Ph.D XXXVII

Supervisor: Massimo Franceschet

Phone: +39 0432 558411

Room: Rizzi A2 52

Mail: santoro.francesco001@spes.uniud.it

Research Project

Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) based on blockchain technology. Research on possible applications, characteristics and regulation

The proposed research aims to address the issue of the introduction of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). A DAO is an organization that works through rules encoded in computer programs called smart contracts that run on a blockchain network. Alternatively, a DAO can be defined as a group of people without centralized management that coordinates on the internet around a shared set of algorithmic rules to achieve common goals. It is of the principle blockchain-embedded technological applications, still experimental but highly innovative. DAOs could be an essential economic driver increasing productivity and innovative capacity for entire communities able to seize the potential.

This research, aimed at the practical experimentation of this technology, will also be extended to identify economic, legal, political, and social perspectives on the introduction of these applications.

Francesco Santoro holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Science of Government and Public Administration, both achieved at the University of Trieste. He holds as well a first-level master’s in Labour Legislation from the University of Trieste and a second-level master’s in Intelligence and ICT from the University of Udine. He is a public officer of Guardia di Finanza passionate about Computer Science. Before joining the Ph.D. program, he has worked in many fields of the law enforcement sector related to financial crimes. His main research interests are focused on blockchain technology, fintech, decentralized finance, decentralized autonomous organizations, law enforcement.