Several members of the Platform Economies Research Network (PERN) have been awarded over AUD $570,000 in Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery funding for a new collaborative project titled Shadow Money: A Comparative Analysis.
Led by Janet Roitman, the project brings together an interdisciplinary team that includes Ellie Rennie, Tatiana Dancy, Julia Tomassetti, Fabio Mattioli, Kean Birch, and Tina Harris — many of whom are active members of PERN.
The research investigates how digital tokens launched by non-bank financial actors, often referred to as “shadow money,” are potentially reshaping payment infrastructures. Drawing on perspectives from the social studies of finance, digital anthropology, law, and science and technology studies, the project aims to understand the real-time effects of tokenised systems and to inform governance in an era of digital transformation.
Congratulations to all collaborators for this significant recognition and the exciting work ahead on practices of value generation and financial platforms.
About the ARC Discovery Program
The Australian Research Council (ARC) supports fundamental research across disciplines through its Discovery Program, one of Australia’s most competitive and prestigious funding schemes.
ARC Discovery Grants provide multi-year support for innovative projects that advance new knowledge, foster research training and collaboration, and contribute to Australia’s economic growth and quality of life.
