This study aims to provide an overview of Malaysia's readiness to implement blockchain technology in zakat management. Although zakat institutions in Malaysia use technology in their management systems, the crisis of trust towards zakat institutions and the need for more comprehensive and consolidated asnaf data persist; thus, blockchain technology is proposed as a solution. This research adopts a case study approach involving the majority of zakat institutions in Malaysia to explore the potential and challenges of facilitating the future implementation of blockchain technology in the zakat management system. This research indicates that the prospects for implementing blockchain technology in the zakat management system are positive, given the government's launch of the national blockchain roadmap, the potential of blockchain technology for identity verification and zakat institutions' readiness to provide the necessary infrastructure. However, some challenges must be urgently addressed to ensure successful implementation, including regulatory challenges and blockchain literacy among zakat stakeholders. This paper serves as a guiding protocol for zakat institutions in Malaysia to implement blockchain technology in their management processes, anticipating that it will become necessary. This study contributes to the field by integrating the resource-based view, maqasid al shari'ah and Islamic governance principles to evaluate blockchain adoption within Malaysia's decentralised zakat system critically. Unlike earlier studies that primarily emphasised blockchain's technical features, this research situates the discussion within a fragmented regulatory environment and grounds its analysis in stakeholder perspectives and national policy initiatives. In doing so, it advances a context-specific and theoretically grounded contribution to the literature on Islamic social finance and digital transformation in faith-based institutions.

Islamic social finance (ISF) offers a comprehensive ecosystem for addressing poverty, inequality, and financial exclusion, encompassing key instruments such as zakat, waqf, sadaqah, and Islamic microfinance. While zakat remains central to ISF, its full potential is often undermined by fragmented implementation and lack of synergy with complementary tools. This conceptual paper proposes a unified ISF framework that positions these instruments as a strategic pillar within an integrated model of Islamic philanthropy and financial inclusion. The objective is to develop a conceptual structure that enhances the collective impact of ISF instruments through improved governance, institutional collaboration, digital integration, and alignment with Maqasid al-Shariah and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using a qualitative conceptual methodology, the study synthesizes existing literature, policy discussions, and institutional practices to construct a framework that facilitates effective resource mobilization and targeted social impact. This paper contributes by highlighting the importance of integrated ISF strategies to strengthen the role of zakat in national and global development agendas.