Deloitte's 2020 Global Blockchain Survey: Nearly 40% of Respondents Have Blockchain In Production, Affirming Blockchain's Maturity as a True Strategic Priority

NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Now in its third year, Deloitte's "Global Blockchain Survey" reveals a compelling evolution of blockchain from an experimental, disruptive technology to a true strategic priority for organizations. Survey respondents indicated increased sentiment; investments; and more strategic talent sourcing and requirements for blockchain initiatives. For the first time, the survey digs into the role and evolution of digital assets.

Among the key survey findings:

• Thirty-nine percent of global respondents have already incorporated blockchain into production. This is a significant increase from 23% of respondents signaling production last year. 
• Fifty-five percent of responding organizations view blockchain as a top strategic priority, an increase from 53% in 2019 and 43% in 2018.
• Nearly 89% of those surveyed believe that digital assets will be "very" or "somewhat" important to their industries in the next three years.
• Eighty-two percent of respondents said that they are hiring staff with blockchain expertise or plan to do so within the next 12 months, compared to 73% last year.
• Eighty-three percent of respondents indicated their companies will lose competitive advantage if they don't adopt blockchain (versus 77% in 2019).
• Seventy percent call the pace of regulatory change for blockchain and digital asset solutions as "very" or "somewhat" fast.

Increased advances of large-scale blockchain initiatives are occurring including blockchain-based financial infrastructure to simplify global money movement and commerce, as well as distributed ledger technology for trade finance and blockchain-enabled track-and-trace platforms, among others. The survey report also revealed increased blockchain initiatives in daily processes including title transfer and protection; patient data storage and retrieval; and more efficient voting or food sourcing tracking.

"While blockchain was once classified as a technology experiment, it now represents a true agent of change that is affecting the entire organization," said Linda Pawczuk, Principal, Global and US Consulting Leader for Blockchain and Digital Assets, Deloitte Consulting LLP. "Like many disruptive technologies, it has evolved from a merely promising and potentially groundbreaking approach to a now integral solution to organizational innovation. This year's survey suggests that blockchain is solidly entrenched in the strategic thinking of organizations across industries, sectors and applications."

"Our survey confirms what we see in the marketplace — a proliferation of digital assets used as a means of exchange, a store of value, digital representations of specific assets, or equity in a company," said Rob Massey, Partner, Global and US Tax Leader for Blockchain and Digital Assets, Deloitte Tax LLP. "Digital assets are now enabling enhanced commercialization models across industries and geographies."

Regional analysis
Asia Pacific responses revealed a widespread recognition of blockchain's strategic value, while China expressed concerns over cross-border implications. Germany exhibited substantial activity around crypto regulation. UAE exhibits continued emergence of a digital assets ecosystem and the survey report signals Israel's blockchain innovation leadership.

Consortia and governance
The survey also revealed leadership perspectives around joining consortia and an increased understanding of the benefits of consortia to help address regulatory and other complexities of implementing blockchain. These same leaders shared concerns about how consortia are run, how decisions are made, and how profits are shared across memberships. These concerns can be exacerbated further based on geographic, namely cross border, and industry-specific governance. 

The 2020 Global Blockchain Survey
Deloitte conducted the survey between Feb. 6, 2020 and March 3, 2020, polling a sample of 1,488 senior executives and practitioners in 14 countries and territories (Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States). The full report can be found: link to full report.

Deloitte blockchain
At Deloitte, our people collaborate with clients, regulators and policy makers on how blockchain and digital assets are changing the face of business and government today. New ecosystems are developing blockchain-based infrastructure and solutions to create innovative business models and disrupt traditional ones. This is occurring in every industry and in most jurisdictions globally. Our deep business acumen and global industry-leading audit, consulting, tax, risk and financial advisory services help organizations across industries achieve their varying blockchain aspirations.

About Deloitte
Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500® and more than 7,000 private companies. Our people work across the industry sectors that drive and shape today's marketplace — delivering measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in our capital markets, inspire clients to see challenges as opportunities to transform and thrive, and help lead the way toward a stronger economy and a healthy society. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Now celebrating 175 years of service, our network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte's more than 312,000 people worldwide make an impact that matters at www.deloitte.com.

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SOURCE Deloitte Consulting LLP

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