Blockchain Papers

Georgios Patsiaouras (7595579), Athina Karatzogianni (20338413), Jacob Matthews (7779017)

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Raúl Jaime Maestre

The rapid co-evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology has exposed a persistent gap between intelligence-the ability to extract insight from data-and trust-the assurance that data, models, and decisions are transparent, verifiable, and tamper-proof.This study introduces the Unified Trust-Intelligence Framework (UTIF), an end-to-end architecture that natively fuses AI and distributed-ledger technologies to deliver auditable, privacy-preserving, and energy-aware intelligent services.A systematic review compliant with PRISMA guidelines (167 peer--reviewed sources, 2018-2024) reveals four critical deficiencies in the current literature: (i) the lack of formal on-chain model certification, (ii) opaque immutability of operational logs, (iii) limited cross-chain and cross-domain interoperability, and (iv) sub--optimal energy footprints.UTIF addresses these gaps through: On-chain algorithmic certification that fingerprints model weights and training metadata via cryptographic hashing.Federated data governance that combines privacy-preserving federated learning with zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-SNARKs) for regulatory compliance (GDPR, EU AI Act).An AI-assisted hybrid PoS-BFT consensus that dynamically tunes fault-tolerance parameters under varying network conditions.A self-verifiable MLOps pipeline deployed on Hyperledger Fabric with Layer-2 rollups, providing continuous integration, delivery, and audit trails.Experimental validation uses two open-access benchmarks-MIMIC-IV (clinical) and ECB-SDW (financial)-executed on a 20-node heterogeneous testbed.UTIF reduces transaction latency by 38 % and operational energy consumption by 27 % compared with Fabric 2.x and PoA baselines, while enhancing adversarial ro-bustness (F1 + 12 %) through on-chain model attestation.A perception survey of 46 domain experts reports a statistically significant boost in trustability (+1.27 0.31 on a 5-point Likert scale, p < 0.01).Stress tests show 98 % valid throughput under Sybil scenarios with 1,000 malicious nodes, maintaining a carbon footprint below 0.25 kg CO e per 1,000 transactions.The findings demonstrate that deep, native convergence of AI and blockchain can simultaneously achieve measurable trust guarantees, competitive performance, and sustainability.The article concludes with regulatory implications, identified limitations (network scale, oracle dependencies), and a research roadmap toward edge-to--cloud, 6G-ready, Web3-compliant intelligent infrastructures.

Mritunjay Shall Peelam, Vinay Chamola

The unique International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number is essential for identifying mobile devices and blacklisting stolen ones within networks. Current solutions are limited to local blacklists and lack a global mechanism for information exchange among operators. Efforts by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) to implement a common blacklist have been constrained by costs, resulting in fragmented and ineffective IMEI management systems. To address these challenges, we have developed a blockchain-based framework that uses the decentralized consensus and tamper-proof nature of distributed ledger technology to enable a unified and globally accessible IMEI blacklist. The framework is implemented on a permissioned blockchain deployed on the Sepolia testnet, utilizing the Proof of Authority (PoA) consensus mechanism to ensure fast and secure validation in a multi-stakeholder environment. Our solution includes a Decentralized Application (DApp) for user interaction, with smart contracts deployed using a Web3 wallet and connected via the Alchemy API to enable efficient communication between the front end and blockchain. Smart contracts automate device status verification, theft reporting, and transaction recording, enhancing transparency, accountability, and security in mobile device management. To validate IMEI numbers, the system uses the Luhn algorithm, a widely accepted checksum method. The framework also collaborates with law enforcement and insurance companies to improve theft verification and claims processing. Experimental results demonstrate the framework's scalability, achieving low latency of under 1 second at transaction rates up to 1,000 TPS and reducing transaction processing time by 30% compared to a traditional centralized database-based system. Performance outcomes were validated through 30 independent test runs to account for variability, underscoring the framework's robustness and potential for widespread adoption. These results set a new standard for global mobile device security through industry-wide collaboration.

Md. Nazmus Sakib, Latifur Khan

With the advent of Web3, there has been an unprecedented number of smart contracts being executed on decentralized networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum. While recent studies offer vulnerability detection frameworks and mitigation recommendations, little research addresses the pipeline from vulnerability detection to meaningful patch generation. We introduce VulnPatch, a generalized smart contract auditing and patching framework that employs multiple, fine-tuned LLM agents with distinct roles: detecting vulnerable functions, explaining their causes, and generating patched code. We have demonstrated empirically that having these sub-tasks delegated to different agents significantly improves performance across these sub-tasks rather than having one single agent that will handle all the tasks together. VulnPatch operates in three stages: first, fine-tuning the LLM on vulnerable and safe Solidity contracts; second, pinpointing vulnerability causes; and third, producing a report detailing vulnerable code and corresponding patches. Compared to state-of-the-art LLMs, VulnPatch achieves $\mathbf{9 3. 3 \%}$ accuracy and F1 score, generating reports for 84.44% of vulnerabilities, with explanations and patches showing $90 \%$ sound reasoning and $84 \%$ patch validity.

Алтынзер Байганова, Әли Асылбек, Абиболла Сейтбек

В статье рассматриваются аспекты применения технологии блокчейн в сфере образования. Описаны основные принципы работы блокчейна, его механизмы безопасности и преимущества децентрализации. Особое внимание уделено смарт-контрактам и их использованию для автоматизации образовательных процессов. Также рассмотрены примеры применения технологии для хранения дипломов, сертификации, учета академических достижений и управления стипендиями. Обсуждаются преимущества и вызовы внедрения блокчейна, а также перспективы его развития в образовательной среде на основе мирового опыта. Практическая значимость данного исследования заключается в применении технологии блокчейн для упрощения проверки подлинности документов, автоматизации образовательного процесса и обеспечения безопасности данных. В данной статье рассмотрены теоретические основы и конкретные примеры применения технологии блокчейн в сфере образования, разработан элективный курс по информатике «Технологии Web3».

Mohammad Hadi Andalib, Ahmad Shabani

1. Introduction and ObjectiveInformation asymmetry has long been recognized as a critical challenge within financial markets, where unequal access to information between contracting parties can lead to inefficient outcomes. In the context of Islamic finance, this issue manifests most prominently through adverse selection and moral hazard, both of which are substantially intensified in profit-and-loss sharing arrangements. Participatory contracts such as Mushārakah and Muḍārabah rely on mutual trust, transparency, and aligned incentives. However, empirical evidence from Islamic banking practice—particularly in Iran—shows that actual utilization of these contracts remains limited. Banks frequently avoid participatory financing and shift toward fixed-return modes (such as Murābaḥah), mainly due to the heightened risk of borrower default arising from information asymmetry, insufficient visibility into business operations, and difficulties in monitoring managerial behavior. Within this environment, adverse selection emerges before contract formation when the bank cannot accurately distinguish between high-quality and low-quality project proposals or entrepreneurs. This may result in the unintended approval of risky proposals, thereby elevating the likelihood of non-performing financing. The problem is further accentuated by limitations in credit assessment processes, inadequate transparency in project data, and disparity in profit expectations and execution approaches between banks and entrepreneurs. Recent advances in decentralized technologies—particularly Web3 architectures incorporating blockchain, decentralized identity frameworks, distributed ledgers, and programmable smart contracts—provide new opportunities to address these long-standing informational and contractual challenges. Web3 offers a structural shift from centralized information control to transparent and verifiable records shared within a network of stakeholders. Such transparency can diminish information asymmetry, reduce opportunities for misrepresentation, automate contract enforcement, and improve the reliability of credit histories. The primary objective of this research is to assess the feasibility of reducing default risk caused by adverse selection in Islamic participatory contracts through the application of Web3 technology. The study aims to: (1) Identify the core factors that generate adverse selection in participatory financing, (2) Evaluate the strength and direction of their influence on default risk, and (3) Analyze how Web3 mechanisms can mitigate these factors and enhance the practical viability of participatory contracts in Islamic banking systems.2. Methods and MaterialsThis research adopts a mixed-methods exploratory–confirmatory design. Owing to the complexity and conceptual novelty of integrating Web3 systems with Islamic financial contracts, the study began with a qualitative phase followed by quantitative model testing. Qualitative Phase: Delphi MethodThe qualitative stage employed a three-round Delphi process to identify and validate the principal determinants of adverse selection in participatory financing. The expert panel comprised university scholars in Islamic economics, senior managers of credit and risk departments in Iranian banks, and professional consultants in Islamic financial technology. The first round used open-ended questionnaires to collect diverse expert insights, resulting in an initial list of thirteen candidate factors. In the second round, a structured Likert-scale survey assessed the significance of the proposed factors. Consensus criteria were set at mean ≥ 3.5 and standard deviation ≤ 1, consistent with established Delphi methodology. In the final round, experts confirmed the final factor set, which consolidated into three primary constructs: (1) Lack of transparency in customer information, (2) Insufficient evaluation of the entrepreneur’s technical competence, and (3) Misalignment of objectives between financing partners. These validated constructs provided the basis for the structural model.Quantitative Phase: PLS-SEM AnalysisIn the second phase, a structured questionnaire was administered to 289 participants representing the same expert categories. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) via SmartPLS software. PLS-SEM was chosen due to:- The predictive and exploratory nature of the research,- The inclusion of higher-order and formative construct, and- Potential non-normality in expert response distributions. Model evaluation followed established metrics, including reliability (Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability), convergent validity (AVE), discriminant validity, and structural path significance (t-statistics and p-values). Multi-collinearity was assessed using VIF values, all of which were below the acceptable threshold. Confidence levels were set at 95% with corresponding significance thresholds of p < 0.05.3. Research FindingsThe results of the structural model confirm that adverse selection exerts a direct and significant positive effect on default risk in participatory contracts (β = 0.299, p < 0.01). The components of adverse selection are strongly driven by:- Lack of transparency in customer information (β = 0.932, p < 0.001),- Misalignment of objectives between partners (β = 0.887, p < 0.001), and- Insufficient assessment of entrepreneurial competence (β = 0.885, p < 0.001). This highlights that default risk in participatory financing is not merely a result of financial capacity constraints, but is deeply rooted in information imbalances and strategic behavior at the contract initiation stage. The model further demonstrates that Web3 technologies have a significant mitigating influence. The path coefficient for Web3’s direct effect on reducing default risk is negative and statistically meaningful (β = −0.214, p < 0.01). Additionally, Web3 reduces the negative effects of adverse selection and information asymmetry, as shown by reversed and weakened path effects in the Web3-enhanced environment. Key Web3 mechanisms enabling this outcome include:- Real-time transparency and immutable information records,- Smart contracts that automate profit-sharing and enforce commitments,- Decentralized digital identity (DID) systems that support reliable, tamper-proof credit histories,- Tokenization of collateral and tangible/ intangible assets, enabling verifiable and liquid security guarantees,- Reduced monitoring and enforcement costs due to auditability of on-chain transactions. 4. Discussion and ConclusionThe findings of this research indicate that the primary barrier to effective participatory financing in Islamic banking is not merely structural or regulatory, but fundamentally informational. Adverse selection emerges where transparency, competence assessment, and goal alignment are weak. Conventional mechanisms—such as collateralization and post-contract supervisory audits—provide only partial and reactive mitigation. In contrast, Web3 offers a proactive and systemic solution by embedding transparency, verifiability, and automated compliance directly into the contract infrastructure. By shifting the reliance from personal trust to systemic trust, Web3 supports the original normative philosophy of Islamic finance: equitable profit-and-loss sharing, partnership-based financing, and ethical allocation of capital. From a policy perspective, adopting Web3 frameworks may substantially increase the feasibility and attractiveness of participatory financing modes for Islamic banks that currently avoid them due to high default exposure. This study contributes to the academic discourse on risk management in Islamic finance by demonstrating a structural linkage between information theory, contract design, and emerging decentralized technological capabilities. Practically, the research proposes a hybrid risk-management strategy, integrating traditional credit evaluation frameworks with Web3-based transparency, identity assurance, and automated enforcement. Future work should examine regulatory, Shariah governance, cybersecurity considerations, and interoperability standards needed to implement Web3-based participatory financing systems at scale. Nonetheless, the present results indicate that intelligent and compliant adoption of Web3 can significantly reduce default risk and enable the revival of participatory financing models in Islamic banking.

P. E. S. N. Krishna Prasad, Preeti Chandrakar, Vipin Kumar Nayak

No abstract is available for this record.

Armin Reiter

Web3 is a fundamental change from a centralized, platform-centric internet to a decentralized, user-owned ecosystem powered by an open-source technology called Blockchain. This shift is not just a technological evolution, but also changes significantly how value is created, delivered, and captured. It enables new products, innovations, and business models. These products are often powered by tokens, whose value is described by their underlying tokenomics. They are designed to engage the community and incentivize the people who interact with the project. The users of Web3 often come together in decentralized autonomous organizations and democratically decide on the next steps and essential developments of the organization. The business models that are now possible because of the capabilities of a decentralized web have different success factors and reasons why they fail. This thesis conducts a systematic literature review and qualitative expert interviews to identify the success factors of Web3 business models. It first lists and categorizes the prevalent Web3 business models, their structures, and revenue models, and then highlights the success factors for Web3 business models. The findings reveal the difference between Web2 and Web3 business models, highlighting the importance of community, decentralization, governance, and robust token economics.

Vineeth Reddy Lakkadi, Baldev Singh, Bitopi Gogoi

Abstract: The transition from centralized digital ecosystems to decentralized, trust - driven architectures represents a defining paradigm shift in Customer Experience (CX). This paper presents a strategic blueprint for leveraging block chain technologies to build secure, transparent, and interoperable customer - centric environments between 2025 and 2030. Through a comprehensive review of market forecasts, enterprise case studies, and emerging regulatory frameworks, the study demonstrates how decentralized identity (DID), verifiable credentials, and tokenized loyalty systems fundamentally reshape customer engagement, ownership of personal data, and trust models. Findings indicate that block chain adoption empowers customers with self - sovereign identity control, enhances privacy compliance, and delivers measurable efficiency gains in verification, loyalty management, and supply - chain transparency. Case evidence from leading enterprises — including JPMorgan, AXA, Santander, and Accenture — highlights significant improvements in transaction speed, operational costs, and customer engagement. Despite challenges such as legacy system integration and GDPR - related constraints, hybrid architectures, Layer - Two scalability, and permissioned block chain environments provide viable adoption pathways. This paper concludes that block chain is not a supplementary technology for CX, but a foundational enabler of decentralized trust, competitive differentiation, and customer - driven digital ecosystems. Keywords: Block chain; Customer Experience (CX), Decentralized Identity (DID), Verifiable Credentials, Tokenized Loyalty Programs, Digital Trust, Self - Sovereign Identity, Smart Contracts, Hybrid Data Architecture, GDPR Compliance, Enterprise Digital Transformation, Web3 Customer Strategy

Hakeem Mustapha Attau, Oluwaseun Adeniyi Ojerinde, John Kolo Alhassan, Kabiru Abdullahi

No abstract is available for this record.

Marc Aurel Schnabel, David Batchelor

No abstract is available for this record.

Jong-Won Seol

In this study, the Web3-based metaverse game platform promotes a user-centered creator economy and has an important influence on NFT value and user experience. The effectiveness of creating finished and modular game assets was compared and analyzed for The Sandbox. A research model was designed in which the quality of use of ISO/IEC 25010 was set as an independent variable and the parameters and dependent variables of the Extended Technology Acceptance Model (ETAM). A group of 20 experts were verified by the Delphi technique and performed an empirical analysis. The modular asset increased the intention to continue using by enhancing the perceived ease of use compared to the completed type. This suggests that the modular asset contributes to the revitalization of the NFT-based economy in the Web3 metaverse environment.

Kanan Bayramov, Seung Hyun Jeon

There have existed transaction and connection difficulties between Web 2.0 and Web3 for a long time. Seamless Web3 has played a significant role to reduce the complexity of Web3 and the gap between Web2.0 and Web3. We propose a seamless Web3 based decentralized application (DApp) for non-fungible token (NFT) purchase by using credit cards. The proposed seamless Web3 DApp has been tested in an iOS system and shows positive results. The main goal is to connect Web 2.0 users purchase and store NFT within the DApp, without interacting with the complicated blockchain ecosystem such a wallet address, cryptocurrency or a crypto exchange account.

Onur Ceran

Purpose-This study explores the critical business implications of Web3 technologies within Türkiye's unique legal landscape, a nation experiencing significant crypto adoption and evolving regulations. By analyzing the architectural shifts from Web1.0 to Web3, we aim to understand how traditional legal frameworks create significant challenges for all stakeholders affected by decentralized environments, not just those operating within them.Design/methodology/approach-This study adopts a multidisciplinary and comparative research design, integrating both technological and legal perspectives to investigate the evolution from Web1.0 to Web3 and the associated legal implications. Given the complexity and scope of the subject matter, a mixed methods approach is employed, combining qualitative content analysis, document analysis, and comparative case study methodologies.Findings-The findings suggest that existing legislation is inadequate and outdated and poses a risk of future legislative actions causing irreversible or difficult-to-remedy harm if current legal gaps remain unaddressed. Discussion-Drawing from real-world case scenarios, the study highlights the urgent need for adaptive legal strategies that align with the decentralized, borderless, and immutable nature of blockchain infrastructures. The findings aim to support business leaders, legal practitioners, and policymakers seeking to innovate responsibly within the emerging Web3 economy.

Behrooz Golshan

This dissertation investigates how tokenised claims and algorithmic governance reshape interactions in Web3, with a particular focus on business-to-business (B2B) settings. Building on the insight that digital platforms and infrastructures are mutually entangled—platforms acquiring infrastructural roles and infrastructures accumulating platform logics—the study examines how this entanglement reappears in blockchain-based systems and what it means for value creation, value distribution, and institutional control. Rather than assuming decentralization as an outcome, the dissertation asks how governance is actually assembled across code, organizations, and markets, and how these assemblies channel rights, risks, and rents over time. In this sense, the thesis extends platform/infrastructure scholarship into the Web3 domain, showing how infrastructuring and platformization remain co-constitutive under new technical conditions (e.g., programmable settlement, public ledgers, composability). The research is guided by the following question: How does algorithmic governance of tokenised claims affect dynamics of value creation and distribution in Web3? The thesis addresses a gap in extant work by analysing the combined economic and governance consequences of tokenisation in commercial contexts, rather than treating governance as either purely technical (smart contracts) or purely institutional (foundations, standards, regulators). Methodologically, this research adopts a qualitative, interpretive design centred on semi-structured interviews with founders and leads of Web3 projects oriented toward commercialization and enterprise use. Interview evidence is triangulated with document analysis (white papers, governance docs, upgrade logs) to trace how decision rights are allocated, which boundary resources act as chokepoints, and how incentives and accountability are engineered. The sample focuses on projects that tokenise rights and obligations to orchestrate inter-firm exchanges (e.g., guarantees, attribution, royalties), enabling a consistent comparison of governance choices and their distributional signatures. Theoretically, the thesis contributes a layered view of Web3 governance that differentiates transaction governance (smart-contract rules that execute exchanges) from platform governance (meta-rules that structure participation, evolution, and control)—layers that are interdependent yet analytically distinct. Across cases, transaction governance supplies deterministic settlement (escrows, splits, auctions), while platform governance defines constitutional levers (eligibility schemas, listings, parameter updates, treasury policy, emergency powers). This distinction clarifies why “more on-chain” does not automatically imply “more decentralised”: instruments can be automated while decision rights remain concentrated. The framing resonates with and extends platform governance scholarship that locates governance in the ongoing division of decision rights, control mechanisms, and incentives among interdependent actors. Empirically, the thesis identifies three governance models—monocentric, moderately polycentric (P2), and highly polycentric (P1)—and analyses how each allocates rights and rents. Monocentric configurations recentre constitutional authority in a focal hub (firm, foundation, tightly bonded coalition), delivering speed, legal legibility, and coherent risk management, while concentrating surplus upstream via control of boundary resources (standards, registries, upgrade cadence, listings). Moderately polycentric arrangements disperse constitutional authority across overlapping venues (token voters, stewards, committees, standards groups), pairing automated execution at the edge with contestable meta-rules and auditable, replaceable discretion. Highly polycentric designs thin the platform layer and push coordination into markets and minimal, auditable rules (fee markets, open listings, plural oracles), improving neutrality and exit but requiring continuous work to diffuse emergent chokepoints (indices, bridges, relays). The patterns observed align with infrastructure/platform research on how control points shape innovation and value capture and with blockchain governance work emphasizing the allocation of decision and control rights. For B2B contexts, the analysis suggests a pragmatic equilibrium. Applications that demand auditability, finality, and accountable remediation (e.g., elections, trade guarantees) gravitate toward monocentric settlements; applications with heterogeneous actors and rapid iteration (e.g., creator and talent markets) benefit from moderately polycentric designs that preserve micro-level determinism with macro-level contestability. Across models, tokenisation expands what can be coordinated, but distributional outcomes hinge on who controls admission, measurement, and upgrade pathways. Accordingly, the thesis proposes design heuristics: separate transaction and platform governance, publish change logs and revocation paths, pluralise attestors at measurement junctions, time-box mandates, and keep credible exit technically and institutionally real. In sum, the dissertation advances an integrated account of Web3 as a political economy of programmable claims and layered governance. It shows how infrastructuring and platformization fold into one another under blockchain conditions, how distinct governance models redistribute rights and rents, and how B2B value propositions depend as much on constitutional design as on code. The framework equips scholars and practitioners to evaluate Web3 systems not by decentralisation rhetoric, but by the concrete allocation of decision rights, boundary resources, and incentives across layers and venues.

Anupama Kaushik, Prabhjot Kaur, Sonika Malik, Abhinav Mahakul · 6 authors

The evolution of technology has sparked significant interest in transforming traditional voting into efficient, secure online systems.This study introduces a novel approach that enhances voter privacy and data security by utilizing a UniqueBlend ID algorithm to generate unique identifiers for voters, obscuring Aadhar numbers and preventing identity disclosure.Blockchain technology is integrated to enhance transparency, eliminate fraud, and create an immutable voting record.However, integrating decentralized applications (dApps) with legacy web2 systems presents challenges in data storage and retrieval.To address these issues, this research presents Optima, an interface that simplifies data segregation between web2 and web3 storage systems using a JSON-based structure.Optima optimizes storage efficiency, minimizes gas fees, and reduces development overhead, allowing developers to focus on application logic.This streamlined data segregation approach significantly improves the efficiency and security of online voting, ensuring voter anonymity and maintaining the integrity of the voting process.

М. Маленко

У статті проаналізовано ключові недоліки централізованих афілійованих платформ, зокрема брак прозорості, складність виплат і надмірні витрати на інтеграцію. Запропоновано інтеграцію Web3-технологій (блокчейну, смарт- контрактів) як ефективну альтернативу для підвищення довіри та оптимізації процесів, що підтверджується попередніми дослідженнями. Робота наголошує на відсутності детальних методів та моделей інтеграції Web3-технологій в системи афілійованого маркетингу і формулює низку дослідницьких питань, які охоплюють криптографію, розробку смарт-контрактів, графовий аналіз взаємодій та OO-моделювання децентра- лізованих застосунків. Представлено методологічний підхід, що складається з аналізу існуючих моделей, огляду літератури, розробки Web3-базованої системи та формаль- ного тестування прототипів. Бібл. 8, іл. 2, табл. 1

В.С. Кулаков

В статье рассматриваются теоретические и прикладные аспекты стратегической цифровой трансформации бизнеса с акцентом на потенциал технологий Web3 в корпоративной и региональной экономике. Проведен сравнительный анализ эволюции веб-технологий от Web 1.0 до Web 3.0, обоснована актуальность интеграции Web3-инструментов (токенизация, DAO, NFT, децентрализованные платформы) в программы цифровизации холдинговых структур и региональных цифровых кластеров. На основе анализа статистических данных и международных кейсов выявлены ключевые барьеры и точки роста для внедрения Web3 в управленческие и экономические процессы. Сформулированы рекомендации по нормативному сопровождению, внедрению пилотных проектов и развитию компетенций в области децентрализованных архитектур. Статья ориентирована на исследователей, управленцев и стратегов, заинтересованных в практическом применении Web3 в целях устойчивого развития цифровой экономики. This article explores the theoretical and practical aspects of strategic digital transformation in business, focusing on the potential of Web3 technologies within corporate and regional economies. A comparative analysis of the evolution of web technologies from Web 1.0 to Web 3.0 is provided, emphasizing the relevance of integrating Web3 tools – such as tokenization, DAOs, NFTs, and decentralized platforms – into the digitalization programs of holding structures and regional clusters. Based on statistical data and international case studies, the article identifies key challenges and growth opportunities for embedding Web3 into management and economic processes. Recommendations are formulated for regulatory support, pilot project implementation, and competence development in decentralized architectures. The study is intended for researchers, managers, and strategists interested in the practical application of Web3 to foster a sustainable digital economy.

Hesam Sarkhosh, Uzma Maroof, Diogo Barradas

The rise of Web3 and Decentralized Finance (DeFi) has enabled borderless access to financial services empowered by smart contracts and blockchain technology. However, the ecosystem's trustless, permissionless, and borderless nature presents substantial regulatory challenges. The absence of centralized oversight and the technical complexity create fertile ground for financial crimes. Among these, money laundering is particularly concerning, as in the event of successful scams, code exploits, and market manipulations, it facilitates covert movement of illicit gains. Beyond this, there is a growing concern that cryptocurrencies can be leveraged to launder proceeds from drug trafficking, or to transfer funds linked to terrorism financing. This survey aims to outline a taxonomy of high-level strategies and underlying mechanisms exploited to facilitate money laundering in Web3. We examine how criminals leverage the pseudonymous nature of Web3, alongside weak regulatory frameworks, to obscure illicit financial activities. Our study seeks to bridge existing knowledge gaps on laundering schemes, identify open challenges in the detection and prevention of such activities, and propose future research directions to foster a more transparent Web3 financial ecosystem -- offering valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and industry practitioners.

Girish R. Naik, Poornima G. Naik

The current research introduces the Decentralized Autonomous MetaUniversity (DAMU), a novel framework for redefining academic governance through Blockchain, Machine Learning, and IoT. Unlike prior blockchain-in-education efforts which are limited to certificate verification, DAMU supports the complete academic lifecycle right from university creation and instructor assignment to student enrollment, assessment recording and credit redemption. The framework contributes a role-based DAO governance model, tokenized academic credits and NFT-based learning passports integrated with IoT-verified activity tracking to name a few. Performance validation across Goerli, Polygon PoS, and zkSync Era demonstrates up to 62% gas cost reduction, 48.6% faster DApp responsiveness and improved scalability thereby making DAMU a pioneering step toward Education 5.0 in a Web3 ecosystem.

Tianyu Zhaolu, Huaqun Wang

No abstract is available for this record.

Samuel Breckenridge, Dani Vilardell, Andrés Fábrega, Amy Zhao · 7 authors

In traditional, one-vote-per-person voting systems, privacy equates with ballot secrecy: voting tallies are published, but individual voters' choices are concealed. Voting systems that weight votes in proportion to token holdings, though, are now prevalent in cryptocurrency and web3 systems. We show that these weighted-voting systems overturn existing notions of voter privacy. Our experiments demonstrate that even with secret ballots, publishing raw tallies often reveals voters' choices. Weighted voting thus requires a new framework for privacy. We introduce a notion called B-privacy whose basis is bribery, a key problem in voting systems today. B-privacy captures the economic cost to an adversary of bribing voters based on revealed voting tallies. We propose a mechanism to boost B-privacy by noising voting tallies. We prove bounds on its tradeoff between B-privacy and transparency, meaning reported-tally accuracy. Analyzing 3,582 proposals across 30 Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), we find that the prevalence of large voters ("whales") limits the effectiveness of any B-Privacy-enhancing technique. However, our mechanism proves to be effective in cases without extreme voting weight concentration: among proposals requiring coalitions of $\geq5$ voters to flip outcomes, our mechanism raises B-privacy by a geometric mean factor of $4.1\times$. Our work offers the first principled guidance on transparency-privacy tradeoffs in weighted-voting systems, complementing existing approaches that focus on ballot secrecy and revealing fundamental constraints that voting weight concentration imposes on privacy mechanisms.

Chidananda Ningthoujam, Basanta Thoudam, Mutum Bıdyaranı Devi

Blockchain oracle networks serve as critical bridges between on-chain smart contracts and off-chain data sources, enabling decentralized applications to access real-world information. However, existing oracle systems suffer from significant vulnerabilities including data manipulation attacks, lack of quality assurance mechanisms, and absence of robust validation frameworks. This research proposes a novel reputation-based data quality assurance system for blockchain oracle networks that combines machine learning-based reputation scoring with stake-weighted validation mechanisms. We employ a multi-tier validation process to check data sources for historical accuracy, metric consistency and behavioural patterns. Through extensive simulated and experimental studies with 1,000 oracle nodes under different data categories, we show a reduction of 82.3% in false data injection attack exposure as well as an improvement by 76.8% in our overall data quality metrics compared to conventional oracle systems. The proposed system achieves an accuracy of 94.7% on data without sacrificing decentralization and resistant to collusion attacks in the network. Our results contribute to the design of reliable blockchain oracle infrastructure that decentralized finance (DeFi) and Web3 applications will rely on.

Liliana Becerra

This chapter describes the macro context for the soft aesthetic experience through an exploratory overview of emerging and current shifts within three macro areas: Society and Culture, Science and Technology and Design and Aesthetics. The aim of this section is to set a foundation for the book through graspable explanations of pivotal moments influencing soft, not only as a design aesthetic but also as a movement, a quality of life and a platform for the future. The first section “soft in Society and Culture” brings to the forefront important and current influential topics such as the emergence and prevalence of soft power, soft skills and a non-compartmentalized way of thinking and taking action in order to solve pressing problems. The second section “soft in Science and Tech”, examines recent developments propelled by the emergence of movements such as The Fourth Industrial Revolution and technologies including Web3, 5G and 6G, articulated in the context of the book, together with important neuroscientific models including the Aesthetic Triad and scientific tools for mapping and visualizing emotions. The third section “soft in Design and Aesthetics”, explores practices such as sensory design through a new light to include a broader spectrum of senses and their interactions through sensory experiences. Emerging design areas such as The Aesthetics of Wellbeing, Sensory Restoration and Soft Rooms are also explored.