Model Structure for Block Chain Technology and Cryptocurrency for the Financial Services Sector in Zimbabwe

Academic Paper from the year 2021 in the subject Computer Sciences - Cryptocurrency, grade: 1.0, , language: English, abstract: The study was purposed to develop the model structure for Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency, and determine the factors that influence the adoption of Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency in Zimbabwe in order to make value-adding contributions to the cybersecurity risk management of the financial services sector. Cybersecurity is the collection of policies, techniques, technologies, and processes that work together to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of computing resources, networks, software, programs, and data from attack. Cybersecurity threats have thus shifted from the cryptocurrency to attacking platforms using the cryptocurrency such as crypto exchanges. Essentially, there would be no bitcoin without Blockchain but Blockchain exists without bitcoin.The entire system works with a distributed ledger technology that operates on a decentralized pattern. The blockchain is distributed and highly available, exhibits irreversibility and immutability, and eliminates intermediaries in banking sector. For the Blockchain to function fully, it requires components such as the Node, Transaction, Block as a data structure, Chain of the blocks, Miners to perform the block verification process, and Consensus (consensus protocol). The Mixed Method methodology was used. The research utilized focus groups and document analysis to gather knowledge on the subject. A survey was conducted which included distribution of questionnaires and conducting interviews with heads of the banking sector.

Professor Gabriel Kabanda is an exceptional strategist, seasoned academician, data scientist, expert evaluator, shrewd business consultant and leader talented with competences for dealing with business and with people. He is a Full Professor of Computer Science and Information Systems; a Professor of Applied Business Informatics (MIS/BIS) at the University of Zimbabwe Business School since January, 2000; an Adjunct Professor of Cybersecurity in USA at both California State University - Chico (Cybersecurity for Executives Program Faculty, Regional and Continuing Education) [https://rce.csuchico.edu/cybersecurity-for-executives/faculty] and Ithaca College (New York; and the former Pro Vice Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Enterprise Development) of Zimbabwe Open University. He holds a Post-Doctorate of Science - D.Sc. (Atlantic International University, USA), Ph.D.(California, PWU), M.Sc. (Swansea University, UK) degrees in Computer Science, and a B.Sc. in Mathematics and Physics (University of Zimbabwe). Gabriel is a Fellow and the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences, Secretary General of the Africa-Asia-Dialogue Network [https://www.theaadn.org/aadn-executive-committee/], a Fellow of the African Scientific Institute (USA), and a member of the African Science, Research and Innovation Council (ASRIC) of the African Union. His international awards include Who's Who of Professionals (1997), the Golden Academic Excellence and Professional Achievement award (2013), the South African Department of Science and Technology's most accomplished African scientist and outstanding researcher (2017), and UNESCO's 'Most Notable and Top Distinguished Professor of the 21st Century' (May, 2021). He is currently the Qualified Country Co-Investigator (CCI) for Zambia and Zimbabwe of the international Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness (GLOBE) 2020 Project, which is a unique large-scale study of cultural practices, leadership ideals, and generalized and interpersonal trust in more than 160 countries in collaboration with more than 500 researchers [https://globeproject.com/about]. Gabriel has published 100 research publications and has supervised 11 Ph.D theses and 100 Masters Dissertations.