Blockchain Research Articles

Tuning Star Polymer Architecture to Tailor Secondary Structures and Mechanical Properties of Diblock Polypeptide Hydrogels for Direct Ink Writing.

Hydrogel three-dimensional (3D) printing has emerged as a highly valuable fabrication tool for applications ranging from electronics and biomedicine. While conventional hydrogels such as gelatin, alginate, and hyaluronic acid satisfy biocompatibility requirements, they distinctly lack reproducibility in terms of mechanical properties and 3D printability. Aiming to offer a high-performance alternative, here we present a range of amphiphilic star-shaped diblock copolypeptides of l-glutamate and l-leucine residues with different topologies. Hydrophobic side chains of the l-leucine polymer block drive conformational self-assembly in water, spontaneously forming hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties, through variation of star topology. Their amenable shear-thinning and self-recovery properties render them suitable as hydrogel inks for direct ink writing. Well-defined 3D-printed structures can be readily generated and rapidly photo-cross-linked using visible light (405 nm) after methacrylamide functionalization, while hydrogel inks demonstrate good biocompatibility with top-seeded and encapsulated MC3T3 cells.

Factors affecting the adoption of blockchain technologies in the food supply chain

With the rise in food insecurity, one of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals is to end hunger, achieve food security, and promote sustainable agriculture. This can be achieved through the strengthening and development of existing food systems. Integrating emerging technologies such as blockchain technology can help develop sustainable food systems. Blockchain technology allows the tracking and tracing of food items as they move through the supply chain. Blockchain technology also allows for low transactional costs at almost instantaneous applications. There is however a low adoption rate of blockchain technology amongst organisations in the food supply chain. The objective of the study was to explore factors that affect the adoption of blockchain technology in the food supply chain. The study adopted a quantitative research method that was guided by the technology, organisation, and environment Framework (TOE) to explore factors affecting blockchain technology adoption in the food supply chain. A systematic literature review was used for the study. Quantitative content analysis was used to analyse peer-reviewed articles. Results showed that TOE factors affect the adoption of blockchain technology in the food supply chain. Factors such as cost, scalability, firm size, and IT policy were noted as important factors affecting the adoption of blockchain technology in the food supply chain. The study contributes to the body of knowledge on factors that affect the adoption of blockchain technology in the food supply chain.

TEHNOLOGIA BLOCKCHAIN PENTRU ÎMBUNĂTĂȚIREA TRASABILITĂȚII ȘI SUSTENABILITĂȚII ECHIPAMENTELOR INDIVIDUALE DE PROTECȚIE ÎN AGRICULTURA DIN ROMÂNIA

Blockchain technology provides a secure and transparent method to improve the traceability and sustainability of personal protective equipment (PPE) in Romanian agriculture. By enabling comprehensive monitoring of PPE across its lifecycle, blockchain addresses gaps in safety and compliance. It ensures adherence to safety standards while reducing risks of counterfeit or defective products. However, several challenges hinder adoption. High costs, limited digital infrastructure, and low digital literacy among farmers create significant barriers. Overcoming these requires targeted investments in rural digital infrastructure and training programs designed to enhance stakeholders’ skills. Public-private partnerships and pilot projects are essential to demonstrate the technology’s benefits and build trust among users. Gradual implementation, supported by collaboration between public and private sectors, can transform Romanian agriculture. Blockchain’s integration can lead to better productivity, improved safety, and greater sustainability. This study examines blockchain’s potential in PPE management, offering insights into its applications, benefits, and necessary steps for successful adoption in the agricultural sector. Through strategic action, Romanian agriculture can leverage blockchain to achieve safer practices and long-term sustainability.

Major vulnerabilities in Ethereum smart contracts: Investigation and statistical analysis

The general public is becoming increasingly familiar with blockchain technology. Numerous new applications are made possible by this technology's unique features, which include transparency, strong security via cryptography, and distribution. These applications need certain programming tools and interfaces to be implemented. This is made feasible by smart contracts. If the prerequisites are satisfied, smart contracts are carried out automatically. Any mistake in smart contract coding, particularly security-related ones, might have an impact on the project as a whole, available funds, and important data. The current paper discusses the flaws of the Ethereum smart contract in this respect. By examining publically accessible scientific sources, this work aims to present thorough information about vulnerabilities, examples, and current security solutions. Additionally, a substantial collection of current Ethereum (ETH) smart contracts has undergone a static code examination to conduct the vulnerability-finding procedure. The output has undergone assessments and statistical analysis. The study's conclusions demonstrate that smart contracts have several distinct flaws, including arithmetic flaws, that developers should be more aware of. These vulnerabilities and the solutions that can be used to address them are also included.

Enhancing Autonomous Vehicle Safety with Blockchain Technology: Securing Vehicle Communication and AI Systems

In recent years, the rapid development of autonomous vehicles (AVs) has brought new challenges in terms of data security, privacy, and communication integrity. Our research investigates the potential of blockchain technology to improve the security of AVs by securing vehicle communication systems. By integrating blockchain with AI-based predictive algorithms, this approach aims to secure vehicle peer-to-peer communication, reduce traffic congestion, and improve safety for drivers and pedestrians. Blockchain’s decentralized ledger ensures the integrity of data exchange between vehicles and smart city infrastructure and mitigates the risks of cyberattacks such as data manipulation and identity forgery. This paper also examines recent advances in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) and vehicular social networks (VSNs), and it demonstrates how the immutability and cryptographic security of the blockchain can strengthen AV systems. The proposed architecture not only protects user privacy but also decentralizes access to critical data needed for AI-driven decisions, ultimately promoting a safer and more reliable environment for autonomous vehicles.

Model Checking of Rewards and Penalties in Beacon Chain

Ethereum 2.0 Beacon Chain has adopted the Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism to significantly advance the security, scalability, and decentralization of blockchain technology. It has played an integral role in organizing validator operations and addressing scalability issues. The Beacon Chain’s rewards and penalty system incentivizes honest behavior and penalizes dishonest actors inside the network. Ensuring the correctness of this mechanism is paramount for guaranteeing the system’s integrity. Therefore, this work formally verifies the rewards and penalty mechanism in the Beacon Chain using model checking, a formal methods-based technique. The formal specification of the rewards and penalties processes and several other epoch operations are described using the Communicating Sequential Programs (CSP#) language. The properties for rewards and penalties procedures are specified with Linear Temporal Logic (LTL). The Process Analysis Toolkit (PAT) model checker is utilized for verifying the formal model against the properties. The PAT model checker takes the specified formal model as input and determines whether the properties are satisfied or violated. The properties are examined in terms of verification time, visited states, total transitions, and memory utilization.

Blockchain-Enabled Pension System Innovations: A Hungarian Case Study on Business Process Management Integration

This paper explores the integration of Business Process Management (BPM) with blockchain technology to enhance pension systems, using Hungary as a case study. Specifically, it addresses scientific challenges related to data access management, regulatory compliance, and system scalability within blockchain-based pension frameworks. This study investigates how BPM can improve the transparency, efficiency, and security of blockchain applications in pension administration by optimizing workflows and automating compliance with regulations such as GDPR. By analyzing operational flow diagrams and implementing architectural models, this paper presents an innovative approach to pension management, demonstrating significant improvements in service quality and operational efficiency. Findings from this research provide empirical evidence of the benefits of BPM-enhanced blockchain systems, offering insights applicable to pension systems beyond the Hungarian context, including examples from other countries.

Research on smart contracts for Omnipresent AI in commercial health insurance

ABSTRACT This research explores how integrating Omnipresent AI and smart contracts enhances the efficiency of medical insurance claims in commercial health insurance. AI enables real-time data processing, instantly accessing and evaluating medical records from secure ledgers. Blockchain technology integrates these records with smart contract policies for swift, accurate assessments. Smart contracts, hosted on a third-party certification platform, authenticate, grant access, and document the process, eliminating manual application for records. This streamlines claim reviews, enabling immediate payouts to policyholders. By leveraging AI, blockchain, and smart contracts, this approach optimizes efficiency, reduces costs, and accelerates settlements for insured beneficiaries.

On the Proof of Ownership of Digital Wallets

With the widespread adoption and increasing application of blockchain technology, cryptocurrency wallets used in Bitcoin and Ethereum play a crucial role in facilitating decentralized asset management and secure transactions. However, wallet security relies heavily on private keys, with insufficient attention to the risks of theft and exposure. To address this issue, Chaum et al. (ACNS’21) proposed a “proof of ownership” method using a “backup key” to prove ownership of private keys even when exposed. However, their interactive proof approach is inefficient in large-scale systems and vulnerable to side-channel attacks due to the long key generation time. Other related schemes also suffer from low efficiency and complex key management, increasing the difficulty of securely storing backup keys. In this paper, we present an efficient, non-interactive proof generation approach for ownership of secret keys using a single backup key. Our approach leverages non-interactive zero-knowledge proofs and symmetric encryption, allowing users to generate multiple proofs with one fixed backup key, simplifying key management. Additionally, our scheme resists quantum attacks and provides a fallback signature. Our new scheme can be proved to capture unforgeability under the computational indistinguishability from the Uniformly Random Distribution property of a proper hash function and soundness in the quantum random oracle model. Experimental results indicate that our approach achieves a short key generation time and enables an efficient proof generation scheme in large-scale decentralized systems. Compared with state-of-the-art schemes, our approach is applicable to a broader range of scenarios due to its non-interactive nature, short key generation time, high efficiency, and simplified key management system.

Blockchain Technology in Accounting: A Paradigm Shift in Transparency and Efficiency in the UK

Background: Traditional accounting processes face challenges like data manipulation, fraud, and inefficiencies in the processes. Blockchain in accounting provides full transparency, where auditors, accountants, and clients can have access to identical ledgers for verifying the information. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of Blockchain technology on transparency and efficiency in the accounting profession in the United Kingdom. Methodology: This research follows a quantitative research method. The survey method has been used for collecting data from accountants, auditors, CFOs, financial analysts, and others. In this study, questionnaires have been sent to the accounting professionals from the big four accounting firms in London, United Kingdom. The raw data has been gathered from a total of 156 people participants from the accounting firms. A questionnaire has been used in the study, where various independent and dependent variables are identified. Findings/conclusions: The results show that Blockchain security, cost, adoption, and implementation have a positive and significant influence on transparency. On the other hand, Blockchain security, cost, adoption and implementation, compliance, and performance have a positive and significant influence on efficiency. Lastly, it is identified that Blockchain efficiency and transparency have a positive and significant influence on stakeholder trust among accounting firms in London, UK. Policy Recommendations: The first policy recommendation is promoting the adoption of Blockchain among accounting firms. Tax incentives can be provided to accounting organizations that are heavily investing in Blockchain technology. Besides, regulatory frameworks, development programs, and comprehensive guidelines can help in guiding the adoption of Blockchain technology among accounting firms.

Enhancing Security and Accessibility of Personal Records in Nigeria using Blockchain Technology: A Case Study of Modibbo Adama University, Yola

The security and accessibility of personal records have become critical challenges in Nigeria, given the country's reliance on outdated and vulnerable systems for managing sensitive data. This research explores the role of blockchain technology in enhancing the security and accessibility of personal records in Nigeria. Blockchain, known for its decentralised, transparent, and tamper-resistant nature, offers a promising solution to issues such as data breaches, unauthorized access, and inefficient record-keeping. The study investigates how blockchain can provide a more secure and reliable infrastructure for managing personal records, focusing on key attributes such as encryption, immutability, and data transparency. It also examines the potential for improving accessibility, especially in areas where record retrieval is often delayed or compromised by bureaucratic bottlenecks. By evaluating case studies and existing applications of blockchain technology in record management, this research identifies opportunities and challenges for blockchain adoption in Nigeria's public and private sectors. Through a mixed-method approach that includes surveys and interviews with key stakeholders in data management, the study highlights the feasibility of integrating blockchain into Nigeria’s personal records system. The findings suggest that blockchain technology, despite certain challenges such as cost and technological infrastructure, can significantly enhance the security and accessibility of personal records in Nigeria. Recommendations for policy development, technological investment, and further research are also provided.

Using gravity model to forecast the potential range distance of market share between China and the five central Asian countries for their cross-border e-commerce and relative countermeasures

It is proposed that the development opportunity of ‘One Belt, One Road’ should be grasped and emerging markets should be actively explored; international co-operation in e-commerce should be actively promoted at the national level, so as to create a favorable international regulatory environment for the development of cross-border e-commerce; an all-round, high-efficiency and integrated service system led by the governments of various levels should be constructed to enhance the facilitation of cross-border e-commerce; the construction of cross-border e-commerce logistics infrastructures should be accelerated, and cross-border e-commerce logistics infrastructure should be improved. The government should also speed up the construction of cross-border e-commerce logistics infrastructure, improve the overseas warehousing system and enhance the efficiency of cross-border services; innovate cross-border e-commerce financial services and accelerate the development of blockchain technology; and strengthen the construction of export brands to enhance competitiveness.

ALIGNING CRYPTOCURRENCIES WITH ISLAMIC LAW: CHALLENGES, ETHICAL CONCERNS, AND REGULATORY SOLUTIONS

Cryptocurrencies, underpinned by blockchain technology, present significant challenges to Islamic law due to their volatile nature, speculative tendencies, and lack of intrinsic value, which introduce elements of gharar (uncertainty) and maysir (gambling), both prohibited under Sharia. Additionally, cryptocurrencies' decentralized and pseudonymous nature has raised concerns about their potential misuse in money laundering and other criminal activities, further complicating their alignment with Islamic principles. The research emphasizes the need for a multi-faceted regulatory approach, incorporating Sharia advisory boards, asset-backed cryptocurrencies, and advanced RegTech solutions such as blockchain analytics and E-KYC protocols. By fostering collaboration among scholars, regulators, and financial experts, this study aims to bridge the gap between innovative financial technologies and Islamic law, promoting ethical growth and stability in the cryptocurrency market.

Blockchain and Traceability of Geographical Indication Products

Traceability plays a significant role in food supply chains by ensuring food safety through piloting risks and quality. It helps to ensure that all production steps meet specification and quality requirements. It is also a very important tool for geographical indication products as it proves the authenticity of products, indicates their origin and, consequently, prevents counterfeiting. The system must be efficient and have anti-tampering features. Using blockchain technology can render these systems nearly perfect

Blockchain Technology and Traditional Electronic Publication and Their Role in Respond to Distortion and Protecting Intellectual Property in Journalism

يتناول البحث تقنية البلوك تشين الخاصة بتطوير وتأمين عمليات النشر الصحفي الإلكتروني، واستخدام كل ما يتمّ اكتشافه من طرق التأمين والأمن السيبراني لمحاولة منع التلاعب في الأخبار وسرق مجهود وإبداع الناشرين، وهي خاصية للتعامل مع المنشورات بطريقة لا يمكن معها تغيير ما يتم نشره بمجرد ظهوره على الشبكة، ومعرفة من قام بإعادة النشر الصحفي أو استخدم المحتوى الموجود بطريقة سلسلة الكتل أو البلوك تشين، وحماية الملكية الفكرية لأصحاب المحتوى الأصيل. ويصنف البحث ضمن الدراسات الوصفية التي تعتمد منهج المسح الوصفي التحليلي، والدراسة تعنى بالتحليل النوعي للحقائق الراهنة والمتعلقة بموضوع البحث، ويتمثل مجتمع البحث بالمواقع التي تعتمد على تقنية البلوك تشين، وقد توصل البحث إلى أن تقنية البلوك تشين المستحدثة هي عبارة عن قاعدة معلومات أو بيانات إلكترونية عريضة تقوم على أساس استخدام تقنيات التشفير، وأن البلوك تشين يتمّ توثيق سائر المعاملات بتسلسل زمني يحول دون حدوث أي تحريف أو تلاعب أو غش قد يرد على المعاملات المسجلة. وبسبب ظهور وانتشار الأخبار المفبركة أو المزورة في الصحافة إضافة الى السرقات الأدبية للتقارير والمقالات دون وجه حق لمنتجيها، مما يرتب انتهاك للحقوق المادية والمعنوية ظهرت بعض التطبيقات من ضمنها تقنية البلوك تشين. للكشف والتصدي للتحريف وحماية الملكية الفكرية، والتي من شانها ان تمثل واقعاً وضرورة منال ضرورات لحماية الحقوق ونشر الحقيقة. وتقنية البلوك تشين تستخدم تقنية لانشاء سجلات موزعة على الشبكة العنكبوتية، تسمح لجميع الأطراف المشاركين فيه الحصول على نسخة منه وتوثيقها بتسلسل زمني يحول دون حدوث أي تحريف أو تلاعب أو غش قد يرد على المعاملات المسجلة ويبين من الذي قام بالنشر لحماية حقوقه الفكرية

Deciphering Smart Contracts, Legal Challenges, and Opportunities in Implementing Blockchain in the Property Sector in Indonesia

This research investigates the implementation of smart contracts in the Indonesian property sector, examining the legal opportunities and challenges involved. Blockchain technology offers high transparency, efficiency, and security in property transactions, but faces regulatory and infrastructural hurdles. The aim of this research is to explore the related legal dynamics, identify socio-economic impacts, and offer sustainable solutions. The research method employed is a qualitative legal approach to gather and analyze data. The findings indicate that although blockchain can expedite transaction processes and enhance transparency, the legal validity of smart contracts and consumer protection remain major issues. Regulatory updates and increased awareness of data security are necessary to optimize the adoption of this technology in Indonesia.Keywords: Blockchain., Property law., Regulation., Smart contracts., Transparency

Prospects of using blockchain technology in the field of information protection in state institutions

Blockchain technologies are rapidly gaining popularity in various industries due to their ability to provide reliable data protection, transparency and decentralization. They become especially important in the telecommunications, where the storage, processing, transmission and management of data are of critical importance, especially the military industry. The implementation of blockchain technology can significantly increase the level of security, efficiency and reliability in the mentioned industry, solving the problems of centralization and vulnerability to attacks. The use of blockchain technologies, due to their decentralization, will significantly increase the security of information and communication systems, due to the distributed architecture, where data is stored on numerous independent nodes, which makes their mass destruction or modification difficult. The absence of a single point of failure reduces the risks of breaches, and consensus mechanisms provide verification and protection against unauthorized changes. In general, this technology allows for the creation of more stable, reliable and protected systems, which will significantly reduce the loss of personnel, equipment and property. The purpose of this scientific researching is to analyze the current state and existing problematic issues, which the authors propose to solve with the help of the development and implementation of blockchain technologies in the telecommunications industry, in particular, billing operations, roaming, user identity management, and the researching of the possibilities of automating processes using smart contracts, which will allow to increase the efficiency of information and communication systems, due to increasing the speed of data transmission and optimizing their work. Further scientific research, according to the authors, can be aimed at the possibility of scaling and reducing energy consumption of the using of blockchain technology, as well as its integration with other technologies, such as artificial intelligence and quantum technologies.

Akad Jual Beli Dalam Transaksi Online Pada Aplikasi Grab-Food Ditinjau Dari Fikih Muamalah

This study aims to analyze the suitability of contracts in online transactions on the Grab-Food application with the principles of muamalah fiqh. In this application-based food delivery transaction, three types of contracts used are rental contracts, sale and purchase contracts, and wakalah contracts. The rental contract occurs between the application provider company and the driver and seller, while the sale and purchase contract is between the user (buyer) and the food seller. In addition, the wakalah contract occurs when the user gives the driver power to complete the purchase and delivery of food. The results of the study show that each contract has fulfilled the pillars and requirements of sharia, where the roles and responsibilities of each party have been clearly regulated, thereby reducing the potential for ambiguity (gharar) in the transaction. This finding supports previous studies and strengthens the concept of flexible muamalah fiqh that can be applied in various forms of digital transactions. The study concludes that app-based transactions such as Grab-Food can be adjusted to remain compliant with sharia values, providing confidence for Muslim consumers in conducting halal digital transactions. Recommendations for further research include analysis of blockchain technology to strengthen transparency in online transactions.

Blockchain and Machine Learning: A Multidisciplinary Synergistic Approach for Fraud Detection in Finance, Healthcare, and Cybersecurity

The integration of Blockchain and Machine Learning (ML) technologies offers a transformative approach to combating fraud across various sectors, including finance, healthcare, and cybersecurity. Blockchain's decentralized and immutable nature ensures data integrity and transparency, while Machine Learning algorithms enable the detection of intricate fraud patterns through predictive analytics and anomaly detection. This synergistic combination provides a robust mechanism for identifying fraudulent activities in real time, minimizing human error, and optimizing decision-making processes. In the financial sector, Blockchain enhances the security and transparency of transactions, while ML models analyze transaction data to identify unusual patterns that may indicate fraud. In healthcare, Blockchain ensures the secure sharing of medical records, and ML assists in detecting fraudulent claims and potential identity theft. Cybersecurity applications leverage Blockchain for secure communication and data storage, with ML identifying potential threats or vulnerabilities. By combining these two cutting-edge technologies, organizations can strengthen their fraud detection systems, improve trust, and mitigate the risks associated with financial losses, data breaches, and privacy violations. This paper explores the multidisciplinary synergy of Blockchain and ML, illustrating their potential to revolutionize fraud detection mechanisms across multiple domains, providing a comprehensive overview of current advancements, challenges, and future directions for their integration in the fight against fraud.

ШТУЧНИЙ ІНТЕЛЕКТ ТА КРИМІНАЛЬНЕ ПРАВО: СУЧАСНІ ГРАНІ ДОСЛІДЖЕНЬ

The article considers the conceptual foundations of the functioning of artificial intelligence and its impact on criminal law relations. It have been analyzed the doctrinal and legislative sources on which the development of an effective model of criminal legal regulation of these processes should be based. It is emphasized on digitalization as a driving factor of fundamental changes, which forms the legal digital reality. Its transformative potential is developing due to the growing availability of big data, artificial intelligence, increasing capacity of modern computers, new blockchain technology platforms, Internet of Things, cloud services, virtual reality, social networks and platforms, cybersecurity, electronic services, etc. It is emphasized the controversy of the definition of the term “artificial intelligence”. It have been presented the arguments in favor of granting to artificial intelligence the status of “electronic person”, which is due to the rapid development of this innovative digital tool and the acquisition of intellectual qualities that equal or exceed human ones, which is the basis for recognizing such a person as a subject of criminal-legal relations and a subject of a criminal offense”. The opposite opinion is based on the fact that human intelligence belongs to a subject endowed with consciousness, but what is called artificial intelligence refers to an object, that is, technology, machines that are not able to empathize, to create, etc., therefore, the attribution of a set of information technologies to unique qualities of a person, in the context of their criminal legal dimension, is a manifestation of the dehumanization of law in general, and criminal law in particular. Keywords: digitalization of law, digital transformations, artificial intelligence, criminal-legal relations, conceptual foundations, philosophy of artificial intelligence.