Blockchain technology adoption and its impact on SME performance: insights for entrepreneurs and policymakers

Purpose This study aims to empirically examine and analyze the factors that influence the adoption of blockchain technology, particularly within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The study also predicts how adopting blockchain technology may affect SMEs’ market and financial performance. Design/methodology/approach The research is grounded in the theoretical frameworks of the “technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework” and the “resource-based view (RBV)” perspective. The researchers collected 407 responses from a survey conducted on SMEs in India. The statistical package for social science, followed by the “partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM)” technique, was applied for the data analysis. Findings This paper offered a robust research framework for blockchain technology adoption in which one of the two proposed technological factors (relative advantage), one organizational factor (top management support) and two environmental factors (competitive pressure and market dynamics) significantly influence blockchain technology adoption. Similarly, there is a substantial association between blockchain technology adoption and both market and financial performance. More specifically, the complexity and perceived investment cost have been recognized as barriers to SMEs adopting blockchain technology. Research limitations/implications The primary focus of this research lies in examining the adoption of blockchain technology among SMEs in India. Consequently, there exists an opportunity to broaden the scope of this study to include various other countries. Such an expansion holds the potential to yield more precise and comprehensive results, enabling a comparative analysis across diverse international contexts. Practical implications The outcomes have practical significance for SMEs as they navigate their strategies for adopting blockchain technology. Moreover, policymakers and practitioners can use these findings to enact specific measures targeting barriers, fostering the adoption of blockchain in Indian SMEs and creating a more supportive environment for technological integration and growth. Originality/value This study introduces a novel theoretical framework focusing on the impact of blockchain adoption on SMEs. Its distinctive contribution lies in investigating the mediating role of blockchain adoption in the relationship between market and financial performance, specifically within emerging economies. By addressing this gap, the study enhances the understanding of how blockchain adoption shapes SME performance in evolving economic landscapes.