Level: MA; MAP
Responsible Person: Parminder Kaur Makode (parminderkaur.makode@uzh.ch)
Keywords: Decentralised Autonomous Organisations, incentive mechanism, tokenisation, circular economy

This master's thesis proposes the development of a novel blockchain architecture designed to foster self-sustaining decentralized autonomous spaces (DAS), with an emphasis on incentivizing sustainable behaviours and self-governance within communities. By leveraging blockchain technology, this research aims to devise an algorithm that enables organizations, including DAOs, towns, and smart villages, to operate independently while promoting environmental sustainability and technological integration. The central research questions explore the feasibility of creating self-sustaining incentivization models within decentralized autonomous spaces, whether these spaces are confined to physical buildings or can extend to entire communities such as towns or smart cities, and how such models can incentivize green behaviour, maintenance, and self-sufficiency to foster a sustainable society.

The methodology involves a comparative analysis of existing blockchain-based incentive structures, case studies on attempted smart cities and villages, and the conceptual development of a blockchain framework capable of supporting a self-sustaining DAS. This research stands at the intersection of urban planning, environmental science, and blockchain technology, contributing to the discourse on sustainable development, self-governance, and technology adoption in community management.

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