From Vehicular Blockchain Trading to Smart Mobility Governance: Institutional Trust, Incentives, and Technology Adoption

Shitong Ye; Lijuan Zhang; Xiangyuan Li

doi:10.63646/VWFQ3561

Authors

Shitong Ye¹ https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2728-5523
- Conceptualization
- Data Curation
- Investigation
- Writing – Original Draft Preparation
Lijuan Zhang¹ https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8043-8128
- Formal Analysis
- Validation
- Visualization
Xiangyuan Li^2,* https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6935-2001
- Methodology
- Resources
- Supervision
- Writing – Review & Editing

¹ School of Artificial Intelligence, Guangzhou Huashang College, Guangzhou, China 511300

² Shenhua AI Research Institute, Guangzhou Huashang College, Guangzhou, China 511300

Corresponding author: lxy5882@gzhs.edu.cn

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63646/VWFQ3561

Keywords:

Vehicular blockchain; Smart mobility governance; Institutional trust; Incentive design; Technology adoption; Trust analytics; Edge computing; Privacy assurance

Abstract

Blockchain-enabled vehicular edge markets are usually discussed as technical systems for secure resource discovery, smart-contract settlement, and decentralized trust management. This article reframes that problem as a smart mobility governance issue. It argues that vehicular blockchain trading can support scalable resource sharing only when technical trust is reinforced by institutional trust, fair incentives, privacy assurance, regulatory clarity, and adoption readiness. A conceptual framework is developed to connect vehicle resource markets, blockchain transaction layers, institutional governance, trust analytics, incentive design, and technology adoption. A simulated stakeholder dataset is then used to illustrate how governance variables influence adoption readiness among vehicle owners, fleet managers, platform operators, edge infrastructure providers, municipal officers, and cybersecurity auditors. Results suggest that institutional trust and incentive fairness are the strongest drivers of adoption readiness, while regulatory clarity remains the weakest perceived condition. The article contributes to technology innovation and society research by transforming a blockchain-based vehicular trading architecture into a broader governance model for smart mobility ecosystems. It also provides practical guidance for platform operators and public agencies seeking to deploy secure, accountable, and socially acceptable mobility resource markets.

How to Cite

Ye, S., Zhang, L., & Li, X. (2026). From Vehicular Blockchain Trading to Smart Mobility Governance: Institutional Trust, Incentives, and Technology Adoption. Journal of Technology Innovation and Society, 2(1), 69-88. https://doi.org/10.63646/VWFQ3561

References

Adner, R. (2017). Ecosystem as structure: An actionable construct for strategy. Journal of Management, 43(1), 39-58. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206316678451

Alaba, F. A., Othman, M., Hashem, I. A. T., & Alotaibi, F. (2017). Internet of Things security: A survey. Journal of Network and Computer Applications, 88, 10-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnca.2017.04.002

Ansell, C., & Gash, A. (2008). Collaborative governance in theory and practice. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 18(4), 543-571. https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/mum032

Atzori, L., Iera, A., & Morabito, G. (2010). The Internet of Things: A survey. Computer Networks, 54(15), 2787-2805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comnet.2010.05.010

Bharadwaj, A., El Sawy, O. A., Pavlou, P. A., & Venkatraman, N. (2013). Digital business strategy: Toward a next generation of insights. MIS Quarterly, 37(2), 471-482. https://doi.org/10.25300/MISQ/2013/37.2.3

Bonomi, F., Milito, R., Zhu, J., & Addepalli, S. (2012). Fog computing and its role in the Internet of Things. Proceedings of the First Edition of the MCC Workshop on Mobile Cloud Computing, 13- 16. https://doi.org/10.1145/2342509.2342513

Casino, F., Dasaklis, T. K., & Patsakis, C. (2019). A systematic literature review of blockchain-based applications. Telematics and Informatics, 36, 55-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2018.11.006

Chen, Y., Lu, Y., Bulysheva, L., & Kataev, M. Y. (2024). Applications of blockchain in Industry 4.0: A review. Information Systems Frontiers, 26(5), 1715-1729. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-022-10248-7

Christidis, K., & Devetsikiotis, M. (2016). Blockchains and smart contracts for the Internet of Things. IEEE Access, 4, 2292-2303. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2016.2566339

Clarke, E. H. (1971). Multipart pricing of public goods. Public Choice, 11(1), 17-33. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01726210

Contreras-Castillo, J., Zeadally, S., & Guerrero-Ibanez, J. A. (2017). Internet of Vehicles: Architecture, protocols, and security. IEEE Internet of Things Journal, 5(5), 3701-3709. https://doi.org/10.1109/JIOT.2017.2690902

Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319-340. https://doi.org/10.2307/249008

DiMaggio, P. J., & Powell, W. W. (1983). The iron cage revisited: Institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in organizational fields. American Sociological Review, 48(2), 147-160. https://doi.org/10.2307/2095101

Docherty, I., Marsden, G., & Anable, J. (2018). The governance of smart mobility. Transportation Research Part A, 115, 114-125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2017.09.012

Dorri, A., Kanhere, S. S., Jurdak, R., & Gauravaram, P. (2017). Blockchain for IoT security and privacy: The case study of a smart home. Proceedings of IEEE PerCom Workshops, 618-623. https://doi.org/10.1109/PERCOMW.2017.7917634

Dwork, C. (2006). Differential privacy. In Automata, Languages and Programming (pp. 1- 12). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/11787006_1

Dwork, C., & Roth, A. (2014). The algorithmic foundations of differential privacy. Foundations and Trends in Theoretical Computer Science, 9(3-4), 211-407. https://doi.org/10.1561/0400000042

Gefen, D., Karahanna, E., & Straub, D. W. (2003). Trust and TAM in online shopping: An integrated model. MIS Quarterly, 27(1), 51-90. https://doi.org/10.2307/30036519

Groves, T. (1973). Incentives in teams. Econometrica, 41(4), 617-631. https://doi.org/10.2307/1914085

Hu, Y. C., Patel, M., Sabella, D., Sprecher, N., & Young, V. (2015). Mobile edge computing: A key technology towards 5G. ETSI White Paper, 11, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11036-015-0581-1

Kaiwartya, O., Abdullah, A. H., Cao, Y., Altameem, A., Prasad, M., Lin, C. T., & Liu, X. (2016). Internet of Vehicles: Motivation, layered architecture, network model, challenges, and future aspects. IEEE Access, 4, 5356-5373. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2016.2603219

Kou, G., & Lu, Y. (2025). FinTech: A literature review of emerging financial technologies and applications. Financial Innovation, 11(1), 1-34. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40854-024-00668-6

Kshetri, N. (2018). Blockchain's roles in meeting key supply chain management objectives. International Journal of Information Management, 39, 80-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2017.12.005

Lu, W., Lu, Y., Li, J., Sigov, A., Ratkin, L., & Ivanov, L. A. (2024). Quantum machine learning: Classifications, challenges, and solutions. Journal of Industrial Information Integration, 42, 100736. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jii.2024.100736

Lu, Y. (2017). Cyber physical system (CPS)-based Industry 4.0: A survey. Journal of Industrial Integration and Management, 2(3), 1750014. https://doi.org/10.1142/S2424862217500142

Lu, Y. (2017). Industry 4.0: A survey on technologies, applications and open research issues. Journal of Industrial Information Integration, 6, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jii.2017.04.005

Lu, Y. (2018). Blockchain and the related issues: A review of current research topics. Journal of Management Analytics, 5(4), 231-255. https://doi.org/10.1080/23270012.2018.1516523

Lu, Y. (2019). Artificial intelligence: A survey on evolution, models, applications and future trends. Journal of Management Analytics, 6(1), 1-29. https://doi.org/10.1080/23270012.2019.1570365

Lu, Y. (2019). The blockchain: State-of-the-art and research challenges. Journal of Industrial Information Integration, 15, 80-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jii.2019.04.002

Lu, Y. (2022). Implementing blockchain in information systems: A review. Enterprise Information Systems, 16(12), 1876-1907. https://doi.org/10.1080/17517575.2021.2008513

Lu, Y. (2025). The current status and developing trends of Industry 4.0: A review. Information Systems Frontiers, 27(1), 215-234. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-021-10221-w

Lu, Y., Ivanov, L. A., Wang, F., Pisarenko, Z. V., & Ye, C. (2024). Management analytics: A bibliometric analysis. Nanotechnologies in Construction, 16(3), 257-266. https://doi.org/10.15828/2075-8545-2024-16-3-257-266

Lu, Y., & Ning, X. (2020). A vision of 6G-5G's successor. Journal of Management Analytics, 7(3), 301-320. https://doi.org/10.1080/23270012.2020.1802622

Lu, Y., Pisarenko, Z. V., Yang, L., & Ye, C. (2024). Advancing decision-making: The role of management analytics in modern business practices. Nanotechnologies in Construction, 16(5), 431-440. https://doi.org/10.15828/2075-8545- 2024- 16-5-431-440

Lu, Y., & Xu, L. D. (2019). Internet of Things (IoT) cybersecurity research: A review of current research topics. IEEE Internet of Things Journal, 6(2), 2103-2115. https://doi.org/10.1109/JIOT.2018.2869847

Lu, Y., & Yang, J. (2024). Quantum financing system: A survey on quantum algorithms, potential scenarios and open research issues. Journal of Industrial Information Integration, 41, 100663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jii.2024.100663

Lu, Y., & Zheng, X. (2020). 6G: A survey on technologies, scenarios, challenges, and the related issues. Journal of Industrial Information Integration, 19, 100158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jii.2020.100158

Lu, Y., Zheng, X., Li, L., & Xu, L. D. (2020). Pricing the cloud: A QoS-based auction approach. Enterprise Information Systems, 14(3), 334-351. https://doi.org/10.1080/17517575.2019.1669827

Lyons, G. (2018). Getting smart about urban mobility: Aligning the paradigms of smart and sustainable. Transportation Research Part A, 115, 4-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2016.12.001

Mach, P., & Becvar, Z. (2017). Mobile edge computing: A survey on architecture and computation offloading. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, 19(3), 1628-1656. https://doi.org/10.1109/COMST.2017.2682318

Mao, Y., You, C., Zhang, J., Huang, K., & Letaief, K. B. (2017). A survey on mobile edge computing: The communication perspective. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, 19(4), 2322-2358. https://doi.org/10.1109/COMST.2017.2745201

Markus, M. L., & Robey, D. (1988). Information technology and organizational change: Causal structure in theory and research. Management Science, 34(5), 583-598. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.34.5.583

Marsden, G., & Reardon, L. (2017). Questions of governance: Rethinking the study of transportation policy. Transportation Research Part A, 101, 238-251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2017.05.008

Miorandi, D., Sicari, S., De Pellegrini, F., & Chlamtac, I. (2012). Internet of Things: Vision, applications and research challenges. Ad Hoc Networks, 10(7), 1497-1516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adhoc.2012.02.016

Myerson, R. B. (1981). Optimal auction design. Mathematics of Operations Research, 6(1), 58-73. https://doi.org/10.1287/moor.6.1.58

Nambisan, S., Lyytinen, K., Majchrzak, A., & Song, M. (2017). Digital innovation management: Reinventing innovation management research in a digital world. MIS Quarterly, 41(1), 223-238. https://doi.org/10.25300/MISQ/2017/41.1.03

Nisan, N., & Ronen, A. (2001). Algorithmic mechanism design. Games and Economic Behavior, 35(1-2), 166- 196. https://doi.org/10.1006/game.1999.0790

North, D. C. (1991). Institutions. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 5(1), 97-112. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.5.1.97

Oliveira, T., Thomas, M., Baptista, G., & Campos, F. (2016). Mobile payment: Understanding the determinants of customer adoption and intention to recommend the technology. Computers in Human Behavior, 61, 404-414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.03.030

Oreg, S., & Berson, Y. (2019). Leaders' impact on organizational change: Bridging theoretical and methodological chasms. Academy of Management Annals, 13(1), 272-307. https://doi.org/10.5465/annals.2016.0138

Orlikowski, W. J. (1992). The duality of technology: Rethinking the concept of technology in organizations. Organization Science, 3(3), 398-427. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.3.3.398

Ostrom, E. (2010). Beyond markets and states: Polycentric governance of complex economic systems. American Economic Review, 100(3), 641-672. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.100.3.641

Pangbourne, K., Mladenovic, M. N., Stead, D., & Milakis, D. (2020). Questioning mobility as a service: Unanticipated implications for society and governance. Transportation Research Part A, 131, 35-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2019.09.033

Papa, E., & Lauwers, D. (2015). Smart mobility: Opportunity or threat to innovate places and cities? Transportation Research Procedia, 10, 543-550. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2015.09.090

Queiroz, M. M., & Wamba, S. F. (2019). Blockchain adoption challenges in supply chain: An empirical investigation of the main drivers in India and the USA. International Journal of Information Management, 46, 70-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2018.11.021

Roman, R., Zhou, J., & Lopez, J. (2013). On the features and challenges of security and privacy in distributed Internet of Things. Computer Networks, 57(10), 2266-2279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comnet.2012.12.018

Roughgarden, T., & Tardos, E. (2002). How bad is selfish routing? Journal of the ACM, 49(2), 236-259. https://doi.org/10.1145/506147.506153

Saberi, S., Kouhizadeh, M., Sarkis, J., & Shen, L. (2019). Blockchain technology and its relationships to sustainable supply chain management. International Journal of Production Research, 57(7), 2117-2135. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2018.1533261

Sarker, S., Sarker, S., Sahaym, A., & Bjorn-Andersen, N. (2012). Exploring value cocreation in relationships between an ERP vendor and its partners. MIS Quarterly, 36(1), 317-338. https://doi.org/10.2307/41410419

Satyanarayanan, M. (2017). The emergence of edge computing. Computer, 50(1), 30-39. https://doi.org/10.1109/MC.2017.9

Shi, W., Cao, J., Zhang, Q., Li, Y., & Xu, L. D. (2016). Edge computing: Vision and challenges. IEEE Internet of Things Journal, 3(5), 637-646. https://doi.org/10.1109/JIOT.2016.2579198

Shokri, R., & Shmatikov, V. (2015). Privacy-preserving deep learning. Proceedings of the 22nd ACM SIGSAC Conference on Computer and Communications Security, 1310-1321. https://doi.org/10.1145/2810103.2813687

Sicari, S., Rizzardi, A., Grieco, L. A., & Coen-Porisini, A. (2015). Security, privacy and trust in Internet of Things: The road ahead. Computer Networks, 76, 146-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comnet.2014.11.008

Suchman, M. C. (1995). Managing legitimacy: Strategic and institutional approaches. Academy of Management Review, 20(3), 571-610. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1995.9508080331

Treiblmaier, H. (2018). The impact of the blockchain on the supply chain: A theory-based research framework and a call for action. Supply Chain Management, 23(6), 545-559. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-05-2018-0195

Venkatesh, V., Morris, M. G., Davis, G. B., & Davis, F. D. (2003). User acceptance of information technology: Toward a unified view. MIS Quarterly, 27(3), 425-478. https://doi.org/10.2307/30036540

Vial, G. (2019). Understanding digital transformation: A review and a research agenda. Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 28(2), 118-144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2019.01.003

Vickrey, W. (1961). Counterspeculation, auctions, and competitive sealed tenders. Journal of Finance, 16(1), 8-37. https://doi.org/10.2307/2977633

Wamba, S. F., Gunasekaran, A., Akter, S., Ren, S. J., Dubey, R., & Childe, S. J. (2017). Big data analytics and firm performance: Effects of dynamic capabilities. Journal of Business Research, 70, 356-365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.08.009

Weber, R. H. (2010). Internet of Things: New security and privacy challenges. Computer Law & Security Review, 26(1), 23-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clsr.2009.11.008

Williamson, O. E. (1979). Transaction-cost economics: The governance of contractual relations. Journal of Law and Economics, 22(2), 233-261. https://doi.org/10.1086/466942

Wu, H. P., Liu, Z., Dong, H. Y., Lu, Y., & Xu, L. D. (2025). Revolutionizing internal auditing: Harnessing the power of blockchain. Enterprise Information Systems, 19(1-2), 2448003. https://doi.org/10.1080/17517575.2024.2448003

Xu, L. D., Lu, Y., & Li, L. (2021). Embedding blockchain technology into IoT for security: A survey. IEEE Internet of Things Journal, 8(13), 10452-10473. https://doi.org/10.1109/JIOT.2021.3060508

Xu, R., Zhu, J., Yang, L., Lu, Y., & Xu, L. D. (2024). Decentralized finance (DeFi): A paradigm shift in the FinTech. Enterprise Information Systems, 18(9), 2397630. https://doi.org/10.1080/17517575.2024.2397630

Ye, Z., & Lu, Y. (2022). Quantum science: A review and current research trends. Journal of Management Analytics, 9(3), 383-402. https://doi.org/10.1080/23270012.2022.2089064

Yli-Huumo, J., Ko, D., Choi, S., Park, S., & Smolander, K. (2016). Where is current research on blockchain technology? A systematic review. PLOS ONE, 11(10), e0163477. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0163477

Yoo, Y., Henfridsson, O., & Lyytinen, K. (2010). Research commentary: The new organizing logic of digital innovation. Information Systems Research, 21(4), 724-735. https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.1100.0322

Zhang, C., & Lu, Y. (2021). Study on artificial intelligence: The state of the art and future prospects. Journal of Industrial Information Integration, 23, 100224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jii.2021.100224

Zheng, X. R., & Lu, Y. (2022). Blockchain technology: Recent research and future trend. Enterprise Information Systems, 16(12), 1939895. https://doi.org/10.1080/17517575.2021.1939895

Zucker, L. G. (1986). Production of trust: Institutional sources of economic structure, 1840- 1920. Research in Organizational Behavior, 8, 53-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-89232-601-7.50021-7