Journal Article 2025 ● Accepted — In press

The Role of Blockchain in Public Administration's
Standardisation and Digitalisation Challenges

Authors Ludovico Papalia · Chantal Bomprezzi · Monica Palmirani
Status Accepted — forthcoming
Venue European Journal of Law and Technology (EJLT)
Language English
Affiliation Università di Bologna · Vrije Universiteit Brussel
PDF available upon publication View Journal ↗ Cite this paper
Ludovico Papalia Chantal Bomprezzi Monica Palmirani

The digital transformation of public administration has progressed from simple document conversion towards comprehensive process re-engineering, with blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) emerging as central technologies in this evolution. This paper examines how blockchain's inherent characteristics such as immutability, decentralisation, and cryptographic security intersect with AI's analytical capabilities to address longstanding challenges in governmental operations, particularly in legislative document management and administrative standardisation. The analysis demonstrates that whilst blockchain provides secure infrastructure for data integrity and traceability, its integration with AI enables sophisticated document classification and automated procedure execution through smart contracts. The Italian regulatory framework, particularly in the Decreto Semplificazioni (Law n. 12/2019) and recent AI legislation, offers crucial legal recognition for these technologies, yet considerable ambiguities persist regarding liability allocation and governance structures. Technical interoperability challenges, combined with cultural resistance within public institutions, constitute a main implementation barrier. This paper argues that successful deployment requires fundamental reconceptualisation of administrative processes rather than mere technological grafting onto existing workflows. Case studies including Estonia's e-governance model and Italy's x-Leges system illuminate both the transformative potential and practical complexities of blockchain-AI integration, suggesting that genuine innovation emerges through their thoughtful convergence within redesigned administrative frameworks that preserve constitutional values whilst enhancing transparency and efficiency.

blockchain artificial intelligence public administration regulatory framework Akoma Ntoso LegalTech Ludovico Papalia
Papalia, L., Bomprezzi, C., & Palmirani, M. (forthcoming). The role of blockchain in public administration's standardisation and digitalisation challenges. European Journal of Law and Technology. [Accepted, in press]