DECODING THE CRYPTO ECOSYSTEM: A BIBLIOMETRIC AND CONCEPTUAL STUDY OF BLOCKCHAIN ASSETS AND THEIR ALIGNMENT WITH SUSTAINABILITY GOALS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17445976Keywords:
Cryptocurrency, meme coins, blockchain assets, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sustainability reporting (SR), bibliometric analysis, decentralized finance (DeFi), blockchain governance, decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), digital finance, ethical innovation, transparency, trust metrics, speculative behavior, crypto regulation, Biblioshiny, RStudio, Dimensions database.Abstract
Purpose – This study examines the academic evolution of cryptocurrencies, meme coins, and emerging tokens
through the lens of sustainability reporting (SR) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As the crypto ecosystem
expands, distinguishing asset types and their alignment with global sustainability efforts becomes essential for scholars,
regulators, and investors seeking to promote transparent, ethical, and resilient digital finance systems.
Design/methods/approach – The study adopts a quantitative bibliometric analysis method using secondary data extracted
from the Dimensions database. A total of 500 publications from 2016 to 2025 were screened, with 60 eligible articles
selected for in-depth analysis. Data were processed using RStudio with Bibliometrix and Biblioshiny packages. The
analysis included performance metrics, trend mapping, co-occurrence network analysis, and citation assessment to
evaluate scholarly contributions and thematic development.
Findings – The results highlight a rapid increase in scholarly attention on crypto-related sustainability topics, particularly
from 2020 to 2023. Three primary thematic clusters emerged: trust and decentralization, speculative behavior and
community-driven meme coins, and the governance implications of digital assets. The study finds that blockchain
assets exhibit both opportunities and risks in advancing SDG objectives. While cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin promote
decentralization and transparency, meme coins often reflect volatility and unsustainable hype cycles. The emergence
of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and crypto disclosure practices mimicking SR frameworks indicate
convergence between blockchain governance and sustainability reporting norms.
Research implications/limitations – The findings are limited to English-language publications and a specific database,
which may exclude relevant global contributions. Nonetheless, this study opens new directions for integrating SR and
SDG principles into decentralized financial systems and highlights the need for regulatory alignment, trust metrics, and
data transparency in crypto ecosystems.
Originality/value – This study contributes to the growing intersection of digital finance and sustainability by classifying
the crypto asset spectrum and identifying how each type aligns with ethical innovation and SDG integration. It proposes
a research agenda focused on decentralized governance, trust-based transparency, and the use of blockchain for
responsible financial development.
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