Digitalization, trust, and sustainability transitions: Insights from two blockchain-based green experiments in China's electricity sector

Linking decarbonization with digitalization has been a promising trend in transition research. This paper explores how blockchain technologies matter in sustainability transitions through their key mechanism-trust-by comparing two blockchain-based green experiments in China's electricity sector. Blockchain technologies can bring institution-based trust among participating agents, but other types of trust are needed to promote this institution-trust to a system level. Incumbent actors have a greater advantage in mobilizing established trust relationships to promote blockchain-based green experiments and strengthen their power positions. It implies that digitalization may create unequal opportunities for incumbents and newcomers, leading to imbalanced trust and power relationships.