Blockchain has reshaped finance, but its broader impact? Still limited. The problem? Poor integration with real-world legal systems.
Therefore, I am excited to announce that our workshop Blockchain and Constitutional Thinking: Reimagining Legitimacy and Governance in a Digital World has been accepted for the 2026 World Congress of Constitutional Law in Bogotá, Colombia (July 6-10, 2026).
The aim: bringing blockchain technology together with fundamental thinking on law.
Are you a legal scholar? Then you can contribute.
What This Workshop Offers
This is your opportunity to present your blockchain legal research at a major international conference on constitutional law. If your abstract is accepted, you’ll be invited to give a presentation at our workshop in July.
Join scholars, jurists, and technologists from around the world in exploring how blockchain technology intersects with (constitutional) law.
Your participation contributes to a crucial conversation. As blockchain networks create new forms of decentralized governance, we need fresh legal thinking to address these transformations.
This workshop aims to bridge traditional constitutional scholarship with emerging blockchain technology. It aims to explore not just how law governs technology, but how technology influences the creation of law.
What We’re Looking For
We invite abstract submissions (300-500 words) exploring the intersection of blockchain technology and constitutional law. You don’t need a finished paper yet, just a clear proposal for what you want to present.
We review these proposals, and when accepted, you receive an invitation to come present your idea at the conference!
Key Questions We’re Exploring
We welcome contributions addressing blockchain-based decentralized law and governance, such as:
- How can blockchain technology improve law-making?
- Is blockchain technology instituting a new separation of powers?
- Can the cross-border, voluntary cooperation seen in decentralized networks change how we look at normative principles?
- Can decentralized networks play a role in safeguarding foundational rights amid global uncertainties?
- What is the aim of constitutional law and can this be expressed in code?
- How do decentralized legal systems and Legaltech address challenges like digital sovereignty, human rights, and governance in polycentric environments?
Types of Contributions Welcome
- Case studies of blockchain governance systems (Bitcoin, Cardano, DAOs, etc.)
- Theoretical analyses of constitutional principles in decentralized systems
- Comparative perspectives on traditional vs. blockchain-based governance
- Legaltech applications including blockchain-based dispute resolution
- Normative frameworks for rights protection in digital ecosystems
- Practical implementations of blockchain in legal/constitutional contexts
- Critical perspectives on limitations and challenges of blockchain constitutionalism
We encourage interdisciplinary approaches that integrate law, technology, political theory, and governance studies.
Submission Details
📅 DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION: January 23, 2026 (submissions close in less than 2 weeks!)
📝 Abstract Requirements:
- Length: 300-500 words
- Languages: English, French, or Spanish
- Include: Your name, institutional affiliation, brief biography, email address, and indicate Workshop 72
🔗 Submit via the official congress portal:
https://barcelo.eventsair.com/PresentationPortal/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2FPresentationPortal%2Fwccl2026%2Fpresentation-portal
📬 Abstract Review Timeline:
- Abstract review: January 30 – February 20, 2026
- Notification of acceptance: February 27, 2026
Conference Information
Event: World Congress of Constitutional Law 2026
Theme: “Sustainable Constitutionalism: Answers for a Changing World”
Dates: July 6-10, 2026
Location: Universidad Externado de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
Host: International Association of Constitutional Law (IACL)
Workshop Format:
- 3-hour sessions (possibly multiple sessions depending on participation)
- Presentations followed by discussion and exchange
- Opportunity to develop presentations into blog posts for the IACL blog
- Potential for future publication in academic journals
More Information:
- Congress website: https://wccl2026.com/en/
- Workshop information: Workshop 72 – Blockchain and Constitutional Thinking
Workshop Chairs
Roberto Hung
co-chair: Wesley Thysse
For questions about the workshop content or scope, feel free to contact me!
We look forward to your contributions to this important conversation about the future of constitutional governance in the digital age.