Blockchain Papers

Shashank Tripathi, Simon Tschirner, Mathias Röper, Markus M. Becker · 5 authors

No abstract is available for this record.

Swati Sachan, Vinícius Dezem, Dale S. Fickett

No abstract is available for this record.

Shankar Prasad Sapkota

No abstract is available for this record.

David Frempong, Chigozie Emmanuel Benson, Odunayo Oyasiji, Adeola Okesiji

The digitization of healthcare records and the proliferation of patient data across interconnected systems have raised significant concerns about privacy, regulatory compliance, and consent management. Traditional methods of obtaining and maintaining patient consent are often fragmented, static, and non-compliant with dynamic legal standards such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This paper explores a blockchain-enabled framework for consent management in healthcare, focusing on enforcing patient privacy preferences and regulatory compliance. Through a comprehensive review of existing literature and frameworks, this paper proposes a decentralized consent management architecture leveraging smart contracts and distributed ledger technologies to provide secure, transparent, and tamper-proof consent enforcement. The study also outlines the potential of blockchain to automate compliance tracking, enhance interoperability, and empower patients with granular control over their health data. Recommendations for future research directions and technical challenges are also presented.

Murray A. Rudd

No abstract is available for this record.

Dario Elias Félix de Oliveira Rodrigues

This article explores the ethical dilemmas propelled by a significant shift in the allocation of trust and intelligence due to blockchain technology and AI, resulting in a notable decrease in transaction costs. The ethical and political implications of democratizing the resulting productivity gains are noteworthy, and while the pie is expanding, how its slices are distributed remains an open question. Enter Worldcoin, an innovative worldwide initiative that creates an identity system based on proof of personhood and zero-knowledge proofs (ZKP) to provide everyone with a distinct and anonymous "World ID. Using the author's “cyberethics-mix" framework, this paper examines the possible implications of such a system concerning data's protection, ownership, accuracy, and accessibility, underscoring the ethical significance of a political approach emphasizing inclusivity and sustainability through digital decentralization.

David Krause

No abstract is available for this record.

Mohamed Mekkouri, Christine Hennebert

No abstract is available for this record.

Bahadir Köksal, Roee Sarel

No abstract is available for this record.

Peiwen Xie, Xinlong Li

No abstract is available for this record.

Vítor Palmela Fidalgo

No abstract is available for this record.

Alireza Nikoyesafahani, Kaebeh Yaeghoobi

No abstract is available for this record.

Siddharth Aiyar

No abstract is available for this record.

Peter Ince, Xiapu Luo, Jiangshan Yu, Joseph K. Liu · 5 authors

In this paper, we test the hypothesis that although OpenAI's GPT-4 performs well generally, we can fine-tune open-source models to outperform GPT-4 in smart contract vulnerability detection. We fine-tune two models from Meta's Code Llama and a dataset of 17k prompts, Detect Llama - Foundation and Detect Llama - Instruct, and we also fine-tune OpenAI's GPT-3.5 Turbo model (GPT-3.5FT). We then evaluate these models, plus a random baseline, on a testset we develop against GPT-4, and GPT-4 Turbo's, detection of eight vulnerabilities from the dataset and the two top identified vulnerabilities - and their weighted F1 scores. We find that for binary classification (i.e., is this smart contract vulnerable?), our two best-performing models, GPT-3.5FT and Detect Llama - Foundation, achieve F1 scores of $0.776$ and $0.68$, outperforming both GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo, $0.66$ and $0.675$. For the evaluation against individual vulnerability identification, our top two models, GPT-3.5FT and Detect Llama - Foundation, both significantly outperformed GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo in both weighted F1 for all vulnerabilities ($0.61$ and $0.56$ respectively against GPT-4's $0.218$ and GPT-4 Turbo's $0.243$) and weighted F1 for the top two identified vulnerabilities ($0.719$ for GPT-3.5FT, $0.674$ for Detect Llama - Foundation against GPT-4's $0.363$ and GPT-4 Turbo's $0.429$).

Michal Jirásek

No abstract is available for this record.

Fenghong Zhang

No abstract is available for this record.

Eliza Yip

No abstract is available for this record.

Wulf A. Kaal

No abstract is available for this record.

Igor Calzada

No abstract is available for this record.

Igor Calzada

This chapter investigates "data-opolies" within Web3 and Artificial Intelligence (AI), highlighting their implications for democracy and their impact on business and society. Data-opolies are defined as dominant entities, usually large tech corporations, that control vast amounts of data, affecting market competition and transparency. The chapter discusses how the monopolization of data by these entities creates power imbalances, challenging democratic values. It explores how AI, when controlled by data-opolies, amplifies their influence, raising concerns about privacy, ethical AI use, and equitable access to technology. The concentration of data and AI capabilities in the hands of a few exacerbates socioeconomic divides and threatens democracy by potentially manipulating public opinion and information flow. The chapter examines Web3 innovations as a decentralized, transparent, and user-empowering alternative to traditional data control models. These technologies are presented as tools for democratizing data ownership, enhancing individual autonomy, and fostering an inclusive digital economy. However, the chapter also questions these assumptions, especially in the context of crypto-libertarian maneuvers around the "Network State" paradigm. In conclusion, the chapter emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to leveraging AI and Web3 to mitigate democracy's erosion by data-opolies. It calls for collaborative efforts and a multistakeholder approach to developing regulatory frameworks and ethical guidelines that align with democratic values, ensuring the responsible use of AI and data in society.

Nehal Ettaloui, Sara Arezki, Taoufiq Gadi

The healthcare sector plays a pivotal role in both generating and relying on vast amounts of data, emphasizing the significance of collecting, managing, and sharing information. Technological advancements have facilitated the transformation of healthcare data into electronic health records (EHRs). These digital records are disseminated among various stakeholders, including patients, healthcare professionals, providers, insurance companies, and pharmacies. Given the sensitivity of healthcare information, the assimilation of new technologies is paramount. Blockchain technology, with its immutable nature and decentralized features, has emerged as a promising solution to instigate changes in the healthcare system. In the healthcare domain, where confidentiality is crucial, strict regulations are in place to safeguard patient privacy. Frameworks like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are designed to mitigate the risks associated with health data breaches. Although blockchain's characteristics, such as enhanced interoperability, anonymity, and access control, can improve the overall landscape of health data management, it is imperative for blockchain applications to adhere to existing regulatory frameworks for practical implementation. This paper delves into the examination of the compliance of blockchain-based EHR systems with regulations like HIPAA and GDPR. Additionally, it introduces a Blockchain-based EHR model specifically crafted to seamlessly align with regulatory requirements, ensuring its viability and effectiveness in real-world scenarios

Peter G. Kirchschlaeger

There is no question about the innovation force and the economic potential of blockchain technology. As the basis for new currencies, financial services, and smart contracts, blockchain technology can be seen as the fifth disruptive computing paradigm, after mainframes, personal computers, the Internet, and mobile devices. However, there are questions about its ethical implications, which have the potential to also impact the economic success of blockchain technology. This article aims to provide ethical guidance on blockchain technology. In order to reach this goal, the focus of the ethical analysis will first concentrate on the unique characteristics of blockchain technology compared to other technology-based innovations. The unique nucleus of blockchain technology can be defined as a move from the trust in people to a trust in math, as a move from an internet of information to an internet of value, or—as I would propose—a shift from an intermediated network to an immediate network. Second, the ethical opportunities (e.g., transparency, participation, global access to services) and risks (e.g., ecological impact, lack of legal monitoring and enforcement) associated with this unique nucleus of blockchain technology will be discussed. Third, an outlook on possible concrete solutions will be provided.

Daria Smuseva, Ivan Malakhov, Andrea Marin, Sabina Rossi

Blockchain technology has become deeply integrated into modern life, offering diverse applications beyond its origins in cryptocurrency. Ethereum’s transition to a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism marks a significant milestone in blockchain development. However, this shift brings new challenges, including the Verifier’s Dilemma. This paper focuses on Ethereum’s Proof-of-Stake (PoS) implementation and delves into the Verifier’s Dilemma, a challenge initially prevalent in PoW protocols concerning the efficient confirmation of transaction validity without excessive computational costs. In the context of PoS, validators strive to optimize rewards through timely attestation, knowing that delayed or erroneous attestation can lead to penalties. To tackle this dilemma, we introduce a quantitative model based on the Performance Evaluation Process Algebra (PEPA). This research offers two significant contributions: (i) the identification of the Verifier’s Dilemma problem within Ethereum’s PoS protocol and (ii) the introduction of a base PEPA model that facilitates a comprehensive study and validation of potential solutions to this challenge. We believe that our work advances the understanding of the Verifier’s Dilemma in PoS blockchain networks, laying the groundwork for addressing this crucial issue.

Swati Sachan, Xi Liu

No abstract is available for this record.