A blockchain-based object sharing system for local communities
Nicolò Vanzo, Emanuele Spadaro, Cristina Viano, Claudio Schifanella · 2024
This paper aims to demonstrate how blockchain technology can enhance the reuse of unused items by facilitating the lending of physical goods in local sharing economies. While in many local communities this type of interaction between citizens is already established informally, we propose a model that helps to digitalize the process without crowding out interpersonal relationships within citizens. This is achieved by making a digital twin of each item via a totally decentralised lending management system where each loan takes place between two parties without any mediator. This lending system is available to local communities through a web application we developed as a submodule of CommonsHood, a comprehensive wallet app designed to provide civic communities with the necessary tools to encourage active civic participation within the community. We experimented our proposal within a local community in the city of Turin, Italy.