Applicable law to blockchain-based smart contracts

Blockchain technology and blockchain-based smart contracts enable users to do safe, transparent, fast, and cost-effective transactions by eliminating intermediaries. For this reason, blockchain and smart contracts are being used in various international trade sectors. Even though private-permissioned blockchain platforms grant more security and are preferred in international trade, building international smart contracts on public permissionless blockchain platforms where users can do transactions anonymously is also possible. Thus, it is important to determine the applicable law to smart contracts based on public permissionless blockchain platforms in case of a dispute. This thesis examines the connecting factors regulated in the Turkish International Private Law Code according to public permissionless blockchain-based smart contracts. The dissertation mostly concentrates on international commercial contracts and highlights the other rules regulated for special contracts if they differ. While doing this, comparative law rules are also considered to offer solutions and advice.