Antitrust Guidelines For Companies Using Blockchain Technology

Blockchain is an emerging technology that is already changing the way companies do business. Despite its nascent and novel nature, companies using blockchain technology, as well as suppliers and end users, might still get caught in the same old anticompetitive practices subject to the antitrust laws. This paper provides antitrust guidelines to all those involved in the blockchain world who want to avoid breaching US antitrust laws.

1. What Is Blockchain Technology?

A "blockchain" is a decentralized, electronic register in which transactions and interactions can be recorded and validated in a verifiable and permanent way. A peer-to-peer network is where different users or "nodes" share and validate information in a database or network without the need of a centralized and trusted intermediary.