Proxy smart contracts for zero trust architecture implementation in Decentralised Oracle Networks based applications

Abstract

Implementation of blockchain is quickly finding popularity in several real-world applications. As a result, in order to execute and process smart contracts, blockchains frequently necessitate integrating them with real-world data from various sources or employing third-party services. Through hybrid smart contracts, Decentralized Oracle Networks (DONs) make it possible for on-chain code to communicate with off-chain infrastructure and services, assisting in the realisation of this vision. Although the blockchain itself is a secure ecosystem, its reliance on external services and real-world data exposes it to security risks. These dangers reveal themselves in improper smart contract execution as a result of malevolent actors manipulating data from outside sources. Therefore, it is necessary to design a Zero Trust Architecture to provide end-to-end security for DON-based applications. The idea of Proxy Smart Contracts (PSC), which offers a one-level indirection to the execution of the actual smart contracts, is introduced in this article. Prior to the actual smart contract execution, the PSC hypothetically runs the smart contract logic and displays the result state to the interested parties for their approval. Thus, inconsistent end states can be identified and the smart contract’s actual execution can be stopped. Solidity is used in the initial implementation to show that the suggested strategy is workable. The current work is significant since it presents a potential remedy to overcome this crucial gap that can limit widespread acceptance of dApps-based use-cases in the real world.