *(failure mode)* -- Even if every user and supporter of the blockchain and their locations were known, it would still not be possible to exercise jurisdiction in the traditional meaning of the word, because the system operates largely autonomously.
  > Because the system operates largely autonomously, even if every user and supporter of the blockchain and their location were known, it would still not be possible to exercise jurisdiction in the traditional meaning of the word.
  Wulf A. Kaal, Craig Calcaterra, Crypto Transaction Dispute Resolution (2017). SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2992962
- [3002908-015](https://wulfkaal.github.io/claims/3002908-015) [mechanism/argued] -- Distributed networks disintermediate: because validation is distributed, a centralized validating entity such as a central bank or clearing house is not necessary to record and validate transactions.
  > Distributed networks disintermediate. The intermediation of a centralized validation entity (a central bank or a clearing-house) in charge of recording and validating the transactions is not necessary in a decentralized network.
  Wulf A. Kaal, Marco Dell'Erba, Blockchain Innovation in Private Investment Funds - A Comparative Analysis of the United States and (2017). SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3002908

**2018**

- [3227933-011](https://wulfkaal.github.io/claims/3227933-011) [mechanism/argued] -- It is the decentralized character of the blockchain, that is the distribution of the ledger to countless nodes in peer-to-peer networks, rather than any other feature, that makes the technology potentially disruptive.
  > It is the decentralized character of the blockchain that makes it so potentially disruptive.
  Mark Fenwick, Wulf A. Kaal, Erik P.M. Vermeulen, Why 'Blockchain' Will Disrupt Corporate Organizations (2018). SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3227933
- [3266953-001](https://wulfkaal.github.io/claims/3266953-001) [failure/argued] *(failure mode)* -- Internet based platform businesses and distributed ledger technology businesses have not reached their full potential, and the core factor holding them back is worldwide decreasing trust in the internet together with under developed trust in decentralized technology solutions.
  > Multiple studies, data, and anecdotal evidence suggest that one core factor that undermines their evolution is the worldwide decreasing trust in the internet and under-developed trust in decentralized technology solutions.
  Craig Calcaterra, Wulf A. Kaal, Gopinath Sivalingam, Reputation Protocol for the Internet of Trust - Conceptual Whitepaper (2018). SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3266953
- [3266953-003](https://wulfkaal.github.io/claims/3266953-003) [failure/argued] *(failure mode)* -- Digitized and automated trust is not a stable substitute for institutional trust, because it is experiencing crises of its own that undermine the proliferation of value enhancing internet based platform businesses and distributed ledger technology businesses.
  > Yet, this digitized trust is experiencing its own crises which undermines the proliferation of value-enhancing internet-based platform businesses and DLT businesses.
  Craig Calcaterra, Wulf A. Kaal, Gopinath Sivalingam, Reputation Protocol for the Internet of Trust - Conceptual Whitepaper (2018). SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3266953
- [3266953-033](https://wulfkaal.github.io/claims/3266953-033) [failure/argued] *(failure mode)* -- Sockpuppet accounts grow their reputation value much faster than honest users can in a Web of Trust, because sockpuppets validate each other, and the system is therefore flawed and should not be used where fungible currency is at stake.
  > However, sockpuppet accounts can grow their value much quicker in the web of trust by validating each other. Honest users are much slower than the sockpuppets validating each other. Hence, the system is flawed.
  Craig Calcaterra, Wulf A. Kaal, Gopinath Sivalingam, Reputation Protocol for the Internet of Trust - Conceptual Whitepaper (2018). SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3266953

**2020**

- [3606663-039](https://wulfkaal.github.io/claims/3606663-039) [empirical/evidenced] *(failure mode)* -- The Bank of Canada's year long Jasper trial revealed a tradeoff rather than a solution: Ethereum would make the wholesale payment system more resilient but was costly and raised privacy issues, while Corda addressed cost and privacy but made the system less resilient, and the Bank concluded in May 2017 that blockchain was not mature enough to run a national interbank payment system.
  > While Ethereum would make the wholesale payment system more resilient but would be costly and raised privacy issues, Corda was able to address the cost and privacy concerns but made the system less resilient.
  Kaal, Digital Asset Market Evolution (2020). SSRN: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3606663

**2021**

- [3782205-010](https://wulfkaal.github.io/claims/3782205-010) [mechanism/asserted] -- Digital information storage makes decentralization newly viable because every participant can hold the authoritative record of the organization's entire history, removing the need for a central authority over the record.
  > Digital information storage, which allows each person to be the authoritative holders of the entire organization's history. No centralized authority is needed to be in charge of the record.
  Craig Calcaterra, Wulf A. Kaal, Eight Institutions for the Evolution of Decentralization (2021). SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3782205
- [3981021-011](https://wulfkaal.github.io/claims/3981021-011) [mechanism/evidenced] -- Distributed ledger technologies are particularly capable of increasing trust among charitable organizations, sponsors, and beneficiaries, because the technology enables real time tracking of the donation supply chain.
  > Distributed ledger technologies (DLT) are particularly capable of increasing trust between charitable organizations, sponsors, and beneficiaries. The technology enables real-time tracking of the donation supply chain.
  Wulf A. Kaal, How Decentralized Autonomous Organizations Optimize Charitable Giving (2021). SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3981021

**2022**

- [4021599-002](https://wulfkaal.github.io/claims/4021599-002) [definitional/argued] -- No truly uniform definition of blockchain technology exists; commentators variously describe it as a giant distributed immutable spreadsheet for transactions or by enumerating central elements such as decentralization, immutability, and cryptographic verification.
  > No truly uniform definition exists for blockchain technology. Some refer to it as a giant worldwide, distributed, immutable "google spreadsheet" for transactions.1
  Wulf A. Kaal, Securities Versus Utility Tokens (2022). SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4021599

**2024**

- [4900878-032](https://wulfkaal.github.io/claims/4900878-032) [mechanism/asserted] -- Because the blockchain is a distributed ledger existing simultaneously across all nodes, physical space is effectively eliminated within the network, and a triggered smart contract executes its code across the entire network instantaneously without regard to where wallets or keys are located.
  > This distributed nature effectively eliminates the concept of physical space within the network.
  Wulf A. Kaal, Quantum Economy and Tokenomics (2024). SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4900878

**2026**

- [6607458-034](https://wulfkaal.github.io/claims/6607458-034) [design/argued] -- Reputation infrastructure adequate to computative exchange requires four elements: verification against stated objectives, a tamper-resistant accessible record, a mapping from verifications to a predictive reputation score, and a non-transferability constraint, which distributed-ledger systems satisfy by construction.
  > The infrastructure requirements are four: a verification mechanism against stated objectives; a tamper-resistant accessible record of verifications; a mapping from verifications to a reputation score predictive of future performance; and a non-transferability constraint.
  Wulf A. Kaal, Computative Economics A Framework for Economic Analysis under Computational Abundance (2026). SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=6607458

## Verify

Every claim above resolves to a record carrying a verbatim source quote, the sha256 of the source PDF, and a preformatted citation. Nothing here asks to be taken on trust.

    curl -s https://wulfkaal.github.io/entities/distributed-ledger.md | sha256sum

**Canonical form.** This markdown file is the canonical hashed representation of this entity node. Its sha256 is the content hash.