Abstract A distributed ledger called a blockchain is used for logging authenticated cryptographic transactions. The global ledger is updated with transactions using consensus techniques. Consensus algorithms are developed for networks with untrusted nodes to achieve reliability. Academics are paying attention to this technology because it has essential features like decentralization, stability, anonymity, and transparency. Even though the blockchain has some unique features, it has to deal with many challenges and restrictions, such as scalability, security, hidden centrality, and high cost. Artificial intelligence and blockchain are technologies that have been much discussed in the last decade and are developing rapidly. Combining the two to meet the existing challenges can have fascinating results. In this paper, we introduce the novel idea of cognitive blockchain by incorporating intelligent thought into the blockchain. With cognitive capabilities, blockchain technology can perceive the state of the network, analyze the data it has collected, make good decisions, and take appropriate action to improve network performance. We provide an operational framework for cognitive blockchain, which primarily refers to the connections between fundamental cognitive processes, including the perception‐action cycle, data analytics, knowledge discovery, intelligent decision‐making, and service provision. Then, using learning automata, we provide methods for creating cognitive engines for performance optimization by intelligently adjusting the block size, time interval, and validators in blockchain systems with BFT‐based consensus algorithms. Several experiments have been conducted to assess the suggested approaches' effectiveness. The findings demonstrate that the proposed performance optimization approach improves blockchain performance criteria.
Jingyu Zhang, Jiejun Ou, Di Lan, Bojian Ma · 5 authors
Due to the prosperity of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ecosystems and the rise of Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) groups, blockchain as the underlying revolutionary theory has been attracted a lot of attention. How to achieve cryptographically unpredictable randomness in the publicly verifiable blockchain network, one of the typical collaborative systems, is a critical issue. Since Ethereum finished merging its mainnet with beacon chain, the research on randomness beacon in the blockchain field has become a hotspot. Most of the current distributed randomness beacon schemes are interactive protocols. They are constructed with Public Verifiable Secret Sharing (PVSS), leading high communication complexity O(n2). In contrast, randomness beacons constructed based on Verifiable Delay Functions (VDFs) rely on the sequentiality and uniqueness of VDFs could solve this problem. This paper proposes a blockchain non-interactive randomness beacon protocol: InfinityRand (IR), which decoupled from the underlying message distribution mechanism. It could generate publicly verifiable, strongly bias-resistant, and fair random numbers. In designing InfinityRand, we also design a new trapdoor VDF scheme, which is constructed using negative wrapped convolution (NWC) based number theoretic transform (NTT) on polynomial ring. We conduct security analysis and evaluation experiments. Experiments show that InfinityRand could provide well unpredictability, leader election fairness and scalability guarantees.
Directed Acyclic Graph(DAG)-based blockchain represents a paradigm shift from conventional blockchains, which has the potential to drastically improve throughput performance through concurrent storage and executions. In practice, however, existing DAG-based blockchains fail to deliver such promises, often with limited throughput, high conflicts, and security vulnerabilities under dynamic workloads. The root causes are their unawareness of the workload characteristics of different workload sizes and skewed access patterns. In this paper, we propose MorphDAG, the first workload-aware DAG-based blockchain that can significantly enhance throughput without compromising security and achieve elastic scaling under realistic workloads. We derive the theoretically optimal degree of storage concurrency to achieve high throughput while retaining system security as the workload size changes, while enabling fine-grained concurrency adjustment that accommodates aProof-of-Stake(PoS)-based consensus protocol. We develop a dual-mode transaction processing mechanism that effectively resolves the conflicts brought by skewed access. We implement a prototype of MorphDAG and evaluate under real-world workloads. Extensive evaluations demonstrate that MorphDAG improves end-to-end throughput by up to 2.3× and 2.4× over state-of-the-art DAG-based blockchain systems AdaptChain and OHIE, respectively.
Ethereum has recently switched to a Proof of Stake consensus protocol called Gasper. We analyze Gasper using PRISM+ , an extension of the probabilistic model checker PRISM with primitives for modeling blockchain data types . PRISM+ is therefore used to rapidly and automatically analyze the robustness of Gasper when tuning, up or down, several basic parameters of the protocol, such as network latencies and number of validators. We also study the effectiveness of Gasper in updating stakes and its resilience to three attacks: the balance, bouncing and time attacks.
A Dutta, Nafiz Imtiaz Rafin, M. Ali Akber Dewan, Md. Golam Rabiul Alam
Blockchain is a ground-breaking technology that has changed how we manage and store protected data. It is a decentralized ledger that enables safe, open, and unchangeable record-keeping. It relies on a distributed network of nodes rather than a single central authority to check and verify transactions, guaranteeing that each entry is correct and unchangeable. Transactions in a blockchain network are grouped into blocks, which are then linked together in a chronological and immutable chain. Block size is a critical parameter in blockchain technology, which refers to the maximum size of each block in the chain that is not benchmarked yet. However, we cannot just change the block size of the blockchain. It is challenging and will create security issues. The Block size is crucial because it affects the number of transactions processed per second, the confirmation time, and overall network efficiency. The confirmation time should be faster to ensure stable earnings for the miners. Moreover, it needs help with broader applications due to high transaction fees and long verification times. We have proposed a reinforcement learning model named ROBB that can efficiently create a block considering the current network state and previous transactions. At first, the problem was converted into a reinforcement learning environment to solve using multiple reinforcement algorithms. We developed a blockchain simulator to replicate the network environment. To transform it into a reinforcement learning environment, we integrated it with OpenAI Gym. The simulator was trained by generating random transactions. Finally, we designed a reward function that enables the simulator to hold transactions and create blocks with the pending transactions when it determines that the environment is favourable. In the final results, ROBB successfully minimized the waiting time for transactions and utilized the blocks to their full potential. Additionally, it optimized the block space, building upon the findings of previous researchers. From the research we can see that our propsed models shows impressive results with 100% block utlization and 1.8s average waiting time while creating the least number of blocks.
Heera Wali, Vishal Kulkarni, Rajashekar Ganiger, Nalini C. Iyer
This study investigates how blockchain technology can be used in the automotive industry and society, with a focus on addressing privacy concerns and compliance issues. The study investigates the application of privacy-preserving methods, including zero-knowledge proofs and anonymous credentials, to protect vehicle data shared with servers and prevent V2X channel spam. The proposed blockchain ecosystem involves collaborations among stakeholders like governmental bodies and automotive industry participants to ensure user privacy, implementation employs Ethereum[5], circom, and ezkl for practical realization, the study demonstrates the potential of blockchain and [7] Zero Knowledge Proofs in overcoming challenges, promoting a more secure digital environment.
Ruiquan Lin, Fushuai Li, Jun Wang, Jinsong Hu · 6 authors
The high-speed movement of Vehicle Users (VUs) in Cognitive Internet of Vehicles (CIoV) causes rapid changes in users location and path loss. In the case of imperfect control channels, the influence of high-speed movement increases the probability of error in sending local spectrum sensing decisions by VUs. On the other hand, Malicious Vehicle Users (MVUs) can launch Spectrum Sensing Data Falsification (SSDF) attacks to deteriorate the spectrum sensing decisions, mislead the final spectrum sensing decisions of Collaborative Spectrum Sensing (CSS), and bring serious security problems to the system. In addition, the high-speed movement can increases the concealment of the MVUs. In this paper, we study the scenario of VUs moving at high speeds, and data transmission in an imperfect control channel, and propose a blockchain-based method to defend against massive SSDF attacks in CIoV networks to prevennt independent and cooperative attacks from MVUs. The proposed method combines blockchain with spectrum sensing and spectrum access, abandons the decision-making mechanism of the Fusion Center (FC) in the traditional CSS, adopts distributed decision-making, and uses Prospect Theory (PT) modeling in the decision-making process, effectively improves the correct rate of final spectrum sensing decision in the case of multiple attacks. The local spectrum sensing decisions of VUs are packaged into blocks and uploaded after the final decision to achieve more accurate and secure spectrum sensing, and then identify MVUs by the reputation value. In addition, a smart contract that changes the mining difficulty of VUs based on their reputation values is proposed. It makes the mining difficulty of MVUs more difficult and effectively limits MVUs' access to the spectrum band. The final simulation results demonstrate the validity and superiority of the proposed method compared with traditional methods.
Aya Hamid Ameen, Mazin Abed Mohammed, Ahmed Noori Rashid
The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) revolutionizes healthcare, enhances patient care, and optimizes workflows. However, the integration of IoMT introduces concerns related to privacy and security. In addressing these issues and aiming to bolster privacy and data security, this study presents a novel cybersecurity framework based on blockchain (BC) technology. The primary goal is to ensure secure communication among IoMT devices, preventing unauthorized access and tampering with sensitive data. The proposed framework is implemented in a model designed for classifying electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, utilizing two datasets: a Medical Technology Database (MTDB) with a limited sample size and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology–Beth Israel Hospital (MITBIH) dataset with a more extensive sample size. The datasets are subsequently partitioned into training and testing data. Feature extraction and selection are performed using the Pan-Tomkins and genetic algorithms. To enhance security, BC technology is employed to encrypt the test data. Finally, signal classification is performed using the support vector machine (SVM) classifier. Thus, the model trained on the MITBIH dataset outperforms its small data counterpart, achieving an impressive accuracy rate of 99.9%. Additionally, the model exhibits a true positive rate (TPR) and true negative rate (TNR) of 100%, an F-score of 100%, and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 100%.
In cognitive radio networks, cooperative spectrum sensing (CSS) is a key approach to effectively discover spectrum opportunities for secondary users. However, due to the presence of malicious nodes, CSS faces significant challenges in the trust issue of sensing results caused by spectrum sensing data falsification and the privacy leakage of sensing nodes. In this article, we develop a trustworthy and privacy-preserving CSS solution based on blockchain, TaP2-CSS. It achieves the transparency and trustworthiness in exchanging and fusing sensing reports and preserves privacy of sensing nodes. More specifically, a fusion scheme is proposed to realize the high defense capability against the spectrum sensing falsification attack launched by lurking and persistent malicious nodes. Furthermore, to address privacy threats of sensing nodes, we propose a privacy-preserving sensing scheme based on dynamic sensing time for resource-constrained sensing nodes. It effectively limits the location information leaked by sensing reports without the need for complex cryptographic computation and protocol interaction. Comprehensive evaluation and comparison show that the proposed solution achieves high sensing accuracy in the presence of malicious nodes while preserving the privacy of sensing nodes.
The development of e-healthcare systems requires the application of advanced technologies, such as blockchain technology. The main challenge of applying blockchain technology to e-healthcare is to handle the impact of the delay that results from blockchain procedures during the communication and voting phases. The impacts of latency in blockchains negatively influence systems’ efficiency, performance, real-time processing, and quality of service. Therefore, this work proposes a modified model of a blockchain that allows delays to be avoided in critical situations in healthcare. Firstly, this work analyzes the specifications of healthcare data and processes to study and classify healthcare transactions according to their nature and sensitivity. Secondly, it introduces the concept of a fair-proof-of-stake consensus protocol for block creation and correctness procedures rather than famous ones such as proof-of-work or proof-of-stake. Thirdly, the work presents a simplified procedure for block verification, where it classifies transactions into three categories according to the time period limit and trustworthiness level. Consequently, there are three kinds of blocks, since every category is stored in a specific kind of block. The ideas of time period limits and trustworthiness fit with critical healthcare situations and the authority levels in healthcare systems. Therefore, we reduce the validation process of the trusted blocks and transactions. All proposed modifications help to reduce computational costs, speed up processing times, and enhance security and privacy. The experimental results show that the total execution time using a modified blockchain is reduced by about 49% compared to traditional blockchain models. Additionally, the number of messages using modified blockchain is reduced by about 53% compared to the traditional blockchain model.
Gyula Ádám Nemes, Bence Tureczki, Katalin Szenes, György Eigner
This paper introduces a blockchain-based solution for secure and efficient management of personal and EEG data for research subjects. Our approach separates but interlinks the data to ensure privacy and integrity, with role-based access controls implemented via a Solidity smart contract on the Ethereum blockchain. We integrate the principles of operational excellence to enhance traditional information security methodologies, focusing on a more comprehensive understanding and functionality of data management. Our method offers a secure, efficient, and user-friendly data management system, drawing stakeholders closer to essential professional practices and upholding the values of privacy and integrity.
Ajay Kumar, Rajiv R. P. Singh, Indranath Chatterjee, Nikita Sharma · 5 authors
Abstract Financially incentivizing health-related behaviors can improve health record outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Blockchain and IoT technologies can be used to develop safe and transparent incentive schemes in healthcare. IoT devices, such as body sensor networks and wearable sensors, etc. connect the physical and digital world making it easier to collect useful health-related data for further analysis. There are, however, many security and privacy issues with the use of IoT. Some of these IoT security issues can be alleviated using Blockchain technology. Incorporating neuroadaptive technology can result in more personalized and effective therapies using machine learning algorithms and real-time feedback. The research investigates the possibilities of neuroadaptive incentivization in healthcare using Blockchain and IoT on patient health records. The core idea is to incentivize patients to keep their health parameters within standard range thereby reducing the load on healthcare system. In summary, we have presented a proof of concept for neuroadaptive incentivization in healthcare using Blockchain and IoT and discuss various applications and implementation challenges.
Abstract With Bitcoin being universally recognized as the most popular cryptocurrency, more Bitcoin transactions are expected to be populated to the Bitcoin blockchain system. As a result, many transactions can encounter different confirmation delays. Concerned about this, it becomes vital to help a user understand (if possible) how long it may take for a transaction to be confirmed in the Bitcoin blockchain. In this work, we address the issue of predicting confirmation time within a block interval rather than pinpointing a specific timestamp. After dividing the future into a set of block intervals (i.e., classes), the prediction of a transaction’s confirmation is treated as a classification problem. To solve it, we propose a framework, Hybrid Confirmation Time Estimation Network ( Hybrid-CTEN ), based on neural networks and XGBoost to predict transaction confirmation time in the Bitcoin blockchain system using three different sources of information: historical transactions in the blockchain, unconfirmed transactions in the mempool, as well as the estimated transaction itself. Finally, experiments on real-world blockchain data demonstrate that, other than XGBoost excelling in the binary classification case (to predict whether a transaction will be confirmed in the next generated block), our proposed framework Hybrid-CTEN outperforms state-of-the-art methods on precision, recall and f1-score on all the multiclass classification cases (4-class, 6-class and 8-class) to predict in which future block interval a transaction will be confirmed.
Securing the data through blockchain might be crucial to enhancing the IoT network, since data is an especially important part of the system. Secure storage of the information generated by the IoT network's intelligent gadgets is made possible via the integration of blockchain technology. For blockchain to be widely used in the IoTs, it must first conquer technological and financial barriers. To make the most of the IoT, blockchain technology may require some tweaking. The upcoming Internet of Things (IoT) technical breakthrough could involve this. This work emphasizes on bringing on board the recent trends of IoT applications utilizing Blockchain technology. The challenges faced in doing so are also outlined. We're hoping this work might help elucidate the state of blockchain studies and provide a road map for what comes next.
Malka N. Halgamuge, Geetha. K. Munasinghe, Moshe Zukerman
The Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged with Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to address existing scalability challenges and improve the trustworthiness of machine-to-machine communication. Among the numerous potential benefits of combining IoT and DLT, Blockchain, a subset of DLT, is a crucial enabler to accelerate secure IoT adoption. Appending a new block to a blockchain, especially in a blockchain-based IoT ecosystem, requires more delay than expected. This delay is one of several issues limiting the broader adoption of blockchain within the IoT domain. To assess this delay, we develop a new comprehensive model to estimate the time required to generate a new block in a blockchain-enabled IoT system. To this end, we develop sub-computation models and compare time consumption associated with the block generation process by conducting an extensive analysis of the following selected IoT layers: device layer, cluster head layer, fog/edge layer, and cloud layer. Our study identifies potential time-consuming steps in adding a new block to a network. Our results demonstrate that the type of blockchain framework and data encryption algorithms could affect the block generation time and that Avalanche, Conflux, Algorand, Polkadot Hyperledger Fabric outperforms Ethereum in terms of block generation time in IoT networks. On the other hand, the blockchain framework does not play a significant role in block generation time for smaller data packets. We also observed the benefit of using 256-bit ECC (elliptic curve cryptography) encryption and the fog layer in IoT networks to enhance the scalability of the block generation process. All in all, our results indicate that the total block generation time varies depending on the selected IoT framework, data encryption algorithm, blockchain type, and key functions of the layers. However, we found that time delays associated with queuing or block size are negligible relative to the other key components of block generation time.
The rise of computational power has led to unprecedented performance gains for deep learning models. As more data becomes available and model architectures become more complex, the need for more computational power increases. On the other hand, since the introduction of Bitcoin as the first cryptocurrency and the establishment of the concept of blockchain as a distributed ledger, many variants and approaches have been proposed. However, many of them have one thing in common, which is the Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanism. PoW is mainly used to support the process of new block generation. While PoW has proven its robustness, its main drawback is that it requires a significant amount of processing power to maintain the security and integrity of the blockchain. This is due to applying brute force to solve a hashing puzzle. To utilize the computational power available in useful and meaningful work while keeping the blockchain secure, many techniques have been proposed, one of which is known as Proof of Deep Learning (PoDL). PoDL is a consensus mechanism that uses the process of training a deep learning model as proof of work to add new blocks to the blockchain. In this paper, we survey the various approaches for PoDL. We discuss the different types of PoDL algorithms, their advantages and disadvantages, and their potential applications. We also discuss the challenges of implementing PoDL and future research directions.
Shahriar Rahman Fahim, SM Katibur Rahman, Sharfuddin Mahmood
Since the inception of Blockchain, the computer database has been evolving into innovative technologies. Recent technologies emerge, the use of Blockchain is also flourishing. All the technologies from Blockchain use a mutual algorithm to operate. The consensus algorithm is the process that assures mutual agreements and stores information in the decentralized database of the network. Blockchain's biggest drawback is the exposure to scalability. However, using the correct consensus for the relevant work can ensure efficiency in data storage, transaction finality, and data integrity. In this paper, a comparison study has been made among the following consensus algorithms: Proof of Work (PoW), Proof of Stake (PoS), Proof of Authority (PoA), and Proof of Vote (PoV). This study aims to provide readers with elementary knowledge about blockchain, more specifically its consensus protocols. It covers their origins, how they operate, and their strengths and weaknesses. We have made a significant study of these consensus protocols and uncovered some of their advantages and disadvantages in relation to characteristics details such as security, energy efficiency, scalability, and IoT (Internet of Things) compatibility. This information will assist future researchers to understand the characteristics of our selected consensus algorithms.
Abdullah Lakhan, Mazin Abed Mohammed, Jan Nedoma, Radek Martínek · 6 authors
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is the new paradigm to perform different healthcare applications with different services in daily life. Healthcare applications based on IIoT paradigm are widely used to track patients health status using remote healthcare technologies. Complex biomedical sensors exploit wireless technologies, and remote services in terms of industrial workflow applications to perform different healthcare tasks, such as like heartbeat, blood pressure and others. However, existing industrial healthcare technoloiges still has to deal with many problems, such as security, task scheduling, and the cost of processing tasks in IIoT based healthcare paradigms. This paper proposes a new solution to the above-mentioned issues and presents the deep reinforcement learning-aware blockchain-based task scheduling (DRLBTS) algorithm framework with different goals. DRLBTS provides security and makespan efficient scheduling for the healthcare applications. Then, it shares secure and valid data between connected network nodes after the initial assignment and data validation. Statistical results show that DRLBTS is adaptive and meets the security, privacy, and makespan requirements of healthcare applications in the distributed network.