•Blockchain can help develop sustainable supply chains in developing countries.•Blockchain can address institutional deficiencies to implement sustainability.•Blockchain performs well in terms of cost-benefit and technical considerations.•Blockchain’s transparency can benefit less powerful members in supply chains.•Blockchain can reduce fake and low-quality ingredient products in supply chains. Theoretical, empirical and anecdotal evidence suggests that there are more violations of sustainability principles in supply chains in developing countries than in developed countries. Recent research has demonstrated that blockchain can play an important role in promoting supply chain sustainability. In this paper we argue that blockchain’s characteristics are especially important for enforcing sustainability standards in developing countries. We analyze multiple case studies of blockchain projects implemented in supply chains in developing countries to assess product quality, environmental accounting and social impact measurement. We have developed seven propositions, which describe how blockchain can help address a number of challenges various stakeholders face in promoting sustainable supply chains in developing countries. The challenges that the propositions deal with include those associated with an unfavorable institutional environment, high costs, technological limitations, unequal power distribution among supply chain partners and porosity and opacity of value delivery networks.