Blockchain technology (BT) is regarded as one of the most significant inventions of recent times.

However, despite the growing diffusion of BT in regulating transactions between entities, most prior research has mainly examined the technical aspects and the performance of BT and its role in managing cryptocurrency transactions, but only marginally addressing applications in inter-organisational relationships (IORs).

Leveraging network theory, our work focuses on these applications. Evidence shows that BT fosters the stability of IORs and that the relationship between BT and management control is partly mediated by the network mobilised through BT and its governance.

More specifically, BT substitutes behaviour controls, complements output and input controls and, by means of the network activated through BT and the related governance arrangements, it fosters the development of social controls in IORs.

Our work provides initial insights for understanding the potentialities and control implications that BT has in business and institutional IORs, well beyond some of the purely technical functionalities normally ascribed to it.

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