Blockchain Perspectives from Austria
Senior Researcher & Area Manager @ ABC Research
Max SemenchukOverview of research and education activities of the Austrian Blockchain Center, combined with relevant blockchain trends in areas like supply chain management and token-economic systems.
Key Ideas:
- ABC Overview:
- Independent research center since 2019
- Application-oriented, interdisciplinary approach
- Bridges academia and industry
- Mission: Advance blockchain research and application across all industries and government
- Focus Areas:
- Digital Assets: DeFi, stablecoins, payment solutions, market analytics
- Token Economic Systems: Real estate tokenization, energy communities, purpose-driven tokens, incentivization schemes
- Supply Chain Management: Tracking & tracing, data integrity, emissions trading
- Supply Chain Use Cases:
- Tracking products with QR codes on blockchain
- Smart contracts for automatic quality checks
- Provable due diligence for environmental/human rights compliance
- Automatic payments on delivery based on dynamic rules
- Tamper-proof quality seals and certificates of origin
- Consumer integration with crypto token rewards for recycling
- Digital Product Passports (PASAT Project):
- EU requirement for textile, electronics, and other product groups
- Blockchain secures product information through data anchoring (hash values)
- Prevents manufacturer cover-ups during product issues
- Zero-knowledge proofs allow proving claims without disclosing full data
- Example: Prove "50%+ wood content" without revealing exact composition
- Enables authentication, ethical sourcing verification, carbon footprint compliance
- IoT Data Integrity:
- Energy-efficient data anchoring for sensor networks
- End-to-end integrity even if edge devices are hacked
- Provides undisputable proof of existence for sensor data
- Yoma Project (UNICEF):
- Token-based rewards for marginalized youth in Africa
- Micro-tasks worth a few dollars paid in crypto
- Automatic distribution without banking infrastructure
- Voucher redemption system for practical use
- Encrypted vouchers on blockchain to prevent theft
- Creates public good incentives with entrepreneurial opportunities
- Blockchain Analytics:
- Classification of Ethereum smart contracts at scale
- Function signature identification from bytecode
- 100% accuracy for standard tokens (ERC20, NFTs)
- 90% accuracy for DeFi and governance contracts
- Blockchain Education Hub:
- Free online content for adult learners
- Curated courses and videos for beginners
- Recommendations for Ukraine:
- Use blockchain to rebuild with trust as foundation
- Implement secure financial instruments (DeFi, stablecoins)
- Create token-based incentives for voluntary reconstruction work
- Enable token-based crowdfunding for new businesses
- Digitalize economy with blockchain supply chains
- Build Web3 knowledge through online education
- Form local crypto communities to connect developers and entrepreneurs
Dr. Craß will share insights on blockchain research and innovation in Europe, drawing from his extensive experience leading one of Austria's premier blockchain research initiatives. His work bridges academia and industry, focusing on cryptography, technology security, and practical blockchain applications across various sectors.
As Area Manager for "Cryptography, Technology & Security" at ABC Research, Dr. Craß brings deep expertise in distributed systems, middleware architectures, and blockchain technology development. ABC Research serves as Austria's leading one-stop-shop for DLT projects, supporting businesses from concept through prototype development while fostering a world-class blockchain ecosystem.
His presentation will offer valuable perspectives on how European research centers are advancing blockchain standards, education, and real-world implementations — from Digital Product Passports to blockchain literacy initiatives.