Sep 10, 2025·The Third Edition of the International Conference on Connected Objects and Artificial Intelligence (COCIA'2025), Higher School of Technology of Casablanca, Apr 2025, Casablanca (Maroc), Morocco
Abdou-Essamad Jabri, C. Drocourt, Mostafa Azizi, Gil Utard
The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) in healthcare has revolutionized patient monitoring and data collection, allowing real-time tracking of vital signs, remote diagnostics, and automated medical responses. However, the transmission and storage of sensitive medical data introduce significant security and privacy challenges. To address these concerns, blockchain technology provides a decentralized and immutable ledger that ensures data integrity, , and transparency. Unlike public blockchains, private blockchains are permissioned; the access is granted only to authorized participants; they are more suitable for handling confidential healthcare data. Although blockchain ensures security and trust, it lacks built-in mechanisms to support flexible and controlled data sharing; This is where Proxy Re-Encryption (PRE) comes into play. PRE is a cryptographic technique that allows encrypted data to be re-encrypted for a new recipient without exposing it to intermediaries. We propose an architecture integrating private blockchain and PRE to enable secure, traceable, and privacy-preserving data sharing in IoT-based healthcare systems. Blockchain guarantees tamper proof record-keeping, while PRE enables fine-grained access control, allowing medical professionals to securely share patient data without compromising confidentiality. This combination creates a robust security framework that enhances trust and efficiency in digital healthcare ecosystems.
Abdou-Essamad Jabri, Mostafa Azizi, Cyril Drocourt, Gil Utard
Being propelled by the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0), IoT devices and solutions are well adopted everywhere, ranging from home applications to industrial use, crossing through transportation, healthcare, energy, and so on. This wide use of IoT has not gone unnoticed, hackers are tracking the weakness of such a technology and threatening them continuously. Their security at various levels has become an important concern of professionals and researchers. This issue takes more risk, especially with the IoT variants, IIoT (Industrial IoT) and MIoT (Medical IoT). Many existing security solutions are adapted and proposed for addressing IoT security. In this paper, we are interested in exploring blockchain technology and we make a comparison of three free Blockchain platforms towards their applicability for MIoT context, namely Ethereum, Hyperledger Fabric and Corda. In general, Blockchain technology provides a decentralized, autonomous, trustless, and distributed environment. It is challenging to find a Blockchain platform that fits the MIoT context and performs well in terms of security. The retained platform should be deployed smartly to avoid its practical drawbacks related to energy-consuming and excessive computing.
The fundamental building blocks of the Bitcoin lightning network are bidirectional payment channels. We describe an extension of payment channels in the Proofgold network which allow the two parties to bet on whether a proposition will be proven by a certain time. These provide the foundation for a Proofgold lightning network that would allow parties to request proofs (by betting there will be no proof by a certain time) and other parties to provide proofs (and be rewarded by betting there will be a proof). The bets may also provide a way to approximate the probability that a certain proposition is provable (in the given amount of time). We describe the implementation of payment channels supporting proofs in Proofgold and discuss a potential lightning network that could be built as a result. One application of such lightning network would be a large decentralized infrastructure for fast collaborative formalization projects.
Proofgold is a blockchain that supports formalized mathematics alongside standard cryptocurrency functionality. It incorporates logical constructs into the blockchain, including declarations of formal theories, definitions, propositions and proofs. It also supports placing and collecting bounties on proving these propositions, incentivizing the development of the formal libraries contained in Proofgold. In this paper, we present a web-based blockchain explorer for Proofgold. The system exposes not only the usual transactional data but also the formal mathematical components embedded in the chain and allows some interaction with them. The explorer allows users to inspect blocks, transactions, and addresses, as well as formal objects: theories, definitions, theorems and their proofs. We also support the submission of transactions to the blockchain using our interface. We describe the system architecture and its integration with the Proofgold Lava software, highlighting how the explorer supports navigation of formal content and facilitates mathematical knowledge management in a decentralized setting, as well as a number of formalizations in category theory done in the system.
The rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) is driving the integration of billions of connected devices across various domains, including healthcare, transportation, and smart urban systems. Although this proliferation offers considerable advantages in terms of functionality and operational efficiency, it also brings to the forefront a range of pressing concerns, particularly in relation to security, reliability, and privacy. These challenges are largely rooted in the decentralized and dynamic architecture of IoT ecosystems. In this context, trust and reputation mechanisms have become increasingly vital for enabling secure and reliable interactions between devices and users. This paper examines recent advances in trust management models tailored to IoT environments, with a focus on approaches leveraging blockchain technologies, machine learning techniques, and edge or fog computing paradigms. We assess the practical implications of these solutions, discussing both their strengths and inherent limitations. Furthermore, we identify key open issues such as scalability, data protection, and interoperability across platforms, and we outline potential research directions to support the development of more robust and adaptable trust frameworks for the evolving IoT landscape.
The increasing integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) into modern power systems requires more flexible and decentralized approaches to improve operation and ensure system resiliency. In this scenario, the approach to provide ancillary services has a significant impact. Traditional centralized control schemes for ancillary services provision are increasingly challenged by issues of limited scalability, lack of transparency, and slower responsiveness. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a conceptual approach for the decentralized provision of ancillary services supported by Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and smart contracts. The proposed framework enables secure, transparent, and automated coordination among distributed assets without reliance on centralized intermediaries. This enables small-scale assets to access future ancillary service markets, supporting automated functions such as capability verification, streamlined access control, and instant verification and payment processes. The framework is fully implemented in a laboratory environment and validated using a Redox flow Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and a DC charging station for Electric Vehicles (EVs). The experimental results highlight the feasibility and effectiveness of the DLT-based approach for Frequency Containment Reserve (FCR), laying the groundwork for deployments and extensions to additional ancillary services.
Aditya Choudhary, Amol P. Bhagat, D. P. Kothari, Praveen Choudhary
This This paper explores the transformative potential of blockchain technology across various sectors, positioning it as a digital alchemy capable of reshaping the foundations of trust, transparency, and decentralization in the digital age. Moving beyond its initial association with cryptocurrencies, blockchain is analyzed as a multi-dimensional framework for secure, immutable, and decentralized data management. Through a synthesis of technical insights, case studies, and emerging trends, we investigate blockchain’s capacity to revolutionize domains such as finance, supply chains, governance, and healthcare. The study also critically examines the limitations, scalability challenges, and ethical considerations surrounding widespread adoption. Ultimately, this paper argues that blockchain is not merely a disruptive technology but a foundational infrastructure that could redefine how value, information, and authority are exchanged in digital ecosystems.
The technological foundation of each civilization determines its living conditions and prosperity [2,3,4]. Access to discussed resources should not be viewed as solely an individual concern, since abundance is significantly shaped by economies of scale and collective practices. At the same time, they are fundamentally linked to the political practices that must be followed. Wittfogel noted that hydraulic works requiring collective effort have underpinned social structures depending on elite oversight mainly due to their complexity [5] which refers to the behaviour of a system or model characterized by a large number of interconnected components, nonlinear interactions, and emergent properties that cannot be fully understood by analysing individual parts in isolation [6].However, there is always a turning point in economies of scale where, past a certain threshold, the rising managerial costs increases the unit cost [7,8]. Projecting this principle onto social dynamics, we note that, there is an optimal point at which society gains the most from cooperative behaviour [9], yet it becomes inefficient when social structures expand to such an extent that the cost of their coordination outweighs the provided benefits [10,11].The challenges of balancing cooperative benefits with coordination costs in achieving economies of scale by state regulations have been addressed through socio-political theories emphasizing the state's role. Adam Smith recognized that cooperative market interactions, facilitated by minimal state intervention, could create economies of scale through specialization and trade, with the state ensuring basic legal frameworks [12,13]. Karl Marx argued that cooperative labor under capitalism, while initially fostering economies of scale, required state-led collectivization to equitably distribute benefits and overcome exploitative capital accumulation [14,15]. John Maynard Keynes emphasized state-driven cooperation, advocating for public investment and demand management to stabilize markets and sustain economies of scale during economic downturns [16]. Neoliberalism, led by figures like Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman, critiqued state overreach, promoting cooperative market mechanisms with minimal state involvement to maximize economies of scale through competition and innovation [17,18]. These perspectives shaped societal systems, with capitalism and communism as the most prominent rivals [19]. However, both the Soviet Union (communism) and the United States (capitalism) landed humans on the moon in late 1960s, demonstrating that each system, could equally effectively achieve the monumental milestone of that era [20,21].The same principle applies to technological applications-there is a limit beyond which the evolution of complexity ceases to be beneficial. For instance, the embedded complexity in various consumer goods, such as cars, creates vulnerabilities that render these vehicles prematurely obsolete [22,23]. While in earlier times this was often regarded as a disadvantage, today it appears that the temporariness of an object, which creates the need for its replacement within a short period, promotes the desired outcome: the consumption of new products to replace it [24]. This could imply that the durability of things is almost undesirable [25].Within the framework of globalization, this may not have been a flaw, as global trade was encouraged to enable easy replacement and consumption, affecting every aspect of modern life [26,27]. However, it presupposes a complex, interconnected economic system that is fragile in the face of various regulatory attempts [28]. For example, maritime transport (Figure 1) underpins the global economy, facilitating approximately 80% of international trade by volume (left pie chart in the bottom of Figure 1) and around 70% by value (right pie chart in the bottom of Figure 1), underscoring its critical role in the global movement of goods (Figure 1) [29]. Systemic vulnerabilities are weaknesses within a system that arise from its structure, interconnections, or dependencies, making it susceptible to cascading failures or disruptions when stressed [31]. These vulnerabilities are often hidden and emerge under specific conditions as in electronic-based solutions. Electronics-based solutions [32] present systemic vulnerabilities beyond the regulatory risks evident in the 2022 Russian sanctions [33] or the recent U.S. trade conflicts (April 2025) [34]. Unlike simpler mechanical systems, these technologies are inherently susceptible to disruptions in sensitive supply chains, cyberattacks, and electromagnetic pulses-creating layers of systemic vulnerability often overlooked in technological adoption decisions [22,35].Systemic vulnerabilities in complex system appears highly unstable-especially when considering isolated technical incidents, such as two small fires at Heathrow Airport which disrupted global air travel. In addition, the rapidly interconnected world, which must manage emerging complexity with tools that have not yet reached full maturity, becomes vulnerable to malicious actions such as the Mt. Gox Hack (2014).Resilience is the capacity of a system to absorb disturbances, adapt to changes, and maintain its core functions and structure in the face of stress or shocks [36]. As it is a desired goal, a question arises as to whether and how societies can thrive without the emerging complexity that has been imposed through technological solutions as well as the communication and cooperative policies that sustain global trade.Ensuring social thriving is critical, an optimization is required-one that is simple, resilient, self-sufficient, and capable of supporting at least the foundation of societal prosperity-through available adaptations [37,38].Section 2 analyzes the methodology used to approach the vulnerabilities inherent in complex systems, focusing on their susceptibility to disruptions. Section 3 delves into examples of governmental failures and technical failures, using the evolution of technology of vehicles and digital infrastructure as case studies to illustrate fragility in advanced technologies. Section 4 emerges the role of critical aspects of modern civilization: digital infrastructures and satellites. Section 5 explores future technological paradigms, weighing the promises and perils of automation, digital currencies, and interconnected systems arguing that progress is neither linear nor guaranteed. The discussion in Section 6 synthesizes these insights, proposing strategies for resilience at governance and technological levels. Finally, Section 7 concludes with recommendations for proactive design and planning to ensure robust systems, emphasizing the urgency of action during periods of stability.This study adopts a multidisciplinary approach to analyze the interplay between technological complexity, systemic vulnerabilities, and resilience in modern civilizations, with a focus on resource management perspectives. The methodology comprises three key components:• Historical and Comparative Analysis: Historical case studies, such as the collapse of the Roman Empire, Soviet Union and the Qing Dynasty (China) are examined to identify patterns of overextended infrastructure and administrative complexity leading to systemic failure. These are compared with contemporary examples (e.g., megacity resource management, global trade disruptions) to draw parallels and highlight recurring vulnerabilities.• Data-Driven Visualization:Quantitative data from global datasets (e.g., World Bank, Marine Traffic-cargo ship positions, Flightradar-air traffic, TeleGeography-submarine cable) are analyzed to illustrate the scale and fragility of interconnected systems. Visualizations are generated to map trade complexity, economic impacts, and cascading failures.• Qualitative Risk Assessment: Technical and governance failures are evaluated through qualitative frameworks, focusing on vulnerabilities in digital systems (e.g., ECUs in vehicles, cyber-hacks, CBDCs and resource distribution). Scenarios such as EMP attacks and trade wars are explored to assess cascading risks.Insights are drawn from real-world incidents e.g., Mt. Gox hack (February 2014) Heathrow fires (March 2025) and the blackout in Iberian Peninsula (April 2025) to propose adaptability strategies.The above examples were used for the revision of the pyramid of human needs. This mixed-methods approach emphasizes governance and technological perspectives to propose resilience frameworks.Limitations include the speculative nature of future risk scenarios, which however are addressed through transparent sourcing and conservative assumptions.The methodological steps of the paper, the examined issues and the conclusions are visualized in Figure 2. The Industrial Revolution and the Electronic Era established sophisticated infrastructures driven by economies of scale, rapid communication, global connectivity, and widespread access to knowledge. Evidently, global poverty rates dropped dramatically over the past century, a triumph humanity owes to these technological breakthroughs [39].Economies of scale and large-scale infrastructure have enabled the clustering of the population in major urban centers [40]. Megacity aqueducts [41], supply chains [26], industrial production, refineries, and critical infrastructure facilitate human coexistence [42]. However, these systems demand complex management, forming a fragile equilibrium that sustains societies. A deliberate or accidental failure in any major infrastructure, especially to the communication system which solves this puzzle, could immediately trigger an existential crisis.The vulnerability of the contemporary communication system, underpinned by the internet, is exemplified by approximately 1.4 million kilometers of submarine fiber-optic cables linking over 1,200 landing points worldwide [43]. Figure 3 Today, the discourse on climate change [55, 56], a narrative that remains under discussion and not fully understood due to its complexity and conflicting viewpoints [57,58,59,60,61], has led to policies aimed at reshaping the energy mix through the adoption of renewable energy sources. Even if the narrative of climate change and the associated technologies supporting it are subject to debate [62], the associated technologies introduce new challenges in their management due to their stochastic nature.The above vulnerabilities suggest that there is always the possibility that society could become trapped in a death spiral [63] of complexity, from which it would be very difficult to break free.Historically, excessive bureaucratic complexity and endemic corruption have precipitated the collapse of entire societies, as seen in Roman Empire, the Soviet Union and the late Qing Dynasty.Tainter argues that the collapse of the Roman Empire illustrates how overextended infrastructure and reliance on complex administrative systems precipitate societal decline [64]. He contends that the empire's dependence on intricate networks-such as extensive road systems, aqueducts, and a sprawling bureaucracy-demanded substantial resources to sustain. As economic returns diminished, these systems rendered the empire vulnerable to external pressures (e.g., barbarian invasions) and internal weaknesses (e.g., corruption) [65,66]. The rigid centralized administrative structure further constrained adaptability, as simplifying governance through decentralization was politically and culturally untenable, accelerating systemic failure.The Soviet Union (1922-1991) developed a highly centralized, bureaucratic system to manage its vast economy and diverse population, but this complexity fostered inefficiencies and corruption. Lengthy administrative processes, coupled with opaque resource allocation, enabled the elites to siphon resources, eroding public trust and economic stability [67]. By the 1980s, the system's rigidity stifled innovation and failed to address growing economic stagnation, culminating in the USSR's dissolution in 1991 [68].The Qing Dynasty in China succumbed to bureaucratic bloat and corruption, were intricate governance structures and rampant bribery undermined resource distribution and public welfare, particularly in urban centers. This weakened the dynasty's ability to respond to internal rebellions and external pressures, leading to its collapse in 1912 [69].The complexity of managing resources such as Water-Energy and Food nexus [70] in present megacities is a critical factor underpinning their sustainability and functionality, rendering them highly vulnerable to disruptions like tariffs and trade wars.Megacities, characterized by dense populations and intricate infrastructural networks, rely on efficient resource distribution systems that are often strained by global economic policies. For instance, tariffs can increase the cost of imported food in mega-cities which could be considered as food deserts [71,72,73]. Trade wars further complicate this by disrupting supply chains, as seen in the U.S.-China trade tensions affecting waterintensive agricultural exports [74].The interconnectedness of resource systems amplifies these risks, with energy shortages potentially cascading into water and food crises [75]. Moreover, the governance of these resources in megacities often involves multiple stakeholders, adding layers of complexity that tariffs can destabilize by altering economic incentives [76]. Consequently, such economic policies pose perilous threats to megacities' stability, where resource mismanagement could lead to existential challenges [77].Our interconnected world relies on the complexity of created synergies [78], as highlighted by the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, global trade was agitated, and global growth was halted as it is evident by Gross National Income (GNI) growth and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. Therefore, these synergies promote advancement, but they also made systems vulnerable to unexpected disruptions [79] (Figure 4). While complexity in governance is often necessary for managing intricate systems, it can also harbor corruption, as the concealment of resources or procedures from public scrutiny may obscure unethical practices. When governmental systems are perceived as overly complex and subjective, they often fail to deliver timely resolutions, leading to a loss of public trust. 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David Chaum, Richard Carback, Jeremy Clark, Liu Chao · 11 authors
Abstract We revisit “silent coercion” where an adversary gains access to a voter’s credential without the voter’s knowledge in an E2E verifiable, coercion-resistant Internet voting system. We argue that in this setting, casting an intended vote is impossible since the cryptographic backend can no longer distinguish the voter and adversary. However, we affirm that the voter can still act to nullify adversarial ballots, which is preferable to inaction. We provide a new instantiation of nullification using zero-knowledge proofs and multiparty computation, which improves on the efficiency of the current state-of-the-art. We also demonstrate an example voting system—VoteXX—that uses nullification. Our nullification protocol can complement new and existing techniques for coercion resistance (which all require voters to hide cryptographic keys from the coercer), providing a failsafe option for voters whose keys leak.
The rapid proliferation of the decentralized systems has instigated the need of secure, scalable, and efficient systems of information management. Blockchain is not only immutable but also vulnerable and trusted and performs poorly in the aspects of scalability and high latencies and computation overheads. On the quest to find them, AI (Artificial Intelligence) can provide predictive mechanisms, optimization and anomaly detection, but to carry out its operations efficiently, it requires reputable datasets. This research paper discusses the way AI can be integrated with blockchain so as to expand decentralized data ecosystems. It applied four algorithms Federation Learning as a data training distribution method, reinforcing learning as a consensus optimization method, deep learning in detecting anomalies, and genetic algorithm resource optimization method. They showed a substantial improvement in performance: the throughput has improved by 37 per cent, the latency has reduced by 42 per cent, and the energy consumption has dropped by 28 per cent as compared to the initial blockchain based systems. In addition, the precision of the anomaly detection amounted to 94.6, which strengthens the credibility of decentralized data. It has been established by the comparative analysis with the corresponding works that the developed integration has demonstrated the greatest presence of scalability and resilience with the high standards of security. It is the conclusion of this paper to conclude that AI-Blockchain convergence is a ground-breaking location of secure intelligent and scalable data management. It is directly related to the cyber world through matters of industries such as healthcare, finance, internet of things and supply chain within which handling sensitive data and efficiency are mattered.
With the global emphasis on sustainable development, green finance has emerged as a critical driver for balancing economic growth and environmental protection. Decentralized financial instruments (DeFi), leveraging unique technological advantages and operational mechanisms, are reshaping the traditional risk transfer logic of banks in the green finance sector. This paper explores the core characteristics of decentralized green financial instruments and their applications in green bonds, carbon trading, and other domains. Through a combination of theoretical analysis and case studies, it details how these instruments reconstruct traditional risk transfer pathways, alter risk-sharing models, and influence banks' risk management systems and financial market stability. By providing insights for banks to optimize risk management strategies in the new financial ecosystem, this study highlights the transformative role of decentralized green financial instruments in reshaping the landscape of financial risk management and their promising future developments.
Accurate and efficient cryptocurrency price prediction is vital for investors in the volatile crypto market. This study comprehensively evaluates nine models—including baseline, zero-shot, and deep learning architectures—on 21 major cryptocurrencies using daily and hourly data. Our multi-dimensional evaluation assesses models based on prediction accuracy (MAE, RMSE, MAPE), speed, statistical significance (Diebold–Mariano test), and economic value (Sharpe Ratio). Our research found that the optimally fine-tuned TimeGPT model (without variables) demonstrated superior performance across both Daily and Hourly datasets, with its statistical leadership confirmed by the Diebold–Mariano test. Fine-tuned Chronos excelled in daily predictions, while TFT was a close second to TimeGPT for hourly forecasts. Crucially, zero-shot models like TimeGPT and Chronos were tens of times faster than traditional deep learning models, offering high accuracy with superior computational efficiency. A key finding from our economic analysis is that a model’s effectiveness is highly dependent on market characteristics. For instance, TimeGPT with variables showed exceptional profitability in the volatile ETH market, whereas the zero-shot Chronos model was the top performer for the cyclical BTC market. This also highlights that variables have asset-specific effects with TimeGPT: improving predictions for ICP, LTC, OP, and DOT, but hindering UNI, ATOM, BCH, and ARB. Recognizing that prior research has overemphasized prediction accuracy, this study provides a more holistic and practical standard for model evaluation by integrating speed, statistical significance, and economic value. Our findings collectively underscore TimeGPT’s immense potential as a leading solution for cryptocurrency forecasting, offering a top-tier balance of accuracy and efficiency. This multi-dimensional approach provides critical, theoretical, and practical guidance for investment decisions and risk management, proving especially valuable in real-time trading scenarios.
James Kwame Mensah, Eugénie L. Birch, Zechariah Langnel
This study explores alternative energy sources in informal settlements in Ghana, with a focus on their contribution to achieving Sustainable Development Goal Seven (SDG 7). Drawing on qualitative data from Agbogbloshie, Chorkor, and Avenor in Accra, the research identifies solar and biogas as key emerging solutions addressing energy poverty in these underserved areas. Despite universal access claims, residents continue to rely on unsafe, polluting fuels due to high tariffs and infrastructural exclusion. Findings reveal community-driven transitions to decentralized energy systems, with solar panels and biogas digesters offering cleaner, cheaper alternatives. However, challenges related to maintenance, financing, and space persist. The study underscores the importance of tailored, inclusive energy strategies for informal settlements to achieve equitable and sustainable urban energy futures in Ghana.
The rapid evolution of $\mathbf{6 G}$ communication systems demands artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that are not only adaptive and explainable but also secure and compliant with international standards. A major challenge lies in achieving transparency and regulatory compliance in federated wireless environments while ensuring data privacy and performance. This research introduces a novel architecture that integrates auditable Federated Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) with explainability frameworks such as SHAP and LIME, supported by a blockchain layer for immutable audit trails and traceable AI decisions across distributed nodes. Smart contracts are employed to enable dynamic policy enforcement and fine-grained access control. The framework is aligned with 3 GPP, ITU-T, and IEEE standards, making it suitable for compliance-driven deployments. Experimental evaluation demonstrates that the proposed architecture enhances model interpretability by up to $81 \%$, reduces security risks through blockchain-based auditing, and maintains competitive performance in key 6 G use cases such as intelligent beamforming, dynamic spectrum allocation, and edge device authentication. The findings confirm that compliant, explainable, and secure AI can be achieved in next-generation wireless networks without compromising efficiency or user trust.
Manuel Uche-Soria, Antonio Martínez Raya, Alberto Muñoz Cabanes, Jorge Moya Velasco
Rapid depletion of fossil fuel reserves forces the global energy sector to transition to sustainable energy sources. Specifically, distributed energy markets have emerged in the renewable energy sector in recent years, partly because blockchain technology is becoming a successful way to promote secure and transparent transactions. Using its decentralized structure, transparency, and even pseudonymity, blockchain is increasingly adopted worldwide for large-scale energy trading, peer-to-peer exchanges, project financing, supply chain management, and asset tracking. The research comprehensively analyzes blockchain applications across multiple fields related to energy, bibliographically evaluating their transformative potential. In addition, the study explores the architecture of various blockchain systems, assesses critical security and privacy challenges, and discusses how blockchain can enhance operational efficiency, transparency, and reliability in the energy sector. The paper’s findings provide a roadmap for future developments and the strategic adoption of blockchain technologies in the evolving energy landscape for an effective energy transition.
Ryota Takenouchi, Haruki Kurisaka, Yue Su, Kien Nguyen · 5 authors
As quantum computing threatens the security of traditional cryptographic algorithms used in blockchain systems, integrating post-quantum cryptography (PQC) into IoT-blockchain environments has become a critical research direction. However, the practicality of PQC in resource-constrained IoT devices remains largely unexplored. This paper presents a fully operational IoT-blockchain system that concurrently runs PQC algorithms and blockchain processes on Raspberry Pi 4 nodes using Ethereum and Proof-of-Stake consensus. We implement and evaluate three NIST-recommended PQC algorithms (i.e., Dilithium, FALCON, and SPHINCS+) and assess their impact on CPU utilization, memory and disk usage, and power consumption. The results show that SPHINCS+ introduces significant overhead due to its hash-based signature scheme, whereas Dilithium and FALCON have minimal performance impact and are more suitable for constrained environments. All PQC algorithms, however, lead to a notable increase in disk usage. This study provides the first system-level evaluation of PQC-integrated IoT-blockchain platforms and offers practical insights for secure and efficient deployment in the post-quantum era.
Traditional blockchain protocols incentivize constant participation through resource-intensive mechanisms such as Proof-of-Work (PoW) or Proof-of-Stake (PoS). However, this model leads to excessive energy consumption and network redundancy. This paper proposes a novel consensus auxiliary protocol called Proof-of-Inactivity (PoI), wherein nodes earn trust by deliberately abstaining from consensus activities for defined, randomized periods. Inactivity is cryptographically proven via time-locked commitments and publicly verifiable absence proofs. This paradigm aims to reduce redundant communication, lower energy usage, and support lightweight node participation without compromising network integrity. The protocol is introduced alongside a security assessment, performance analysis, and possible energy savings based on simulated scenarios, including conversations about DIDs, zero-knowledge mechanism, hybrid consensus, and adaptability.
U okviru ovog diplomskog rada razvijen je pametni ugovor za održavanje e-glasanja na institucijskim razinama. Pametni ugovor je postavljen na lokalnu inačicu blockchaina te povezan na web3 aplikaciju putem Next.js frontend rješenja. Osoba koja postavlja pametni ugovor na blockchain dobiva status predsjedajuće osobe (chairperson) te dobiva mogućnost davanja prava glasanja ostalim sudionicima na blockchainu kao i pokretanja glasanja te biranja duljine trajanja glasanja. Registracija u sustav obavlja se putem MetaMask ekstenzije za preglednike koja spaja korisnikov kripto novčanik s frontend dijelom aplikacije. Lokalna inačica blockchaina napravljena je i pokrenuta pomoću Ganache alata, dok je za implementaciju sustava u produkciji sugeriran Layer-2 blockchain pristup. Dodatno, analizirane su potencijalne mane i nedostatci ovog sustava, koja uključuju potencijalan manjak anonimnosti glasača, potrebu za sigurnom pohranom privatnih ključeva, kao I težinu implementacije ovakvog sustava te navedena moguća rješenja tih problema.
M Ramya, B S Anuvarshini, G Kanika, A Lohith · 5 authors
The identity verification is required by many digital platforms, it raises real privacy and security risks when users are required to submit identity documents multiple times. When identity documents are stored in centralized databases data breaches or misuse from within the organization holding the data may occur. To mitigate risks associated with centralized data storage models, a decentralized identity management system is being created using blockchain and distributed file storage system architecture. When users submit identity documents, the data is stored securely in a decentralized file storage system and a cryptographic hash is generated that will be used to reference the data at a later time. This hash will then be recorded on a blockchain that is immutable and creates a secure log. Identification is verified through a manual verification process by authorized reviewers who approve or reject submissions all while the user is able to monitor submission status. User identity privacy is maintained by using zero-knowledge proofs to verify distinct attributes of identity that are required without revealing the identity data itself. With proof verification attaining a success rate of $98.6 \%$, admin validation accuracy of $96.4 \%$, and gas optimization leading to a $\mathbf{3 1 \%}$ decrease in execution costs in comparison to baseline smart contract calls, the system showed outstanding operational efficiency. This will provide users with more control over their identity documents while also providing secure, transparent and privacy preserving identity verification to be used in modern digital services.
Ovaj rad predstavlja razvoj prototipa decentralizirane društvene mreže temeljene na tehnologijama Web3. S obzirom na sve veće nepovjerenje korisnika prema tradicionalnim, centraliziranim društvenim mrežama, cilj je izraditi rješenje koje korisnicima omogućuje privatnost, sigurnost i vlasništvo nad vlastitim podacima. Aplikacija koristi blockchain Ethereum za upravljanje identitetom i interakcijama korisnika i Metamask za autentikaciju. Sadržaj se pohranjuje distribuirano putem sustava IPFS i mreže istorazinskih dionika Gun. Implementirane su funkcionalnosti poput objavljivanja sadržaja, spremanje objava, označavanje objava sa "sviđa mi se", komentiranja, slanja zahtjeva za prijateljstvo i drugih interakcija. Uz sve navedeno, aplikacija uključuje izravni (peer-to-peer) chat, te sustav za nagrađivanje korisnika putem ERC-20 tokena za aktivnosti, interakciju i kvalitetan sadržaj. Sustav je implementiran lokalno pomoću IPFS i GUN čvorova na dva uređaja. Postavljen je temelj za daljnju optimizaciju i širenje funkcionalnosti, kako bi se ostvarila stvarna, sigurna i decentralizirana mreža.
Sanyam Kaul, Manaswini Piduguralla, Gayathri Shreeya Patnala, Sathya Peri
Hyperledger Fabric is a leading permissioned blockchain framework for enterprise use, known for its modular design and privacy features. While it strongly supports configurable consensus and access control, Fabric can face challenges in achieving high transaction throughput and low rejection rates under heavy workloads. These performance limitations are often attributed to endorsement, ordering, and validation bottlenecks. Further, optimistic concurrency control and deferred validation in Fabric may lead to resource inefficiencies and contention, as conflicting transactions are identified only during the commit phase. To address these challenges, we propose a dependency-aware execution model for Hyperledger Fabric. Our approach includes: (a) a dependency flagging system during endorsement, marking transactions as independent or dependent using a hashmap; (b) an optimized block construction in the ordering service that prioritizes independent transactions; (c) the incorporation of a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) within each block to represent dependencies; and (d) parallel execution of independent transactions at the committer, with dependent transactions processed according to DAG order. Incorporated in Hyperledger Fabric v2.5, our framework was tested on workloads with varying dependency levels and system loads. Results show up to 40% higher throughput and significantly reduced rejection rates in high-contention scenarios. This demonstrates that dependency-aware scheduling and DAG-based execution can substantially enhance Fabric's scalability while remaining compatible with its existing consensus and smart contract layers.