Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence in Sustainable Finance: A Thematic Analysis

In recent years, sustainable finance has emerged as a central concept at the convergence of finance and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Likewise, blockchain technology (BT) and artificial intelligence (AI) are currently considered among the most well-known technologies, and combining these two technologies has uncapped potential, especially for sustainable finance. This study synthesizes and systematically reviews the existing literature on blockchain and artificial intelligence in sustainable finance. We gathered relevant studies from Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. We applied co-occurrence mapping and thematic analysis with the help of VOSviewer and NVivo software. In this study, based on a systematic literature review of 509 studies, the findings revealed five thematic areas (i.e., ESG measurement and disclosure; tracking and trading of carbon footprint; renewable energy and circular economy; transparency, security, governance, and compliance; and social and ethical aspects) attracting research interest. This study also identified several challenges faced by sustainable finance in the contemporary business environment. We outline, with a few remarks, general trends for the use of blockchain and artificial intelligence in sustainable finance developments in the financial markets. The findings of this study recommend more regulatory oversight on sustainable investments and actions from governments to promote sustainable investing.