Should This Problem Use Blockchain?
Blockchain is not automatically the correct solution. This framework helps learners and founders test whether a proposed use case genuinely benefits from decentralised architecture or would be better served by a conventional database and application stack.
Step 1
Check the Trust Model
Ask whether multiple parties need to share data or execute rules without fully trusting a single operator.
- Are there competing stakeholders?
- Is a neutral shared ledger valuable?
- Would unilateral database control create risk?
Step 2
Check the Need for Immutability
Persistent, tamper-evident records are useful only when auditability and traceability are central requirements.
- Does the system require long-term record integrity?
- Are disputes likely over historical state?
- Would regulated audit trails matter?
Step 3
Check the Cost of Decentralisation
Decentralisation introduces latency, complexity, and governance overhead. These must be justified.
- Can the use case tolerate slower coordination?
- Are transaction costs acceptable?
- Is protocol complexity worth the benefit?