Trust Beyond Code: Governance in an Islamic Blockchain

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Speaker: Lexa Lyu

Type: Lightning Talk

Expertise: Some familiarity with the topic

Event: Devcon

Date: Nov 2026

Ethereum has demonstrated that decentralized systems can coordinate value at global scale. Yet one question remains unresolved: why do some communities embrace blockchain while others remain skeptical, even when the technology is identical? This talk argues that the answer lies beyond cryptography. Drawing on the HAQQ Network, I examine how blockchain legitimacy is produced through religious institutions, moral authority, and governance rather than code alone. HAQQ is not presented as a model for Ethereum to copy, but as a unique case that exposes assumptions embedded in mainstream blockchain governance. By comparing Ethereum's governance philosophy with an ecosystem built around Shariah-compliant legitimacy, this session offers a new way to think about blockchain adoption and governance in culturally diverse contexts. Participants will leave with practical and conceptual tools for designing decentralized systems that remain credible across different social worlds.