Within a year, the share of companies in Germany that use blockchain technologies or plan to do so in the near future has risen from around seven to just under 10%. Around 20% of companies are discussing using blockchain. In contrast, 68.5% have not yet dealt with the technology or do not consider it relevant for their own business. Blockchain – or, more generally, distributed ledger technology (DLT) – describes a decentralized database structure that enables transparent, secure, and automated transactions. “DLT-based systems allow companies to make their digital business processes more efficient,” says ifo industry expert Anna Wolf.

The use of DLT varies greatly between economic sectors. The share is particularly high in manufacturing, where 13.2% of companies use these technologies or are planning to do so. One in three automotive companies already work with DLT solutions. In the chemical industry, the figure is around 11%. The share is similarly high among manufacturers of wood products and furniture. In the service sector, it is primarily the IT and IT security industry, consulting firms in the legal, tax and business sectors, and marketing agencies that work with blockchain technologies. Trade and construction, on the other hand, are more cautious.