This research paper presents a comprehensive review of the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain technologies, examining how their convergence can enhance trust, transparency, security, and intelligent decision-making in modern digital systems. The study explores the technological foundations of AI and blockchain, analyzes their complementary capabilities, and evaluates real-world applications in healthcare, financial services, supply chain management, Web3, and digital governance. It also critically discusses key technical, ethical, and regulatory challenges, including scalability, privacy, interoperability, governance, and security. Drawing on recent academic literature, the paper identifies current research gaps and outlines future directions for developing trustworthy, decentralized, and responsible AI-enabled digital ecosystems.
Open access
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Internet of Things and AI
Organizational and Employee Performance
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
Blockchain technology has profoundly revolutionized decentralized applications across financial systems, global supply chains, and applied informatics. However, it remains susceptible to systemic security hazards. This systematic review comprehensively evaluates core architectural vulnerabilities within blockchain infrastructures, consensus mechanisms, and peer-to-peer (P2P) network layers spanning the decade from 2015 to 2025. We focus primarily on the mechanics, operational taxonomy, and evolutionary trajectories of Sybil attacks, wherein malicious actors forge multiple pseudonymous identities to gain disproportionate systemic influence. By synthesizing the foundational academic literature with real-world empirical case studies, such as automated airdrop farming exploits in Layer-2 ecosystems (e.g., Arbitrum, zkSync) and decentralized finance (DeFi) governance manipulations, we analyze attack mechanisms, quantifiable impacts, and mitigation vectors. Our findings chart the structural evolution of Sybil strategies from rudimentary P2P routing disruptions to complex, economically driven application-layer interventions. Finally, we evaluate contemporary defenses, such as Proof-of-Personhood (PoP) systems and zero-knowledge (ZK) cryptography, offering actionable recommendations for the integration of W3C-compliant decentralized identity (DID) frameworks and behavioral analytics to enhance systemic fault tolerance.
Blockchain is a distributed ledger system that uses a decentralized consensus protocol to record transactions securely over a network of computers. Unlike established centralized systems, blockchain runs on a peer to-peer network with every participant (node) having access to the entire database and its full history. This, then, has the advantage of making the system more resilient to corruption or hacking. The ledger (transaction history) is replicated across multiple participants on the hardware framework. Transparency: All participants have the same copy of the blockchain (without a need for a central authority). Autonomous agreements are contracts that execute themselves because their content is directly encoded in them. They apply and effectuate the conditions of a contract without intermediaries when certain predefined stipulations come into play. The decentralized and secure method in which cryptocurrencies operate is through the mechanism of blockchain, which is widely acknowledged. It can simplify the process, decrease fraud, and make it safer. This study pursues a comprehensive survey of the diversified use cases of blockchain throughout the global financial ecosystem. This chapter is an effort to shed light on the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of blockchain technology in financial services.
Dr. Archana Bendale, Prof. Pawan Malani, Sakshi Shirole, Samiya Shaikh
Abstract: The widespread adoption of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems has improved clinical documentation and provided easier access to patient information in modern healthcare environments. However, a large number of healthcare information systems are in a fragmented state, creating barriers for information exchange. Blockchain technology has been identified as a secure and distributed method for managing patient information. Despite its benefits, incorporating blockchain technology into healthcare systems is confronted by interoperability challenges, including technical, semantic, and organizational aspects that limit information sharing among heterogeneous platforms. This study identifies interoperability challenges in blockchain-based healthcare architectures. A three-layer evaluation framework is developed, including performance metrics. A systematic review of recent blockchain-based healthcare architectures is conducted to guide the framework's development. This study aims to provide a valuable methodology for healthcare system architects to evaluate interoperability readiness before deployment, including potential research areas. Keywords: Block chain Technology, Electronic Health Records, Healthcare Interoperability, Distributed Ledger Technology, Health Information Exchange.
The Criminal Evidence Management System using Blockchain is designed to provide a secure, transparent, and tamper-resistant platform for managing digital criminal evidence throughout its lifecycle.Traditional evidence management systems rely on centralized databases, making them vulnerable to unauthorized access, data manipulation, and single points of failure.Such limitations can compromise the integrity of evidence and weaken the chain of custody during legal proceedings.To address these challenges, the proposed system leverages blockchain technology to ensure the authenticity, immutability, and traceability of digital evidence.The system employs Ethereum blockchain and Solidity smart contracts to securely record evidence-related transactions, while Python, Django, and Web3 facilitate seamless interaction between users and the blockchain network.Role-based access control enables administrators and investigating officers to perform authorized operations such as evidence submission, retrieval, and verification.Every transaction is permanently recorded on the blockchain, creating an auditable history that enhances accountability and prevents unauthorized modifications.The proposed solution improves the reliability and efficiency of evidence management by eliminating the risks associated with centralized storage and manual record-keeping.Through secure storage, transparent access, and automated verification, the system strengthens the chain of custody, increases trust among law enforcement agencies, and supports the admissibility of digital evidence in judicial processes, making it a robust solution for modern forensic investigations.
The aim of this research is to analyze the impact of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) platforms on the competitiveness of Iraqi private banks on the basis of the relationship between DeFi and the dimensions of competitiveness which are represented by operational efficiency, financial innovation and market share. This study used descriptive-analytical approach, and A questionnaire was distributed to employees of Iraqi private banks, who constituted the study sample and The study sample consisted of employees of Iraqi private banks. The data were analysed statistically with the SPSS software by appropriate statistical methods like correlation coefficient and regression analysis. The results of the research showed a positive and significant relationship between decentralized finance and banking competitiveness. In addition, the result of the regression analysis showed that the DeFi platforms had a significant effect on competitiveness, accounting for 59.2% of the variance (R-squared). The findings clearly show that decentralized finance helps to increase the operational efficiency and improve financial innovation, but with a moderate effect on market share. The study calls for Iraqi banks to embrace financial technology (FinTech) and improve their digital framework. Further, they need to be innovative and partner with FinTech firms to strengthen their competitive edge, given the fast pace of digital transformation.
As blockchain technology and smart contracts gain widespread adoption, ensuring their security is essential to prevent financial and operational risks. Detecting vulnerabilities in smart contracts using automated techniques provides a reliable and scalable solution. This study utilizes the Smart Contract Vulnerabilities Dataset from Kaggle, containing annotated smart contracts with labeled vulnerabilities. Preprocessing includes tokenization and exploratory data analysis to extract meaningful textual patterns. Deep learning models such as LSTM and BERT are trained and evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. To further improve detection performance, BERT embeddings are combined with BiLSTM and CNN + LSTM architectures. A Flask-based user interface enables real-time vulnerability prediction. Experimental results show that the CNN + LSTM model outperforms all other models, achieving 95 percent accuracy and demonstrating strong capability in identifying smart contract vulnerabilities.
P. Anupama, Akhilandeshwari, Shama Priyanka, Putta Srihari · 5 authors
The increasing digitization of administrative and personal records has created a strong demand for systems that guarantee secure storage, data integrity, and reliable verification of sensitive documents. Conventional document management solutions typically depend on centralized servers, where files are vulnerable to unauthorized modification, loss, or deletion without clear traceability. This centralized model reduces trust, increases exposure to cyber threats, and often requires time-consuming manual verification to confirm document ownership and authenticity. Consequently, individuals and organizations encounter challenges such as document forgery, inconsistent records, unauthorized access, and delays in retrieval, emphasizing the necessity for a more secure and tamper-resistant solution. In traditional vault systems, documents are usually stored as basic files with minimal metadata, lacking cryptographic protection and comprehensive audit mechanisms. Due to the absence of immutability, detecting alterations in stored documents becomes difficult. Additionally, reliance on manual validation processes introduces inefficiencies and a higher likelihood of errors. These drawbacks make centralized systems unsuitable for handling critical records such as legal documents, identity credentials, certificates, and criminal records, which require strict integrity and security measures. To overcome these limitations, the proposed solution combines blockchain technology with a Django-based web platform to establish a decentralized and tamper-proof digital vault. Key document metadata, including ownership information, descriptions, timestamps, and file references, is recorded on the blockchain using smart contracts, ensuring permanent and unalterable entries. The actual files are securely stored on the server, while Web3 enables seamless communication between the application and the blockchain network. Functionalities such as document upload, search, verification, and secure access support complete transparency and data integrity. This framework significantly strengthens trust by preventing unauthorized modifications and maintaining a permanent, verifiable history of all stored documents. By integrating blockchain immutability with an intuitive web interface, the system delivers a secure, scalable, and future-oriented solution suitable for government agencies, legal bodies, and organizations managing sensitive records.
The rapid proliferation of blockchain technology has fundamentally transformed global finance through the introduction of decentralized digital assets. However, the intrinsic characteristics that define cryptocurrencies namely decentralization, pseudonymity, and transactional irreversibility have simultaneously rendered the ecosystem a primary target for sophisticated cyber-attacks. This study investigates the critical dichotomy between the "code is law" philosophy and the imperative need for robust cybersecurity frameworks within a rapidly expanding market capitalization. This paper provides a multi-layered architectural analysis of vulnerabilities across the network, infrastructure, and application layers of the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Specifically, it examines systemic threats such as 51% attacks, smart contract exploits (including reentrancy and logic bugs), decentralized finance (DeFi) rug pulls, and sophisticated social engineering schemes. To address these vulnerabilities, the study evaluates the efficacy of current defense-in-depth mechanisms, including air-gapped cold storage solutions, multi-signature protocols, third-party smart contract auditing, and privacy-enhancing Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs). Furthermore, the research explores the integration of regulatory frameworks (AML/KYC standards) and proactive technological defenses like real-time on-chain analytics. Ultimately, this study proposes an enhanced, holistic threat prevention strategy designed to mitigate systemic risks, eliminate single points of failure, and safeguard the future integrity of digital asset platforms.
Objectives: The study aimed to examine the role of blockchain technology and its dimensions (transparency, security, transaction speed and efficiency, and operational cost reduction) in enhancing decentralized finance (DeFi) within the Saudi National Bank (SNB). Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive analytical approach. A structured questionnaire was used as the primary data collection instrument, distributed to a stratified random sample of 280 employees working in relevant departments within the bank. The collected data were statistically analyzed using SPSS. Results: The findings indicated that employees’ perceptions of blockchain technology were high, with an overall mean score of 4.08. The security dimension ranked first with a mean of 4.19, while the dependent variable recorded a high mean of 4.00. The results also confirmed the acceptance of the main research hypothesis at a significance level of 0.05. Collectively, the four dimensions explained 71.1% of the variance in enhancing decentralized finance. Security emerged as the most influential factor, followed by transparency, transaction speed and efficiency, and finally operational cost reduction. Conclusion: The study concludes that the application of blockchain technology across its various dimensions significantly contributes to strengthening decentralized finance within SNB. Security was identified as the most critical determinant, highlighting the need to reinforce cybersecurity infrastructure, develop regulatory and governance frameworks, and adopt a gradual approach toward transitioning to decentralized financial systems.
Social media entrepreneurship is shaped by centralized platforms controlling algorithms, monetization, and data, often limiting autonomy and bargaining power. Blockchain governance and smart contracts offer alternative arrangements to enhance transparency, trust, and value distribution. This study aims to examine the role of blockchain governance and smart contracts as alternative institutional mechanisms for entrepreneurs in social media ecosystems, with a focus on implementation conditions, strategic opportunities, and associated limitations. This research adopts a qualitative conceptual approach based on a systematic review of indexed academic literature published between 2022 and 2025, complemented by an analysis of documentation from blockchain based social media platforms, white papers, and relevant industry reports. The analysis maps key challenges faced by social media entrepreneurs onto blockchain governance mechanisms and smart contract functionalities. The findings indicate that blockchain governance and smart contracts can enhance entrepreneurial participation, improve transparency in revenue distribution, and strengthen the protection of digital assets. However, these benefits are context dependent and con- strained by several factors, including technical complexity, unequal token distribution, and regulatory uncertainty. Therefore, blockchain governance and smart contracts should not be viewed as universal solutions, but as strategic instruments whose effectiveness depends on inclusive governance design, sufficient technical readiness, and adaptive policy frameworks to support sustainable social media entrepreneurship. This article contributes by proposing an evaluative framework to assess the implementation of blockchain governance and smart contracts in social media entrepreneurship, emphasizing alignment be- tween technological design, governance inclusivity, and ecosystem readiness.
The growing demand for secure, transparent, and efficient financial systems has accelerated interest in blockchain technology within the financial sector. This study investigates the determinants and outcomes of financial blockchain adoption by proposing an integrated research model that links core blockchain characteristics security and transparency, smart contracts, and decentralization to financial blockchain adoption and its subsequent effects on fraud reduction, risk management, and cost efficiency. Using data collected from financial institutions operating in Jordan, the study applies Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to empirically test the proposed hypotheses. The findings demonstrate that security and transparency, smart contracts, and decentralization significantly and positively influence financial blockchain adoption. Moreover, the results confirm that financial blockchain adoption has a strong positive impact on fraud reduction, risk management effectiveness, and operational cost efficiency. By conceptualizing blockchain adoption as a strategic organizational capability rather than a purely technological choice, this study extends existing blockchain and fintech literature. The findings provide valuable theoretical insights into how blockchain characteristics translate into tangible financial outcomes and offer practical guidance for financial institutions and policymakers seeking to enhance trust, governance, and efficiency through blockchain-based financial systems.
This research paper provides a comprehensive examination of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology two of the most transformative innovations of the 21st century. We explore the foundational principles of distributed ledger technology, the diverse taxonomy of cryptocurrencies, consensus mechanisms, smart contracts, and decentralised finance (DeFi). Additionally, this paper investigates the security landscape of the crypto ecosystem, cataloguing major hacking incidents, attack vectors, and mitigation strategies. The paper concludes with an outlook on future developments and regulatory trends.
Abstract. Transaction costs are considered one of the key factors determining the efficiency of market mechanisms in modern economic systems. Contract enforcement, data collection and verification, trust assurance between parties, and monitoring mechanisms generate additional costs for economic agents. In particular, in the context of global trade and the digital economy, the increase in these costs can limit the efficiency of market operations. In recent years, the rapid development of blockchain technology has created new institutional and technological opportunities to reduce transaction costs. This distributed ledger technology minimizes the need for intermediaries, ensures data immutability, and enhances transparency in economic relations. This paper analyzes the role of blockchain technology in reducing transaction costs based on economic theory and existing scholarly approaches. Within the research framework, the mechanisms through which blockchain technology addresses information asymmetry, automates contract enforcement, and strengthens trust mechanisms are examined. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the potential efficiency benefits of blockchain technology and scientifically demonstrate its strategic importance in reducing transaction costs.
Євген Олександрович Живило, Юрій Володимирович Кучма
Formulation of the problem in general. The purpose of the article is to develop a multi-agent model of adaptive trust for decentralised confidential systems, capable of ensuring the integrity and reliability of computing processes in the presence of adaptive attacks on network nodes. Research methods. During the research, analysis and synthesis methods were used to study approaches to the construction of multi-agent systems and trust management mechanisms in decentralised environments. The method of system and simulation modelling was used to develop a multi-agent model of adaptive trust and to study its behaviour under attacks on the integrity of computing processes. Experimental and comparative methods enabled evaluation of the proposed approach's effectiveness and justification of its advantages over static trust models. Literature review. Literary analysis shows that modern models of trust in decentralised systems are based on the integration of dynamic adaptive mechanisms, AI algorithms, and cryptographic protocols, which allow for increased cyber resilience and data integrity. At the same time, questions remain open about the scalability of models, the optimisation of adaptation parameters, and the integration of national and European regulatory approaches into practical systems, which provide a scientific perspective for the development of multi-agent models of adaptive trust. Research results. The article formalises attacks on the integrity of computing processes and develops a multi-agent model of adaptive trust for decentralised confidential systems based on Bayesian updating and evolutionary adaptation of strategies. The results of the simulation experiments confirmed that the proposed model provides high resistance to attacks, rapid stabilisation of agent confidence levels and an effective balance between security, privacy and performance. Research novelty. The work improves approaches to trust formation in decentralised systems by integrating models of multi-agent interaction and stochastic game theory, in which trust is modelled as an evolutionary process under conditions of incomplete information. Well-known Bayesian models of trust have been expanded by combining Bayesian belief update mechanisms with reinforcement learning algorithms, ensuring dynamic adaptation of agent behaviour to variable and targeted attacks on the integrity of computational processes. The mechanism for correcting agents' strategies has been clarified, extending classic game models of trust to decentralised, confidential systems without centralised control, thereby increasing their resistance to adaptive threats. Theoretical and practical significance. The study expands theoretical approaches to the formation of adaptive trust in decentralised systems and integrates Bayesian updating with reinforcement learning algorithms. In practice, the model increases resistance to integrity attacks and ensures the confidentiality of data exchange, enabling the adaptive development of secure platforms for federated learning, Web3, and IoT. Conclusion and future work. The proposed model of adaptive trust in decentralised systems, integrating Bayesian updating, behavioural indicators, and reinforcement learning, ensures agent self-adaptation and increases resistance to attacks on data integrity under conditions of incomplete information. Simulation experiments confirmed the model's effectiveness in balancing security, privacy, and the transparency of interaction, opening the way for integration into Zero Trust Architecture and the development of intelligent, next-generation trust systems.
Asif Ali Laghari, Awais Khan Jumani, Shoulin Yin, Muhammad Bux Alvi · 7 authors
Blockchain is a decentralized, public, and distributed ledger designed to securely record and track transactions. It possesses the potential to transform various industries, including healthcare, supply chain management, and financial services, by enhancing transparency, efficiency, and trust. Despite its promise, blockchain development continues to face several challenges, particularly concerning security, scalability, and standardization. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of blockchain technology, focusing on its quality of service (QoS), security mechanisms, and the latest frameworks and models shaping its evolution. Furthermore, it examines existing limitations and identifies key open research challenges that must be addressed for broader adoption. The findings suggest that blockchain can substantially improve operational efficiency and data integrity across multiple domains; however, realizing its full potential requires continued research and technological advancement to overcome current barriers.
With a secure distributed ledger system, blockchain technology helps to shape the healthcare sector in terms of transparency and accountability. This research paper highlights the transformational impact that blockchain technology plays in the healthcare sector. It focuses on a variety of technologies, including patient data security, real-time monitoring enabled Internet of Things (IoTs). This paper also addresses the revolutionary impact that current technology, such as cryptography and Zero Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), has played in shaping modern technology and improving privacy and security in the health care system. This study contrasts existing blockchain technologies with emergent developments that aid in the creation of a decentralized, safe ecosystem that promotes accountability. Blockchain provides a decentralized, immutable, and transparent ledger. It enhances security, privacy, and trust in data transactions without relying on centralized servers.
يواجه النشر العلمي الرقمي تحديات متراكمة تتمحور حول التحيز التحريري، وغموض عمليات مراجعة الأقران، وتركّز السلطة في يد قلة من البوابات الأكاديمية، حتى في ظل اعتماد منصات مفتوحة المصدر مثل نظام المجلات المفتوحة (Open Journal Systems - OJS) بإصداره 3.x. تُقدّم هذه الورقة النظرية إطاراً مفاهيمياً رائداً يستكشف إمكانية دمج نماذج حوكمة المنظمات المستقلة اللامركزية (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations - DAOs) داخل البنية المعمارية لنظام OJS 3.x، بهدف إعادة هندسة عمليات مراجعة الأقران واتخاذ القرارات التحريرية وفق منطق الشفافية الفائقة (Hyper-Transparency). يتأسس الإطار المقترح نظرياً على تكامل النظرية المؤسسية (Institutional Theory) ونظرية الوكالة (Agency Theory)، حيث تُوظَّف الأولى لتحليل الضغوط المعيارية والتقليدية والقسرية التي تُشكّل سلوك المجلات العلمية، فيما تُستخدم الثانية لتفسير مشكلات عدم تماثل المعلومات بين الأطراف الفاعلة (المحررون، المراجعون، المؤلفون، القراء). يقترح البحث ستة مكونات معمارية للإطار: العقود الذكية لإدارة سير العمل التحريري، رموز الحوكمة (Governance Tokens) لتوزيع حقوق التصويت، السجلات الموزعة (Distributed Ledgers) لتوثيق المراجعات، آليات الإجماع للقرارات النهائية، أنظمة السمعة المُرمَّزة (Tokenized Reputation Systems)، وبروتوكولات حل النزاعات الخوارزمية. تكشف المناقشة أن هذا الدمج يُعيد توزيع سلطة الحراسة الأكاديمية، ويُقلّل من تكاليف الوكالة، ويُعزّز الشرعية المؤسسية للمجلات، إلا أنه يُولّد توترات جديدة تتعلق بالإجماع الزائف، والتمويل غير المستدام، والتعقيد التقني. يُقدّم البحث آثاراً إدارية محورية لمسؤولي OJS، ويختتم بأجندة بحثية مستقبلية تُشجّع على التحقق التجريبي للإطار في سياقات نشر متنوعة.
Maimunatu Ya'u Ibrahim, Kabiru Ibrahim Musa, Aminu Ahmad, Muhammad Tella
This study develops and evaluates a blockchain–IoT framework for enhancing digital banking security, with a focus on the Nigerian financial ecosystem. Unlike prior works that apply blockchain in generic contexts, this research addresses unique challenges facing developing economies, including weak authentication mechanisms, insider fraud, and systemic vulnerabilities in centralized infrastructures. The framework integrates IoT-based payment processes with blockchain protocols to deliver tamper-proof, real-time transactions, supported by lightweight consensus. Implemented in Python and tested under simulated banking conditions, the model demonstrates stable one-second block intervals, simulated peak throughput exceeding 237,000 transactions per second under controlled execution conditions, and robust handling of diverse transaction values. A comparative evaluation of Proof of Authority (PoA), Proof of Stake (PoS), and Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT) confirms PoA as the most practical for IoT-enabled banking in Nigeria, balancing scalability, energy efficiency, and real-time validation. By situating blockchain within Africa’s digital economy and providing a context-sensitive consensus analysis, this study advances both the theoretical and applied understanding of secure, decentralized payment infrastructures. The findings lay the groundwork for real-world deployment of blockchain-based solutions to strengthen digital banking security and financial inclusion in emerging markets.
SHAIK SANA SHAIK SANA, N. SOUJANYA N. SOUJANYA, MOHAMMED MAJEED MOHAMMED MAJEED, BUCHI PAVITHRA BUCHI PAVITHRA · 6 authors
In the current digital era, social media platforms have become pivotal for individuals to express their opinions, political views, and product reviews. However, the centralized nature of traditional social media systems poses significant risks related to data breaches, server crashes, and single points of failure. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a novel approach to migrate from centralized to decentralized social media platforms by leveraging Blockchain technology. Blockchain ensures data immutability, decentralized storage, and enhanced security by distributing data across multiple nodes. Any tampering with data is immediately detectable due to the cryptographic linkage of data blocks through unique SHA-256 hash codes. The proposed system, named dTweets, enables users to post and view tweets securely using smart contracts written in Solidity and deployed on the Ethereum network. This decentralization prevents fraudulent users from spreading misinformation or unauthorized advertisements. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system achieves strong data integrity, tamper resistance, and transparent operation while maintaining acceptable transaction latency. This implementation provides a robust foundation for a secure and tamper-proof social media ecosystem. KEYWORDS : Blockchain, Decentralized Social Media, Data Security, Privacy Protection, Smart Contracts, SHA-256, Proof of Work, Distributed Ledger, Ethereum, Solidity, dTweets, Secure Data Storage, Web3.
Blockchain technology has emerged as one of the most transformative innovations in the financial sector, enabling secure, transparent, and decentralized transaction systems. Among its key applications, smart contracts have gained significant attention for automating financial agreements and reducing the need for intermediaries. Smart contracts are self-executing digital agreements embedded within blockchain networks that automatically enforce contractual terms when predefined conditions are met. The present study examines the role of blockchain-based smart contracts in financial transactions and evaluates their impact on efficiency, transparency, security, and cost reduction in financial systems. The study is based on secondary data collected from industry reports, academic publications, and financial technology databases. Analytical methods including descriptive analysis and regression-based conceptual modeling are used to examine the relationship between smart contract adoption and financial transaction efficiency. The findings indicate that smart contracts significantly enhance transaction speed, reduce operational costs, minimize fraud risk, and improve transparency in financial systems. The study concludes that blockchain-based smart contracts have the potential to transform financial transactions by improving efficiency, reliability, and trust in digital financial ecosystems.
Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions held by direct and indirect stakeholders regarding the use of smart contracts through blockchain technology for public procurement in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Design/methodology/approach The methodology for this research was a questionnaire that was filled out by members of the public, potential users, government officials and those working with the technology as the use of smart contracts for public procurement in Dubai, UAE. The data collected was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), which is used for the statistical evaluation of data. In addition, descriptive analysis, regression analysis, statistical significance and structural equation modelling analysis was used to create in depth analysis of the data. Findings The findings revealed that a significant positive influence could be found on behavioural intention where relative advantage, trialability, observability, perceived compatibility, perceived enjoyment and technology awareness were in place. However, factors such as complexity, perceived risk and perceived constraints from suppliers, regulations and business partners were found to apply a significant negative influence on the behavioural intention. Social implications In terms of blockchain and smart contracts, social impact should be studied so that future design can reflect those areas in which the technology services individuals within the system. As a result, the gap in literature is focused on the way in which perceptions of users impact the efficiency of a system and the way in which the system can service those individuals who would use the process. Originality/value This research is important because it represents the level of acceptance that exists in terms of smart contracts and provides an understanding of how change may be resisted as public procurement is conducted through smart contracts. This study contributes to the literature in several different ways. An analysis of blockchain technology as it relates to performance and efficiency in public procurement within the UAE was found to support the theory that blockchain technology can enhance public projects at the governmental level. The perceptions of the disruptive qualities of the technology as examined through technological acceptance model, Technology-Organization-Environment and Innovation Diffusion Theory supported an understanding of the capabilities of users to adapt to the technology. In turn, recommendations concerning the transition and possibilities of smart contracts for the public procurement process was supported.
Blockchain technology has emerged as one of the most disruptive forces in modern computing, fundamentally reshaping how digital ecosystems manage trust, transparency, and decentralization. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of blockchain architecture—covering distributed ledger mechanisms, consensus protocols, and smart contract frameworks—and examines their transformative impact across domains including finance, healthcare, supply chain, and governance. A secondary theme of the paper explores the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a convergent and supporting technology to blockchain, particularly in areas of anomaly detection, intelligent contract automation, and predictive analytics. Using a structured literature review methodology, we identify key architectural components, survey real-world applications, evaluate current limitations, and outline future research directions. Findings suggest that while blockchain independently offers significant systemic advantages, its integration with AI amplifies scalability, security, and decision-making capabilities—heralding a new paradigm for digital infrastructure.
Prof. Ambreen Anees, Alisha Abbasi Shaikh, Aman Ullah Khan, Mohammad Fahad Kirmani · 5 authors
The rapid digital transformation of healthcare systems has significantly improved the storage, accessibility, and management of patient information; however, it has also introduced serious challenges related to data security, privacy, and trust. Traditional centralized medical record systems are vulnerable to single points of failure, unauthorized access, and data breaches, which may compromise sensitive patient data. This paper proposes a decentralized framework for secure medical records management using blockchain technology. The system utilizes a distributed ledger to store medical data in a tamper-resistant and immutable manner, ensuring integrity and transparency. Cryptographic techniques are employed to encrypt patient data and enforce secure access control, allowing only authorized users to retrieve or update records. Additionally, smart contracts are used to automate access permissions and eliminate the need for intermediaries, improving efficiency. By removing dependence on a central authority, the proposed approach enhances reliability, security, and trust among stakeholders while ensuring privacy protection and controlled data sharing in modern healthcare environments.