Blockchain Smart Contracts Research Articles

CodeELECTRA: An ELECTRA-based approach for improved vulnerability detection in blockchain smart contracts

CodeELECTRA: An ELECTRA-based approach for improved vulnerability detection in blockchain smart contracts

Blockchain-based Reputation System for Smart Farm Anomaly Detection and Prevention

While smart farming is becoming increasingly popular as a way to improve the efficiency and sustainability of agroecosystems and global food security, its vulnerability to cyber-attacks is rapidly increasing. A distributed reputation system can help detect and prevent malicious activities by tracking the reputation of IP addresses of devices, products, and entities in a smart farming system, thereby enhancing its security and trust. In this paper, we propose a blockchain-based reputation system for IP addresses in smart farms for real-time intrusion detection and prevention. The study uses the Ethereum blockchain smart contracts, Oracles, Intrusion Detection System (IDS), and a Proof-of-Reputation (PoR) consensus mechanism. The system was evaluated on two datasets, the Spamhaus Blocklist, and the Malware Domain List datasets. It achieved high accuracy, recall, and precision rates, F1 score, as well as low false positive and false negative rates. This shows that the proposed system has high potential to be an effective tool for improving malware detection and prevention in real-time, creating a trusted supply chain for a smart farming ecosystem against a wide range of attack types, including denial-of-service attacks, probe attacks, and user-to-root attacks.

Relationship of Fintech Innovation with Green Growth Sustainability Moderated by Blockchain Smart Contracts Among Small and Medium Sized Enterprise in Selangor, Malaysia

Relationship of Fintech Innovation with Green Growth Sustainability Moderated by Blockchain Smart Contracts Among Small and Medium Sized Enterprise in Selangor, Malaysia

The Application of Financial Technology in Carbon Finance

With the rapid development of the economy, the pollution of the environment in various countries is also increasing, and the concept of carbon finance is gradually emerging. Fintech has gradually entered people's vision, and how to use Fintech to help the realization of carbon finance has become a research issue for some scholars. Existing research mainly focuses on a specific application and lacks a literature review. By summarising the literature on fintech and carbon finance, this paper outlines several currently common applications. It mainly covers the application of blockchain in carbon finance, such as using the tamper-proof nature of blockchain to make the carbon credit trading process more transparent, and using the contract layer of blockchain-smart contracts to prevent the accumulation of carbon credits by adding smart contracts into the trading process of carbon credits, etc. This paper concludes the application of big data and cloud computing in carbon finance, such as using big Data and cloud computing technology to analyze massive data, as a way to reduce the risk of carbon trading, etc. The research puts forward a certain degree of recommendations on the application of financial technology in carbon finance.

Adopting Artificial Intelligence to Strengthen Legal Safeguards in Blockchain Smart Contracts: A Strategy to Mitigate Fraud and Enhance Digital Transaction Security

As blockchain technology increasingly underpins digital transactions, smart contracts have emerged as a pivotal tool for automating these transactions. While smart contracts offer efficiency and security, their automation introduces significant legal challenges. Detecting and preventing fraud is a primary concern. This paper proposes a novel application of artificial intelligence (AI) to address these challenges. We will develop a machine learning model, specifically a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), to effectively detect and mitigate fraudulent activities within smart contracts. The AI model will analyze both textual and transactional data from smart contracts to identify patterns indicative of fraud. This approach not only enhances the security of digital transactions on blockchain platforms but also informs the development of legal standards and regulatory frameworks necessary for governing these technologies. By training on a dataset of authentic and fraudulent contract examples, the proposed AI model is expected to offer high predictive accuracy, thereby supporting legal practitioners and regulators in real-time monitoring and enforcement. The ultimate goal of this project is to contribute to legal scholarship by providing a robust technological tool that aids in preventing cybercrimes associated with smart contracts, thereby laying a foundation for future legal research and development at the intersection of law, technology, and security.

Investigating various cryptocurrency research trends: an analysis employing text mining and topic modeling

Purpose The trend among the financial investors to integrate cryptocurrencies, the very first completely digital assets, in their investment portfolio, has increased during the last decade. Even though cryptocurrencies share certain common characteristics with other investment products, they have their own distinct characteristic features, and the behavior of this asset class is currently being studied by the research scholars interested in this domain. Design/methodology/approach Using the text mining approach, this article examines research trends in the field of cryptocurrencies to identify prospective research needs. To narrow down to ten topics, the abstracts and the indexed keywords of 1,387 research publications on cryptocurrency, blockchain and Bitcoins published between 2013 and 2022 were analyzed using the topic modeling technique and Latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA). Findings The findings show a wide range of study trends on various aspects of cryptocurrencies. In the recent years, there have been lots of research and publications on the topics such as cryptocurrency markets, cryptocurrency transactions and use of blockchain in transactions and security of Bitcoin. In comparison, topics such as use of blockchain in fintech, cryptocurrency regulations, blockchain smart contract protocols and legal issues in cryptocurrency have remained relatively underexplored. After using the LDA, this paper further analyzes the significance of each topic, future directions of individual topics and its popularity among researchers in the discussion section. Originality/value While similar studies exist, no other work has used topic modeling to comprehensively analyze the cryptocurrencies literature by considering diverse fields and domains.

The Design and Implementation of Blockchain Smart Contract in Hybrid Energy Storage Management of Photovoltaic System

As the main power supply mode of new energy, photovoltaic system has the characteristics of wide distribution and scattered energy collection Traditional management methods cannot realize the effective processing of distributed energy storage. Therefore, finding an effective intelligent method is the focus of current research, and the design of blockchain smart contracts can theoretically realize the centralized processing of photovoltaic energy storage systems. In this paper, the blockchain smart contract system is taken as the research object, and the energy storage management of the photovoltaic system is quantified through mapping, so as to realize the massive quantitative processing of data. Then, the reduction function is used to differentially reduce the distributed functional energy storage system, complete the centralized management of energy storage, and simplify the unnecessary data. Finally, combined with the hybrid energy storage situation, the key indicators in the data are mined, and the completion rate of the contract and the stability analysis of energy storage management are calculated. The results show that blockchain can mine the characteristics of hybrid energy storage, reduce the impact of distributed features on energy storage, improve the energy storage efficiency by 20%, and make the energy storage stability reach more than 90%. At the same time, the completion rate of smart energy storage contracts can be enhanced, the fitting degree can reach 90%, and the grid connection with the thermal grid can be effectively connected, the utilization rate of distributed energy resources will reach 85%, and the cost saving rate will be increased by 10%. Therefore, blockchain can solve the problem of hybrid energy storage in integrated systems, improve the completion rate of smart contracts, and promote the development of new energy.

Design of knowledge transaction protection mechanism in the open innovation community based on blockchain technology

Open innovation communities (OICs) are important for the development of modern enterprises. However, there are still many safety hazards and trust crises on community platforms. This paper proposes an approach that combines blockchain technology and an OIC, as blockchain technology provides a direction for solving trust and security problems in community platform transactions. Moreover, the design of smart contracts can ensure the implementation of transactions and improve their reliability. In this study, the participants in an OIC and three types of infringement problems were analyzed. The Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) algorithm was applied to design the logic of smart contracts and the coupling between idea platforms and the blockchain. The protection mechanism of an OIC was established based on blockchain smart contract supervision to provide a better knowledge co-creation environment for OICs.

Vulnerability detection techniques for smart contracts: A systematic literature review

The number of applications supported by blockchain smart contracts has been greatly increasing in recent years, with smart contracts now being used across several domains, such as the music industry, finance, and retail, to name a few. Despite being used in business-critical contexts, the number of security vulnerabilities in smart contracts has also been increasing, with many of them being exploited and resulting in huge financial and reputation losses. This is despite the enormous effort that is being placed into the research and development of vulnerability detection tools and techniques, which have also greatly increased in number and type in the last few years. Motivated by the recent increase in both vulnerabilities and vulnerability detection techniques, this paper reviews the latest research in smart contract vulnerability detection, emphasizing the techniques being used, the vulnerabilities targeted, and the characteristics of the dataset used for evaluating the technique. We mapped the vulnerabilities against two common vulnerability classification schemes (DASP and SWC) and performed a consolidated analysis. We identified the current research trends and gaps in each technique and highlighted future research opportunities in the field.

Research on Smart Contract Verification and Generation Method Based on BPMN

The post-deployment challenges in developing and upgrading blockchain smart contracts necessitate a high level of accuracy in their development and business logic. However, current methodologies for verifying the business logic of smart contracts frequently fail to address their alignment with end-user business requirements. This paper introduces a two-step language transformation process to bridge this gap. Initially, we establish a transformation rule from the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) to Prolog, enabling the translation of business processes into a Prolog representation. This step not only validates the business process logic but also ensures it meets user specifications. Subsequently, we introduce a transformation rule from the BPMN to Go, which facilitates the transformation of the BPMN model, once validated, into a Go language smart contract. To enhance usability, we have engineered a dedicated tool that streamlines this transformation process. We present a case study involving a banking loan process to exemplify the utility of our tool in creating BPMN diagrams, conducting requirement and syntax validations, and effecting the transformation to Go smart contracts. The case study and empirical results suggest that our methodology and the accompanying tool mitigate the complexities inherent in smart contract development. They also ensure the fidelity of business logic to user demands, thereby promoting the broader adoption of blockchain smart contract technology.

Service selection based on blockchain smart contracts in cloud-edge environment

Service selection based on blockchain smart contracts in cloud-edge environment

APPLICATION OF SMART CONTRACTS IN ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS BASED ON BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES

In the era of digitization, where information technology and business processes are closely intertwined, the development and implementation of blockchain-based smart contracts become key to achieving a new level of automation, security, and efficiency. This article deeply analyzed how blockchain smart contracts can enhance the execution of contractual obligations, making processes more transparent and efficient. The main aspect of study is the technical details of smart contracts and exploration of their practical application for optimizing business procedures, significantly reducing risks associated with fraud and the need for intermediaries. A practical demonstration of deploying a smart contract, executed in the Python programming language, is proposed as a method used in the article, highlighting the possibilities and challenges related to scalability and regulation. Results underscore a notable boost in operational efficiency and security, while also identifying barriers to broader technological adoption. Concluding, the significant role of smart contracts in evolving information systems is underlined, advocating for novel approaches to secure, autonomous contract fulfillment and emphasizing the importance of ongoing research to exploit their full capabilities in fortifying information security and operational efficacy.

A Stealthy Communication Model with Blockchain Smart Contract for Bidding Systems

With the widespread adoption of blockchain technology, its public ledger characteristic enhances transaction transparency but also amplifies the risk of privacy breaches. Attackers can infer users’ real identities and behaviors by analyzing public transaction patterns and address relationships, posing a severe threat to users’ privacy and security, and thus hindering further advancements in blockchain applications. To address this challenge, covert communication has emerged as an effective strategy for safeguarding the privacy of blockchain users and preventing information leakage. But existing blockchain-based covert communication schemes rely solely on the immutability of blockchain itself for robustness and suffer from low transmission efficiency. To tackle these issues, this paper proposes a stealthy communication model with blockchain smart contract for bidding systems. The model initiates by preprocessing sensitive information using a secret-sharing algorithm-the Shamir (t, n) threshold scheme-and subsequently embeds this information into bidding amounts, facilitating the covert transfer of sensitive data. We implemented and deployed this model on the Ethereum platform and conducted comprehensive performance evaluations. To assess the stealthiness of our approach, we employed a suite of statistical tests including the CDF, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, Welch’s t-test and K–L divergence. These analyses confirmed that amounts carrying concealed information were statistically indistinguishable from regular transactions, thus validating the effectiveness of our solution in maintaining the anonymity and confidentiality of information transmission within the blockchain ecosystem.

Framework for smart contract blockchain in halal traceability, integrity, and transparency

Currently, the halalness of a product may only be determined by the halal certificate or halal label displayed on the product packaging. Simply put, several halal-related issues, like cross-contamination, logistical issues, halal counterfeiting, global halal acceptance, and so forth, keep coming up. To address the numerous issues raised above, it is believed that a framework that can support worldwide halal provisions is necessary. The objective of this research is to create a blockchain smart contract framework for halal transparency, integrity, and traceability. Blockchain technology along with smart contracts can solve classic tracing problems including data leakage, manipulation, and invisible data. Organizational consistency across the halal production process and the availability of raw materials that adhere to sharia laws are two more basic challenges with halal certification that blockchain and smart contracts can resolve. The usual traceability problems, such as data explosion, material cross-contamination between halal and haram, and revelation of private information, can all be resolved by smart contracts that make use of on-chain, off-chain, and electronic product code information services (EPCIS).

Research on blockchain smart contract technology based on resistance to quantum computing attacks.

In recent years, blockchain technology has developed rapidly and has been widely used in medical, financial, energy and other fields. However, in the process of practical application, each blockchain is a small independent ecosystem, with all transactions and operations limited to the chain, resulting in a large number of mutually heterogeneous to independent blockchains. It presents challenges for cross-chain interactions, cross-organization data sharing, and cross-blockchain expansion, and hinders the wider application of blockchain technology. In addition, the traditional digital signature method based on elliptic curve cipher faces the threat of being cracked by quantum computing attacks. To solve the aforementioned problems, this paper proposed a blockchain smart contract technique based on quantum computing attack resistance(BSCTQCAT). The technique first introduces the digital signature of the lattice cipher into the blockchain to resist the quantum search algorithm attack. Then, based on the smart contract authentication scheme, the nodes on multiple heterogeneous chains are organized into an identity agent layer P2P network, through which transactions on the chain will establish a credible identity management and message authentication mechanism between different chains, solving the current problem that each chain is difficult to communicate with each other. In this paper, the performance of the algorithm is evaluated by simulating the Bitcoin transaction scenario and analyzing the experimental data.

COST-EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT BLOCKCHAIN FRAMEWORK FOR VERIFYING CERTIFICATE IN YEMENI UNIVERSITIES

Recognizing the necessity to preserve the integrity and good name of degrees awarded by Yemeni universities. It should provide an efficient way of verifying certificates. The effectiveness of the conventional method of confirming the validity of certificates in reducing fraud has not been very strong. Therefore, it is necessary to stop this kind of fraud by using blockchain technology, which has several benefits, such as encryption, sharing of data, and the capacity to store information as permanent data that cannot be altered. Low latency and low cost will be available for the issuance, sharing, and verification of these certifications in universities if the suggested system is implemented. The paper presents the proposed framework, which uses smart contracts in the Ethereum blockchain and a distributed peer-to-peer network (filebase) for certification verification by a certificate’s hash immediately without waiting for the facility’s response. It also contains an estimate of the average cost of publishing a certificate. It also frees students from having to constantly carry paper copies of their documents by enabling them to access them via a certificate's hash. Furthermore, there is no extra cost for the verification process, and it does not require an Ethereum network account.

Detection of vulnerabilities in blockchain smart contracts using deep learning

Detection of vulnerabilities in blockchain smart contracts using deep learning

Blockchain-based resale and leasing of pre-owned medical equipment

Medical equipment plays a crucial role in the global healthcare industry, towards the delivery of high-quality medical care and contributing to positive patient outcomes. The traditional method of handling pre-owned medical equipment often leads to improper disposal of functional devices in landfills, compelling healthcare providers to invest in costly brand-new equipment. Several proposals have been put forth to establish trading platforms that facilitate the resale of pre-owned medical equipment. However, existing solutions are characterized by a centralized approach, and face challenges related to traceability, certification, system se-curity, and equipment reliability. In this paper, we propose a blockchain-based solution that is capable of orchestrating the resale, leasing, and auctioning of pre-owned medical equipment. Blockchain smart contracts are utilized to automate the resale and leasing process, register stakeholders with authenticity, transfer and verify ownership, and maintain public reputation scores of entities. A comprehensive overview of the architectural components, sequence diagrams, and algorithms that define the operations of our solution is provided. In addition, we develop and test a working implementation of the smart contracts to verify the feasibility of our proposed solution in terms of execution cost and code security. Through a discussion of the proposed solution's key components and concepts, we showcase our solution's ability to fulfill the specified requirements and attain the main objectives. Moreover, we evaluate and compare our solution with existing works in terms of capabilities and robustness, and explore potential adaptations and extensions of our architecture to allow for a wide range of additional use cases. Our smart contract code has been made publicly available on GitHub.

Blockchain-Driven Demand Response System for Resilient and Sustainable MicroGrids Integrating Wind Energy Conversion Systems

This study introduces the B-DDR system, leveraging blockchain technology for real-time, decentralized energy management in MicroGrids. By integrating Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs), including a novel H-Darius VAWT-PMSG model with magnetic levitation and aerodynamic considerations, the proposed approach addresses challenges in optimizing energy supply and demand. Blockchain smart contracts facilitate peer-to-peer energy trading among WECS owners and users, promoting efficient renewable energy utilization. The system, analyzed through optimization models, demonstrates a notable reduction in peak demand rate from 40% to 15%, an improvement in energy efficiency from 7% to 12%, and a remarkable 92% increase in utilization efficiency. With a transaction speed of 5s during outages, the B-DDR system proves its capability to enhance MicroGrids, ensuring a robust, efficient, and sustainable energy environment. The incorporation of H-Darius VAWT-based PMSGs and blockchain technology enables precise demand response, achieving effective grid energy state equilibrium while minimizing losses. The self-executing agreements, monitored by H-Darius-PMSG nodes, provide real-time tracking and balancing, addressing the dynamic challenges posed by fluctuating demand requirements in a decentralized and efficient manner.

T ransforming A utomatically B PMN Models to S mart Contracts with Nested Trade Transactions (TABS+)

Development of blockchain smart contracts is more difficult than mainstream software development because the underlying blockchain infrastructure poses additional complexity. To ease the developer's task of writing smart contract, we use Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) modeling to describe application requirements for trade of goods and services and then transform automatically the BPMN model into the methods of a smart contract. In our previous research we described our approach and a tool to T ransform A utomatically B PMN models into S mart contracts ( TABS ). In this paper, we describe how the TABS approach is augmented with the support for a BPMN trade transaction that is a collaboration by several actors. Our approach analyzes the BPMN model to determine which patterns in the BPMN model are suitable for use as trade transactions and show those patterns to the developer who decides which ones should be deployed as trade transactions. We describe how our approach automatically transforms the BPMN model into a smart contract that provides a transaction mechanism to enforce the transactional properties of the nested transactions. Our approach greatly reduces the developer's task as synchronization of collaborative activities is provided by our approach, so that the developer needs to code only isolated tasks with well-defined inputs and outputs. We also overview the TABS+ tool we built as a proof of concept to show that our approach is feasible, and we provide estimates on the cost of supporting the nested trade transactions.