Blockchain Papers

Marwan Adnan Darwish, Georgios Smaragdakis

The virtue of data forgetting has become a substantial demand in the digital era. Once online content has served its purpose, the concept of forgetting arises to ensure that data remains private between data owners and service providers. Despite significant advancements in supporting data forgetting through approaches like access heuristics, elastic expiration times, and manual revocation, the existing research falls short in addressing the demand for a multi-level forgetting structure that can cater to diverse audience-based expiration requirements while considering additional criteria. To the best of our knowledge, no prior works have investigated this gap, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive solution that can effectively accommodate the varying expiration needs of different audience groups. In this paper, we introduce a novel disjunctive multi-level forgetting scheme designed to meet the aforementioned demand for data forgetting. Our scheme introduces unique expiration periods for the encrypted data the service provider stores, called levels. Users are grouped into different levels based on priorities assigned by the data owners. Each level corresponds to a specific expiration threshold, enabling designated user groups to access the content within its validity period before it is forgotten. This approach enables selective data forgetting for one group while enabling concurrent access and retention for other user groups until the stipulated expiration period elapses. To achieve this, we have devised a cutting-edge system that integrates a hierarchical and dynamic scheme utilizing a key decay for managing expiration periods. Moreover, we introduce an innovative approach that harnesses smart contracts on a local Ethereum blockchain to enforce regulations and streamline the secure and efficient expiration and deletion of data. Finally, we thoroughly evaluate our proposed scheme, focusing on decay sensitivity, computational complexity, and rigorous security analysis.

Amisha Panwar, Rahul Chauhan, Kirti Kumari, Swati Devliyal · 6 authors

The emergence of Bitcoin as a disruptive force in the business and finance space, starting an extensive examination of its origin, technology foundations, effects on trade, and where it will go from here, has set off a chain reaction. This research paper takes us through the broad range of Bitcoin landscapes, examining its past context, fundamental features, and underpinning technologies for a decentralized framework. The exploration begins with the introduction, which serves as a starting point for an in-depth analysis that explains the background, scope, and significance of the study. Before a dedicated section on Bitcoin, which discusses its roots, developmental evolution and fundamental features that distinguish it from the digital asset field, is an introductory overview of cryptocurrencies. Regulatory complexity, security risks and the risk to business in an evolving cryptocurrencies ecosystem are highlighted by a comprehensive assessment of challenges and concerns. Anticipating the future of Bitcoin occupies the eighth section, where scaling solutions like Segregated Witness (SegWit) and the Lightning Network are discussed. In addition, potential developments which might occur in the Bitcoin landscape such as integration of smart contracts and collaboration with other technologies can also be seen. This research project is intended to provide valuable insight into the current discussion about how bitcoin has fundamentally changed the business landscape and its future development.

Xuyang Wang

This article delves into the inherent security of blockchain technology by evaluating the sophisticated techniques it employs. Key among these are mathematical hash functions, elliptic curve cryptography, and zero-knowledge proofs. Mathematical hash functions ensure that data stored is immutable; any slight alteration to the information will lead to a drastically different hash output, making any tampering evident. Elliptic curve cryptography provides a robust encryption mechanism, ensuring that data transactions remain confidential and secure. Meanwhile, zero-knowledge proofs enable one party to prove to another that they possess specific knowledge without revealing the actual information, further bolstering privacy. Owing to these technological underpinnings, blockchain not only excels in safeguarding sensitive data but also facilitates operations like verifying information authenticity. Moreover, in sectors like supply chain management, it offers capabilities for precise logistics positioning and traceability. Such applications underline blockchain’s potential as a tool for transparency and security in various industries. Through these features and mechanisms, blockchain stands as an exemplar of digital security in today’s interconnected era.

Wang Yong, Chen Lijie, Yifan Wu, Wan Qiancheng

As a distributed ledger technology, blockchain has broad applications in many areas such as finance, agriculture, and contract signing due to its advantages of being tamperproof and difficult to forge. However, the open nature of blockchain also introduces severe privacy issues, currently cryptocurrency privacy protection solutions under account-based models cannot balance the internal verification time and confidentiality of transactions. In order to improve the confidentiality and efficiency of transactions under the account-based model, this paper proposes an access control anonymous payment scheme based on homomorphic commitment and aggregated zero-knowledge proofs, focusing on the realization of a one-to-many anonymous transfer function, one-to-one transfer function, deposit function and withdraw function, to ensure the privacy of a transaction data while reducing verification time and Gas costs. We evaluated our approach on a proof-of-concept implementation by generating Solidity contracts and implemented some interesting contracts. The experimental results show that this scheme not only consumes lower gas, but also reduces the internal time during transaction generation. In addition, our solution has established a one to many transfer transaction scheme, and the proof verification time after aggregation is constant. Thus the efficiency of this scheme is particularly well suited for the digital finance scenarios.

Rafah Amer Jaafar, Saad N. Alsaad, Mohammed N. Al‐Kabi

Educational certificate counterfeiting is a major global challenge. There is no doubt that addressing both the problem of forgery and the verification of academic certificates is a fundamental issue that deserves research, development, and support at the highest levels. This paper presents a decentralized educational certificate verification system leveraging the Ethereum blockchain and the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) to combat counterfeiting. Ropsten is used as a real-life Ethereum test network to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed system. IPFS is used to store educational certificate files on a decentralised file system. The smart contract is built in the Solidity language, compiled, and deployed using the online Remix IDE. The verification process is supported by scanning a QR code, which retrieves the validating certificate’s information from the Ethereum network in real-time.

Jianwei Hu, Kaiqi Huang, Genqing Bian, Yanpeng Cui

No abstract is available for this record.

Shan Wang, Ming Yang, Shan Jiang, Shan Jiang · 7 authors

No abstract is available for this record.

Chaoxiang Zhao, Xien Cheng

The widespread dissemination and sharing of digital images have led to an urgent need for image copyright protection. To address this challenge, this study proposes a comprehensive image copyright protection system based on blockchain and image processing algorithms. Firstly, image features are extracted through binarization processing and the ORB algorithm. The GMS algorithm is then employed for feature selection to enhance the accuracy of feature matching. Subsequently, the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) is utilized to store images and related data in a decentralized network, ensuring the immutability and traceability of information. Finally, image copyright management throughout its lifecycle, including registration, querying, and transfer, is implemented through Ethereum smart contracts.

Darius Galiş, Ciprian Pungilă, Viorel Negru

Abstract This paper proposes an innovative approach to achieving real-time polymorphic behavior detection, and its direct application to blockchain-focused smart-contracts. We devise a method based on a non-deterministic finite state machine to perform approximate pattern-matching, using a look-ahead mechanism implemented through a concept similar to that of a sliding window, and using threshold-based similarity checking at every state in the automaton. We introduce and formalize our approach, discuss the challenges we faced and then test it in a real-world environment. The experimental results obtained showed a significant speed-up of our approach, as compared to the classic similarity measures used commonly in such scenarios.

Achilleas Spanos, Ioanna Kantzavelou

No abstract is available for this record.

Dechao Kong, Xiaoqi Li, Wenkai Li

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are digital assets recorded on the blockchain, providing cryptographic proof of ownership over digital or physical items. Although Solana has only begun to gain popularity in recent years, its NFT market has seen substantial transaction volumes. In this paper, we conduct the first systematic research on the characteristics of Solana NFTs from two perspectives: longitudinal measurement and wash trading security audit. We gathered 132,736 Solana NFT from Solscan and analyzed the sales data within these collections. Investigating users' economic activity and NFT owner information reveals that the top users in Solana NFT are skewed toward a higher distribution of purchases. Subsequently, we employ the Local Outlier Factor algorithm to conduct a wash trading audit on 2,175 popular Solana NFTs. We discovered that 138 NFT pools are involved in wash trading, with 8 of these NFTs having a wash trading rate exceeding 50%. Fortunately, none of these NFTs have been entirely washed out.

Shengnan Li, Carlo Campajola, Claudio J. Tessone

The core of many cryptocurrencies is the decentralised validation network operating on proof-of-work technology. In these systems, validation is done by so-called miners who can digitally sign blocks once they solve a computationally-hard problem. Conventional wisdom generally considers this protocol as secure and stable as miners are incentivised to follow the behaviour of the majority. However, whether some strategic mining behaviours occur in practice is still a major concern. In this paper we target this question by focusing on a security threat: a selfish mining attack in which malicious miners deviate from protocol by not immediately revealing their newly mined blocks. We propose a statistical test to analyse each miner's behaviour in five popular cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Litecoin, Monacoin, Ethereum and Bitcoin Cash. Our method is based on the realisation that selfish mining behaviour will cause identifiable anomalies in the statistics of miner's successive blocks discovery. Secondly, we apply heuristics-based address clustering to improve the detectability of this kind of behaviour. We find a marked presence of abnormal miners in Monacoin and Bitcoin Cash, and, to a lesser extent, in Ethereum. Finally, we extend our method to detect coordinated selfish mining attacks, finding mining cartels in Monacoin where miners might secretly share information about newly mined blocks in advance. Our analysis contributes to the research on security in cryptocurrency systems by providing the first empirical evidence that the aforementioned strategic mining behaviours do take place in practice.

Haitao Liu, Lingli Lv, Yi Bao

The high efficiency assets management is an ever topic and research direction. Block chain core thinks and methodologies were brought in assets management cleverly in order to improve the efficiency and quality of comprehensive assets management. The Verifiable Random Functions with Token(VRFwT) algorithm was proposed creatively around the Special Consensus Mechanism(SCM) and other main theories of block chain. It contains about two modules of Advanced Verifiable Random Functions(AVRF) algorithm and Proof of Stake with Token(PoSwT) according to the module design think. Specially, public key was used to validate the value obtained by special formula and parameters of privacy key and a given message in AVRF creatively. The two-steps validating methodology was proposed and constructed in order to validate the performance of VRFwT in multiple dimensions. It proved that VRFwT having better efficiency and robustness after a series tests were executed on three different sets combined with physical assets and digital assets. The designed think and methodology of VRFwT would be validated further and used in hybrid assets management scene. Moreover, it would bring a meaningful significance for innovation method of bigger variety of assets management.

N. Divya, Eeshan Dhawan, Harshavardhan Sundar, Harshit Jain · 5 authors

This research paper proposes a novel approach of integrating traditional steganography techniques with modern deep learning methodology as a solution against prevailing cyber fraud in the blockchain space. Despite standard authentication measures in place, Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are prone to data theft, replication, and misrepresentation of ownership. Hence, our work leverages deep learning infused with advanced crypto-steganography to add multi-layered authentication to these digital tokens. The research elaborates on multiple utilities relevant to NFTs such as their generation, verification, and price forecasting, while emphasizing mainly on authentication to provide a secure ecosystem. The research aims to delve into multiple methodologies that are integrated into a robust, comprehensive and a user-friendly NFT minting platform that works cohesively with the blockchain network. Hence, an extensive study is undertaken on the applications of deep learning in countering data theft in the NFT marketplaces.

Samnit Mehandiratta, Reshu Agarwal

This paper proposes a novel hybrid method to increase trust and privacy in the Onion Router (Tor) network by integrating blockchain technology and Zero Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs). Leveraging principles from trust-based anonymous communication, the proposed method aims to establish a decentralized trust layer within the Tor network, enhancing integrity and reliability. By incorporating ZKPs’ power of privacy and authentication, blockchain's immutability and Tor's anonymity, the method seeks to address trust and privacy concerns within the Tor network. This hybrid approach offers a comprehensive solution to increase trust and privacy in the Tor network, aligning with their growing importance in the digital age.

Iqra Nawaz, Munam Ali Shah, Abid Khan, Seunggil Jeon

No abstract is available for this record.

Saba Inam, Shamsa Kanwal, Rabia Firdous, Fahima Hajjej

Improved software for processing medical images has inspired tremendous interest in modern medicine in recent years. Modern healthcare equipment generates huge amounts of data, such as scanned medical images and computerized patient information, which must be secured for future use. Diversity in the healthcare industry, namely in the form of medical data, is one of the largest challenges for researchers. Cloud environment and the Block chain technology have both demonstrated their own use. The purpose of this study is to combine both technologies for safe and secure transaction. Storing or sending medical data through public clouds exposes information into potential eavesdropping, data breaches and unauthorized access. Encrypting data before transmission is crucial to mitigate these security risks. As a result, a Blockchain based Chaotic Arnold's cat map Encryption Scheme (BCAES) is proposed in this paper. The BCAES first encrypts the image using Arnold's cat map encryption scheme and then sends the encrypted image into Cloud Server and stores the signed document of plain image into blockchain. As blockchain is often considered more secure due to its distributed nature and consensus mechanism, data receiver will ensure data integrity and authenticity of image after decryption using signed document stored into the blockchain. Various analysis techniques have been used to examine the proposed scheme. The results of analysis like key sensitivity analysis, key space analysis, Information Entropy, histogram correlation of adjacent pixels, Number of Pixel Change Rate, Peak Signal Noise Ratio, Unified Average Changing Intensity, and similarity analysis like Mean Square Error, and Structural Similarity Index Measure illustrated that our proposed scheme is an efficient encryption scheme as compared to some recent literature. Our current achievements surpass all previous endeavors, setting a new standard of excellence.

Moustafa Mowaffak Saad, Dalia Sobhy, Amani A. Saad

Blockchainsand smart contracts are pivotal in transforming interactions between systems and individuals, offering secure, immutable, and transparent trust-building mechanisms without central oversight. However, Smart Contracts face limitations due to their reliance on blockchain-contained data, a gap addressed by ’Oracles’. These bridges to external data sources introduce the ’Oracle problem’, where maintaining blockchain-like security and transparency becomes vital to prevent data integrity issues. This paper presents Veritas, a novel decentralized oracle system leveraging a layer-2 scaling solution, enhancing smart contracts’ efficiency and security on Ethereum blockchains. The proposed architecture, explored through simulation and experimental analyses, significantly reduces operational costs while maintaining robust security protocols. An innovative node selection process is also introduced to minimize the risk of malicious data entry, thereby reinforcing network security. Veritas offers a solution to the Oracle problem by aligning with blockchain principles of security and transparency, and demonstrates advancements in reducing operational costs and bolstering network integrity. While the study provides a promising direction, it also highlights potential areas for further exploration in blockchain technology and oracle system optimization.

Huifang Yu, Xiaoping Bai

Electronic healthcare systems can offer convenience but face the risk of data forgery and information leakage. To solve these issues, we propose an identity-based searchable attribute signcryption in lattice for a blockchain-based medical system (BCMS-LIDSASC). BCMS-LIDSASC achieves decentralization and anti-quantum security in the blockchain environment, and provides fine-grained access control and searchability. Furthermore, smart contracts are used to replace traditional trusted third parties, and the interplanetary file system (IPFS) is used for ciphertext storage to alleviate storage pressure on the blockchain. Compared to other schemes, BCMS-LIDSASC requires smaller key size and less storage, and has lower computation cost. It contributes to secure and efficient management of medical data and can protect patient privacy and ensure the integrity of electronic healthcare systems.

Balasaheb Jadhav, Niranjan Maharnawar, Rushikesh Lakhotiya, Rushikesh Malpani · 6 authors

CryptoCertify is a new method for certificate validation and verification in the dynamic field of digital certification. With the implementation of Solidity on the Polygon blockchain and simple integration with Metamask and IPFS, CryptoCertify aims to improve security and usefulness. A decentralized and resistant solution is required since traditional certificate validation methods have problems with centralization and fraud. By establishing an irreversible and trustless infrastructure, smart contracts implemented with Metamask and written in Solidity significantly reduce the risks related to fake certificates. The certificate information is safely kept on IPFS and the Polygon blockchain, forming a distributed ledger that is cryptographically secure and time-stamped. By using Metamask, stakeholders might independently validate certificates, thereby improving validation process transparency. By integrating blockchain, IPFS, Metamask, and decentralization, this research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on safe digital certification methods. It additionally offers a solution that is versatile, scalable, and resistant to fraud for certificate validation and authentication in the future.

Cindy Handoko Tantowibowo, Wei‐Chuen Yau

Abstract Counterfeit artwork presents a significant risk to copyright holders and the economy. Without expertise in art, it is not straightforward to distinguish an artwork counterfeit from a genuine piece. This work designs and implements a reliable solution that enables users with near‐field communication‐enabled Android smartphones to verify artwork authenticity by accessing its respective certificate of authenticity stored in the Ethereum blockchain. To represent a physical artwork, the artwork image and metadata are stored in an inter‐planetary file system and minted as an ERC721 non‐fungible token to a smart contract deployed in Ethereum Rinkeby Testnet. The mobile app ArtProtect was developed to generate certificate of authenticity based on each non‐fungible token fetched through OpenSea Testnet API. Users access this information by scanning an near‐field communication tag embedded into the artwork. The content of the tag is signed by the respective artwork's artist and responsible agent by using Ethereum signing with their Ethereum wallet accounts. Through testing and analysis, the implemented work is secure, tamper‐evident, usable, flexible, and inexpensive to be applied to a real‐world scenario.

Ivan Homoliak, Martin Perešíni

In this work, we review existing cryptocurrency wallet solutions with regard to authentication methods and factors from the user's point of view. In particular, we distinguish between authentication factors that are verified against the blockchain and the ones verified locally (or against a centralized party). With this in mind, we define notions for $k-factor$ authentication against the blockchain and $k-factor$ authentication against the authentication factors. Based on these notions, we propose a classification of authentication schemes. We extend our classification to accommodate the threshold signatures and signing transactions by centralized parties (such as exchanges or co-signing services). Finally, we apply our classification to existing wallet solutions, which we compare based on various security and key-management features.

Shimal Sh. Taher, Siddeeq Y. Ameen, Jihan A. Ahmed

Scalability remains a critical challenge for blockchain technology, limiting its potential for widespread adoption in high-demand transactional systems. This paper proposes an innovative solution to this challenge by applying the Snake Optimization Algorithm (SOA) to a blockchain framework, aimed at enhancing transaction throughput and reducing latency. A thorough literature review contextualizes our work within the current state of blockchain scalability efforts. We introduce a methodology that integrates SOA into the transaction validation process of a blockchain network. The effectiveness of this approach is empirically evaluated by comparing transaction processing times before and after the implementation of SOA. The results show a substantial reduction in latency, with the optimized system achieving lower average transaction times across various transaction volumes. Notably, the latency for processing batches of 10 and 100 transactions decreased from 30.29 ms to 155.66 ms–0.42 ms and 0.37 ms, respectively, post optimization. These findings indicate that SOA is exceptionally efficient in batch transaction scenarios, presenting an inverse scalability behavior that defies typical system performance degradation with increased load. Our research contributes a significant advancement in blockchain scalability, with implications for the development of more efficient and adaptable blockchain systems suitable for high throughput enterprise applications.

S Muthulakshmi, A. Kannammal

Electronic voting system is the process of polling votes and counting votes. In most of the countries voting may now be done electronically, there are still several difficulties involved, including the expense of paper, how ballots are organized, the possibility of varying results when tallying the votes, and others. Duplicate votes pose a significant concern as they can be fraudulently cast by individuals. To focus on this issue, Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) is employed to enhance the voting procedure in a secured manner. A directed acyclic graph is used by the Internet of Things Application (IOTA), a promising distributed ledger system. Faster transaction confirmation, high scalability and zero transaction fees are achieved via the Directed Acyclic Graph structure. In both IOTA tangle and blockchain technology, the public cast duplicate votes. The unauthorized user can create duplicate votes in the blockchain as well as IOTA tangle. This can be focused in this proposed method. The double spending problem can be solved by using Crow Search Algorithm (CSA). This Optimization problem produces an improved result for resolving double spending in e-voting systems.