About the Journal
- Aims and Scope
The Journal of FinTech and Digital Assets (JFDA) is an international, peer-reviewed scholarly journal dedicated to advancing knowledge at the intersection of financial technology, blockchain innovation, computer science, entrepreneurial finance, management, alternative data and digital asset markets.
The journal’s mission is to provide a rigorous, high-quality platform for academics, practitioners, policymakers, and industry leaders to exchange ideas, present empirical research, and engage in critical discussions that shape the future of finance in the digital era.
In recent years, FinTech and digital assets have reshaped the global financial landscape. The JFDA seeks to capture the complexity, opportunities, and challenges of these transformations by publishing cutting-edge research that combines theoretical depth with practical relevance.
The JFDA particularly welcomes original manuscripts addressing topics such as blockchain technologies, smart contracts, big data analytics, machine learning, text analysis, innovative payment systems, robo-advisory investment strategies, peer-to-peer lending platforms, asset tokenization, cryptocurrencies, open banking, and crowdfunding, among other areas related to FinTech and digital assets/finance.
- Audience
The Journal of FinTech and Digital Assets (JFDA) publishes articles that are of interest to a diverse and global readership, including:
-Practitioners and professionals from finance, technology, and allied disciplines who seek to keep their expertise current with the latest empirical evidence and technological advancements in FinTech and digital asset markets;
-Policy advisors, regulators, and decision-makers in business, government, and international organizations who aim to develop sound strategies, governance frameworks, and best practices in emerging financial ecosystems;
-Researchers and scholars across finance, economics, data science, computer science, management, and law who strive to produce high-impact, interdisciplinary research with real-world applications and societal relevance;
-Entrepreneurs and innovators interested in leveraging FinTech, blockchain, and data-driven insights to design new investment/financial products, platforms, and services;
-Students, educators, and academic institutions seeking access to contemporary knowledge, case studies, and applied research that enrich teaching, learning, and curriculum development in finance, management and technology.
Through its interdisciplinary scope, JFDA serves as a hub for thought leadership and collaboration among those advancing financial technology, innovation, and digital transformation across the global economy.
- Open Access
Open access is the condition where the copyright holder of a scholarly work grants usage rights to others using an open license (Creative Commons or equivalent) allowing for immediate free access to the work and permitting any user to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles, crawl them for indexing, pass as data to software , or use them for any other lawful purpose.
Journals@Lincoln is an open access pathway through which peer-reviewed research outputs can be made publicly available to meet funder requirements when arising from research projects that may be fully or partially funded through government research investment. Data@Lincoln is also an open access repository for publishing research data to comply with funder and publisher requirements.
Future partnerships with other universities, research bodies, philanthropic organisations, government agencies, corporate entities and individual reader donors may be sought to strengthen editorial excellence, innovate and deliver greater engagement with our readership, and monitor the impact of authors’ work beyond our immediate readership. Any future acknowledgements of contributions will remain relevant and unobtrusive.
Publication Frequency
JFDA is published biannually, with each issue containing a curated collection of peer-reviewed articles, reviews, and invited papers, among others that are in line with JFDA’s submission types. All articles are published online simultaneously upon the release of a new issue. Readers and contributors are encouraged to register on the JFDA website to receive notifications of new issues, calls for papers, and special editions.
- Editorial Policy and Process
The Journal of FinTech and Digital Assets (JFDA) is an international, peer-reviewed scholarly journal dedicated to advancing research and discourse at the intersection of financial technology, blockchain innovations, computer science, entrepreneurial finance, management, and digital asset markets. The journal adheres to the highest standards of academic integrity, transparency, and professional conduct throughout its editorial and peer review processes.
Editorial Governance
The governance structure of JFDA comprises four Editors, supported by a board of associate editors - representing academic research and professional or industry practice. Together, they provide strategic direction and ensure the quality, consistency, and relevance of published content.
The Advisory Board will advise on long-term editorial strategy, identify emerging research directions, and help strengthen the journal’s connection with both academic and industry communities worldwide.
An Editorial Board consisting of international experts from academia, industry, regulatory bodies, and professional practice provides guidance on editorial decisions, journal strategy, and the identification of suitable reviewers and authors. The names, institutional affiliations, and areas of expertise of all Editorial Board members are listed on the journal’s official website to promote transparency and accountability.
Editorial Independence
All editorial decisions are made solely based on the academic merit, originality, and relevance of submissions to the journal’s aims and scope. While the editors may issue open calls or individual invitations for submissions to special issues or thematic collections, the selection and acceptance of manuscripts remain strictly merit-based.
Peer Review Process
All manuscripts submitted to JFDA undergo an initial editorial screening to ensure compliance with the journal’s submission guidelines and thematic focus. Submissions deemed suitable for further consideration are subjected to a double-blind peer review process, in which at least two independent reviewers evaluate the work for its scholarly contribution, methodological rigor, and clarity.
Some invited or editorially commissioned contributions (such as commentaries, perspectives, or policy notes) may undergo editorial review only, at the discretion of the editors. JFDA also welcomes proposals for special issues that address emerging topics or interdisciplinary themes in FinTech and digital assets.
Reviewer Conduct and Recognition
Reviewers are drawn from a diverse global network of academics, practitioners, and policymakers. The anonymity of both authors and reviewers is preserved unless otherwise agreed upon by both parties. Reviewers are invited to provide constructive feedback, offer recommendations for improvement, and assist editors in reaching publication decisions. With permission, the journal may publish an annual list of contributing reviewers in recognition of their service.
Through its rigorous editorial and review processes, JFDA remains committed to fostering academic excellence, professional relevance, and the dissemination of innovative ideas that shape the future of FinTech and digital asset research.
Role of Peer Reviewers
Peer reviewers play a critical role in maintaining and enhancing the scholarly quality of published research. By voluntarily contributing their time, expertise, and analytical skills, reviewers support both authors and publishers in advancing knowledge within their discipline.
Key responsibilities include:
- Assessing scientific merit: Provide an objective, evidence-based evaluation of the manuscript’s academic rigor, methodology, findings, and overall contribution, within the agreed timeline.
- Reviewing clarity and relevance: Offer informed feedback on the manuscript’s clarity, coherence, conciseness, originality, relevance, and significance to the field.
- Providing constructive feedback: Deliver specific, balanced, and actionable suggestions to strengthen the manuscript’s content, structure, presentation, and scholarly value.
- Evaluating methodology: Confirm that the research design, procedures, and analytical methods are clearly described, appropriate, and replicable.
- Ensuring proper scholarship: Verify that relevant literature has been adequately considered and cited, and that the manuscript reflects scholarly integrity.
- Maintaining ethical standards: Uphold confidentiality, impartiality, professionalism, and integrity throughout the review process, and refrain from personal or unsubstantiated criticism.
- Making recommendations: Provide a clear and justified recommendation—accept, minor revision, major revision, reject, or no recommendation—based on the manuscript’s strengths and areas for improvement.
- Declaring conflicts of interest: Immediately disclose any real, perceived, or potential conflicts of interest and withdraw from the review if necessary.
- Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Reviewers:
JFDA recognises that reviewers may wish to use assistive AI tools to improve the clarity or style of their written feedback. Reviewers who do so must disclose this to the editorial team and remain responsible for ensuring the confidentiality, accuracy, and professionalism of their reviews. Since all manuscripts submitted to JFDA are confidential, reviewers will not upload the manuscript itself to any A.I. tools.
If reviewers suspect the inappropriate or undisclosed use of generative AI—such as fabricated content, plagiarism, or data manipulation—they should notify the editorial office in confidence.
Editors:
If editors suspect or detect the use of generative AI in a manuscript or review, they will conduct a careful editorial assessment following COPE’s ethical procedures. Authors or reviewers will be contacted for clarification, and appropriate action will be taken based on the outcome, which may include revision requests, withdrawal, or rejection of the submission.
Please refer to the Submission session for the relevant information for authors.
