A Design Science Study of Blockchain-Based Governance and Incentive Architectures for Ride-Sharing Platforms

Ride-sharing platforms have transformed urban mobility but continue to face persistent challenges related to high commission structures, algorithmic opacity, regulatory fragmentation, and limited stakeholder participation. Adopting a Design Science Research approach, this study proposes and evaluates a blockchain-based ride-sharing framework that integrates Decentralised Autonomous Organisation (DAO) governance and token-based incentive mechanisms to address these structural limitations. A proof-of-concept artefact was developed using a Parity Substrate blockchain with a Proof-of-Authority (PoA) consensus model, incorporating modular components for ride management, decentralised governance, cooperative finance, identity verification, and incentive distribution. The artefact was evaluated through simulated performance testing involving 2000 transactions and qualitative validation via focus group discussions with drivers, transport union representatives, and regulators in Nairobi. Results indicate sustained throughput of approximately 140 transactions per second with low transaction costs, alongside improved stakeholder perceptions of transparency, fairness, and participatory governance compared to conventional ride-hailing platforms. While the findings are exploratory, they suggest that permissioned blockchain architectures combined with cooperative governance and intrinsically utilitarian token models may offer a viable pathway for reconfiguring ride-sharing platforms toward more inclusive, accountable, and context-sensitive mobility systems, particularly in emerging-market environments.