Emerging Research Trends in Islamic Finance Compliance, Blockchain, and Halal Governance: A Bibliometric Review
TL;DR
A bibliometric review of the knowledge landscape of research on Islamic finance compliance, blockchain technology, and halal governance indicates a significant shift from conventional compliance approaches toward technology-enabled governance systems that enhance transparency, traceability, accountability, and stakeholder trust.
Abstract
The increasing digital transformation of Islamic economic systems has accelerated scholarly interest in the integration of blockchain technology, compliance mechanisms, and halal governance frameworks. Despite the growing body of literature, a comprehensive understanding of the intellectual structure and emerging research trends within this field remains limited. Therefore, this study employs a bibliometric review to systematically map the knowledge landscape of research on Islamic finance compliance, blockchain technology, and halal governance. Bibliographic data were retrieved from the Scopus database and analyzed using VOSviewer. Two complementary bibliometric techniques, namely bibliographic coupling and keyword co-occurrence analysis, were applied to identify influential publications, thematic clusters, and evolving research themes. The bibliographic coupling analysis revealed four major research streams focusing on halal supply chain integrity, governance and compliance systems, digital traceability and sustainability, and halal logistics transparency. The keyword co-occurrence analysis highlighted blockchain, halal certification, smart contracts, artificial intelligence, transparency, fintech, cybersecurity, and risk management as the dominant themes shaping contemporary research. The findings indicate a significant shift from conventional compliance approaches toward technology-enabled governance systems that enhance transparency, traceability, accountability, and stakeholder trust. Furthermore, sustainability and ESG-related governance practices are emerging as important dimensions within Islamic economic ecosystems. This study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive overview of the intellectual and conceptual evolution of the field and offers valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, regulators, certification bodies, and industry practitioners seeking to strengthen governance and compliance through digital innovation. Future research opportunities and strategic directions for advancing technology-driven Islamic governance systems are also discussed.