Empirical analysis of blockchain integration and ESG moderation in sustainable digital transformation: Evidence from the banking sector

Blockchain technology has emerged as a transformative tool in the banking sector, enhancing transparency, security, and operational efficiency. However, its integration remains complex, shaped by technological capabilities, organizational readiness, regulatory frameworks, and sustainability considerations. This study empirically examines the determinants of blockchain integration in the banking sector, with a specific focus on the moderating role of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors. Drawing on an integrated framework combining the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) model and the Resource-Based View (RBV), we surveyed 409 banking professionals. The results indicate that technological factors (e.g., interoperability, scalability) and organizational capabilities (e.g., leadership commitment, absorptive capacity) significantly drive blockchain adoption. In contrast, financial investment and regulatory support, while traditionally emphasized in literature, were not significant in this context. ESG dimensions showed distinct moderating effects: environmental factors positively moderated blockchain integration, governance concerns exerted a negative influence, and social factors showed limited significance. These findings suggest that sustainability considerations do not uniformly support integration but exert differentiated effects across dimensions. The study contributes to literature by refining TOE and RBV with ESG-linked insights and offering an empirically grounded framework for responsible blockchain adoption. Implications are provided for banks seeking to align digital transformation with sustainability and compliance objectives.