SmartBLock: a smart lock protocol over the Bitcoin blockchain

Abstract

This paper introduces “SmartBLock”, a novel protocol that integrates smart lock management with the Bitcoin blockchain. By employing blockchain technology, the SmartBLock protocol eliminates the need for centralized databases (reducing the risk of data breaches) and ensures accountability for all access events. Authentication is accomplished through Bitcoin's cryptographic signature scheme. Additionally, SmartBLock is an open and manufacturer-agnostic protocol, relying on the open and permissionless Bitcoin blockchain rather than proprietary tools or protocols. Given the limited computational capabilities of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, achieving this integration presents a significant challenge. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the state of the art in smart lock protocols, details the design of the SmartBLock protocol, presents a proof-of-concept prototype to validate its feasibility, and offers a meticulous analysis of its security, privacy, and traceability features. • Literature review on blockchain-integrated smart locks. • Propose a smart lock protocol on Bitcoin for immutable and transparent management. • Provide a demonstration that the protocol is secure, private, and transparent. • Build a PoC for the proposal on an IoT device and gather evidence of its feasibility.