Ethereum as microcredit for financial inclusion in a developing country: Assessing the drivers and barriers

Ethereum is used as microcredit to offer low-cost and financial access to individuals who lack access to traditional financial services, especially in developing countries such as Kenya. Research has primarily focused on the utility of the technology, but there is hardly any insight into users’ perception of its reliability. As such, several challenges have arisen in its deployment. Using interview data, this study seeks to examine the experiences of individuals (as stakeholders) who use Ethereum as a microcredit to reveal the challenges and barriers faced and how individuals can grasp the opportunities presented by this technology. This study contributes to revealing stakeholder experience, which is vital for policymakers, institutions and developers to understand what is working and what is not, to fine-tune the Ethereum ecosystem for great efficacy and acceptance.