An Energy-Efficient Blockchain Security Framework for Sustainable IoT and Edge Environments

Abstract

The exponential growth of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and edge computing nodes has amplified security and sustainability challenges in decentralized environments. Traditional blockchain models, while providing integrity and immutability, are computationally intensive and energy-hungry, making them unsuitable for constrained IoT-edge ecosystems. This paper proposes an energy-efficient blockchain security framework designed to ensure trust, data confidentiality, and low-carbon operation in sustainable IoT deployments. The framework introduces a lightweight consensus algorithm named Proof of Trust and Energy Balance (PoTEB), which integrates device reputation scoring with energy-aware block validation. To further enhance resilience, a hybrid on-chain/off-chain encryption model ensures secure data transmission and adaptive key rotation. Experimental results obtained from Raspberry Pi-based edge nodes demonstrate a 42% reduction in energy consumption compared to Proof-of-Work (PoW) and a 25% latency improvement over Proof-of-Stake (PoS), while maintaining comparable throughput and attack resistance. The proposed framework aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 9 & 13), fostering responsible innovation and carbon-efficient digital infrastructures.