The Revolution of Water Law: When Past, Present, and Future Collide

The intersection of the past (legacy systems of water law), present (crisis of water scarcity), and future (promise of blockchain crypto technologies) provides a unique opportunity to consider the influence that emerging technologies will have on legal doctrines that have been largely dominated by history and tradition. As an example of application, the Atreides project shows how blockchain technologies enhance the mechanisms that influence economic and environmental efficiencies in water resource districts that are governed by modern policy and backed by more certain property rights. By using these districts as an example to others of the environmental and economic synergies that can be captured when innovative technologies are applied within the appropriate legal frameworks, the project illustrates blockchain’s significant potential to revolutionize existing water law and policy.

Master of Ceremonies:
Nicole Shanahan, CodeX; Bia-Echo Foundation