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Empirical research clarifying the real benefits of blockchain (BC) is scarce, while BC applications remain small-scale. This study investigates how a BC system can be designed to address ex-post opportunism, and what factors influence BC system use by supply network members. It analyzes 11 principal–agent dyads within one case of BC implementation in the food sector, each composed of a consortium (the principal) and a supply chain actor (the agent). The methodological approach is case research as theory elaboration starting from Agency and Technology-organization-environment (TOE) theories. This study proposes that different BC systems exist, each assuring a certain level of system trust (trust in the technology output), which should be consistent with the risk level of agents’ ex-post opportunism. It also provides an interpretation of how TOE factors can intervene in the adoption of different types of BC …