For some time, blockchain has been described as a technology that will remove the middleman and automate trust. In conversations about accounting, this often leads to a familiar question: if transactions are recorded on an immutable, real-time ledger, will accountants still be needed?

It’s a fair question but it misses the point. Blockchain does not make accountants less relevant. In fact, it makes their role more important. As financial systems become more automated and transparent, the need for professional judgment, oversight, and governance grows rather than shrinks. The profession isn’t disappearing; it’s evolving.

What is blockchain and how is it used in finance?