The persistent challenge of transparency and accountability in governance structures across developing economies has stifled sustainable development, discouraged investment, and eroded public trust. As these nations continue to grapple with administrative inefficiencies, corruption, and opaque processes, emerging technologies offer potential pathways for reform. Among these, blockchain technology stands out as a decentralized, immutable, and transparent digital ledger system capable of redefining how governance is conceptualized and implemented. This paper explores the viability of blockchain-enabled e-governance models in enhancing transparency within public institutions in developing contexts. Drawing from a conceptual and exploratory framework, the study identifies key areas where blockchain applications can foster openness, such as land registry, procurement, public finance, electoral systems, and identity verification.
While prior literature acknowledges the promise of digital governance, this paper emphasizes blockchain's unique capacity to automate trust, reduce discretion, and enable real-time verification of public processes. It critically evaluates pilot initiatives and experimental blockchain programs in select developing nations to establish patterns of adoption, resistance, and measurable impact. Furthermore, it highlights the socio-political, infrastructural, and regulatory hurdles that may inhibit or distort successful implementation, especially in environments with weak digital literacy and limited institutional accountability. The study proposes a model for blockchain-enabled e-governance tailored to the socio-economic realities of developing economies. The model integrates blockchain with existing administrative systems while fostering institutional reforms, capacity building, and inclusive stakeholder engagement. It underscores the importance of designing systems that balance transparency with data privacy, decentralization with national oversight, and technology with policy intent. By aligning technical architecture with public governance objectives, the paper argues that blockchain can do more than digitize bureaucracy—it can reengineer governance processes to be citizen-centric, tamper-proof, and resilient against corruption. This abstract sets the stage for a deeper examination into how blockchain can catalyze a governance paradigm shift in the Global South, ultimately offering a roadmap for institutions seeking legitimacy and efficiency in an age of digital transformation.