PhD Oral Exam - Stéphane Sévigny, Business Administration

When studying for a doctoral degree (PhD), candidates submit a thesis that provides a critical review of the current state of knowledge of the thesis subject as well as the student’s own contributions to the subject. The distinguishing criterion of doctoral graduate research is a significant and original contribution to knowledge.

Once accepted, the candidate presents the thesis orally. This oral exam is open to the public.

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the transformative role of cryptocurrency across three critical domains: environmental, social, and governance (ESG) compliance, blockchain-integrated gaming (GameFi), and political finance (PolitiFi). Through a thesis-by-article structure, it presents three complementary studies that together explore cryptocurrency’s broader societal impact and its implications for innovation in finance and governance.

The first article critically evaluates Bitcoin’s alignment with ESG criteria, challenging the dominant narrative that emphasizes its environmental footprint. Utilizing a novel forecast model, the study projects Bitcoin’s energy consumption and highlights overlooked contributions to financial inclusion, renewable energy integration, and governance transparency. This work offers insights into how Bitcoin’s environmental criticisms may be mitigated through technological advancements and innovative mining practices.

The second article examines the emerging GameFi sector, which bridges decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and gaming. By analyzing key developments such as play-to-earn models and blockchain gaming’s evolution, the study uses empirical methods to explore GameFi’s independence from traditional cryptocurrency markets. It reveals how GameFi redefines digital economies, providing new monetization opportunities and reshaping value exchange between players and developers.

The third article introduces PolitiFi, a novel category of cryptocurrencies linked to political campaigns and figures. Employing a Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model, the study investigates PolitiFi’s market dynamics and its rapid decoupling from traditional meme coins. It demonstrates PolitiFi’s potential to engage underrepresented voters, influence campaign strategies, and disrupt traditional political finance.

Together, these studies provide a cohesive examination of cryptocurrency’s societal contributions, addressing critical challenges and uncovering opportunities for its application in diverse fields. The findings contribute to academic discourse on decentralized technologies while offering practical implications for policy-making, sustainable finance, and digital innovation.