Blockchain Technology—a Breakthrough Innovation for Modern Industries (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Computers (ISSN 2073-431X). This special issue belongs to the section "Blockchain Infrastructures and Enabled Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2025) | Viewed by 7499

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), The University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: blockchain technology; innovation; agriculture; supply chain; food and beverage; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT), University of Luxembourg, 1855 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Interests: blockchain technology; network security; artificial intelligence; machine learning; data management; data processing; big data systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Economics, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Interests: blockchain technology; innovation; agriculture; economics; business; supply chain; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Electric and Electronic Engineering, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
Interests: blockchain; smart contracts; complex software systems; software engineering; software metrics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Blockchain technology (BCT) has evolved far beyond its initial use in cryptocurrency, becoming a key enabler of innovation across industries (Laroiya et al., 2020). In supply chain management, BCT has demonstrated unique potential to address long-standing challenges such as lack of transparency, inefficiencies, and trust deficits among stakeholders (Adamashvili et al., 2021). By providing secure, immutable, and verifiable records of transactions, BCT fosters accountability, traceability, and efficiency across complex global supply networks (Dudczyk et al., 2024).

As industries adapt to shifting consumer demands, stricter regulatory frameworks, and the need for sustainability, BCT emerges as a critical tool for supply chain transformation (Younis et al., 2024). From real-time product tracking to ensuring compliance with sustainability standards, blockchain offers solutions that can drive both operational excellence and ethical business practices (Vongurai, 2024; Bai et al., 2024; Kayikci et al., 2022). Moreover, the integration of BCT with other technologies, such as IoT, AI, and big data analytics, opens up new possibilities for predictive insights and decision-making across the supply chain (Adamashvili et al., 2024).

However, the adoption of BCT in supply chains also presents challenges. Scalability, interoperability, and regulatory uncertainty remain significant barriers to widespread implementation (Jabbar et al., 2021). Furthermore, as the technology matures, there is a growing need to explore its applications in emerging sectors, optimize its technical architecture, and assess its socio-economic impact.

This Special Issue seeks to bring together cutting-edge research and innovative case studies that explore the role of blockchain technology in revolutionizing supply chains. We welcome contributions that address technical, managerial, and policy aspects of BCT implementation, with a particular focus on its potential to enhance resilience, transparency, and sustainability. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Blockchain-enabled solutions for transparent and ethical supply chains;
  • Smart contracts for automating supply chain operations;
  • The role of blockchain in addressing supply chain disruptions and resilience;
  • Integration of blockchain with IoT, AI, and big data in supply chain management;
  • Blockchain for circular supply chains and sustainability goals;
  • Overcoming scalability and interoperability challenges in blockchain systems;
  • Blockchain’s impact on trust and collaboration among supply chain partners;
  • Case studies of blockchain adoption in industries such as agriculture, food, healthcare, and manufacturing;
  • The regulatory landscape for blockchain in supply chains;
  • Economic and social implications of blockchain adoption in global supply chains.

This Special Issue aims to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on blockchain applications in supply chains, offering insights into the opportunities, challenges, and future directions of this transformative technology. We look forward to receiving your original and high-quality submissions.

Cited works

  • Adamashvili N, State R, Tricase C, Fiore M. Blockchain-Based Wine Supply Chain for the Industry Advancement. Sustainability. 2021; 13(23):13070.
  • Bai, C. A., Sarkis, J., & Xue, W. (2024). Improving operational efficiency and effectiveness through blockchain technology. Production Planning & Control, 35(9), 857-865.
  • Dudczyk, P., Dunston, J., & Crosby, G. V. (2024). Blockchain Technology for Global Supply Chain Management: A Survey of Applications, Challenges, Opportunities & Implications (March 2024). IEEE Access.
  • Jabbar, S., Lloyd, H., Hammoudeh, M., Adebisi, B., & Raza, U. (2021). Blockchain-enabled supply chain: analysis, challenges, and future directions. Multimedia systems, 27, 787-806.
  • Kayikci, Y., Durak Usar, D., & Aylak, B. L. (2022). Using blockchain technology to drive operational excellence in perishable food supply chains during outbreaks. The International Journal of Logistics Management, 33(3), 836-876.
  • Laroiya, C., Saxena, D., & Komalavalli, C. (2020). Applications of blockchain technology. In Handbook of research on blockchain technology (pp. 213-243). Academic press.
  • Vongurai, R. (2024). Investigating Industry 4.0, blockchain adoption, and sustainability on Thai finance's operational excellence. Global Business & Finance Review (GBFR), 29(5), 88-102.
  • Younis, H., Bwaliez, O. M., Al-Okaily, M., & Tanveer, M. I. (2024). Revolutionizing supply chain management: a critical meta-analysis of empowerment and constraint factors in blockchain technology adoption. Business Process Management Journal.

Dr. Nino Adamashvili
Prof. Dr. Radu State
Prof. Dr. Caterina Tricase
Prof. Dr. Roberto Tonelli
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • blockchain technology
  • smart contracts
  • IoT
  • big data
  • business intelligence
  • innovation
  • sustainability
  • supply chains
  • transportation

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 1229 KB  
Article
Eghatha: A Blockchain-Based System to Enhance Disaster Preparedness
by Ayoub Ghani, Ahmed Zinedine and Mohammed El Mohajir
Computers 2025, 14(10), 405; https://doi.org/10.3390/computers14100405 - 23 Sep 2025
Viewed by 450
Abstract
Natural disasters often strike unexpectedly, leaving thousands of victims and affected individuals each year. Effective disaster preparedness is critical to reducing these consequences and accelerating recovery. This paper presents Eghatha, a blockchain-based decentralized system designed to optimize humanitarian aid delivery during crises. By [...] Read more.
Natural disasters often strike unexpectedly, leaving thousands of victims and affected individuals each year. Effective disaster preparedness is critical to reducing these consequences and accelerating recovery. This paper presents Eghatha, a blockchain-based decentralized system designed to optimize humanitarian aid delivery during crises. By enabling secure and transparent transfers of donations and relief from donors to beneficiaries, the system enhances trust and operational efficiency. All transactions are immutably recorded and verified on a blockchain network, reducing fraud and misuse while adapting to local contexts. The platform is volunteer-driven, coordinated by civil society organizations with humanitarian expertise, and supported by government agencies involved in disaster response. Eghatha’s design accounts for disaster-related constraints—including limited mobility, varying levels of technological literacy, and resource accessibility—by offering a user-friendly interface, support for local currencies, and integration with locally available technologies. These elements ensure inclusivity for diverse populations. Aligned with Morocco’s “Digital Morocco 2030” strategy, the system contributes to both immediate crisis response and long-term digital transformation. Its scalable architecture and contextual sensitivity position the platform for broader adoption in similarly affected regions worldwide, offering a practical model for ethical, decentralized, and resilient humanitarian logistics. Full article
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22 pages, 2003 KB  
Article
Beyond Opacity: Distributed Ledger Technology as a Catalyst for Carbon Credit Market Integrity
by Stanton Heister, Felix Kin Peng Hui, David Ian Wilson and Yaakov Anker
Computers 2025, 14(9), 403; https://doi.org/10.3390/computers14090403 - 22 Sep 2025
Viewed by 528
Abstract
The 2015 Paris Agreement paved the way for the carbon trade economy, which has since evolved but has not attained a substantial magnitude. While carbon credit exchange is a critical mechanism for achieving global climate targets, it faces persistent challenges related to transparency, [...] Read more.
The 2015 Paris Agreement paved the way for the carbon trade economy, which has since evolved but has not attained a substantial magnitude. While carbon credit exchange is a critical mechanism for achieving global climate targets, it faces persistent challenges related to transparency, double-counting, and verification. This paper examines how Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) can address these limitations by providing immutable transaction records, automated verification through digitally encoded smart contracts, and increased market efficiency. To assess DLT’s strategic potential for leveraging the carbon markets and, more explicitly, whether its implementation can reduce transaction costs and enhance market integrity, three alternative approaches that apply DLT for carbon trading were taken as case studies. By comparing key elements in these DLT-based carbon credit platforms, it is elucidated that these proposed frameworks may be developed for a scalable global platform. The integration of existing compliance markets in the EU (case study 1), Australia (case study 2), and China (case study 3) can act as a standard for a global carbon trade establishment. The findings from these case studies suggest that while DLT offers a promising path toward more sustainable carbon markets, regulatory harmonization, standardization, and data transfer across platforms remain significant challenges. Full article
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29 pages, 4648 KB  
Article
Optimizing Teacher Portfolio Integrity with a Cost-Effective Smart Contract for School-Issued Teacher Documents
by Diana Laura Silaghi, Andrada Cristina Artenie and Daniela Elena Popescu
Computers 2025, 14(9), 395; https://doi.org/10.3390/computers14090395 - 17 Sep 2025
Viewed by 488
Abstract
Diplomas and academic transcripts issued at the conclusion of a university cycle have been the subject of numerous studies focused on developing secure methods for their registration and access. However, in the context of high school teachers, these initial credentials mark only the [...] Read more.
Diplomas and academic transcripts issued at the conclusion of a university cycle have been the subject of numerous studies focused on developing secure methods for their registration and access. However, in the context of high school teachers, these initial credentials mark only the starting point of a much more complex professional journey. Throughout their careers, teachers receive a wide array of certificates and attestations related to professional development, participation in educational projects, volunteering, and institutional contributions. Many of these documents are issued directly by the school administration and are often vulnerable to misplacement, unauthorized alterations, or limited portability. These challenges are amplified when teachers move between schools or are involved in teaching across multiple institutions. In response to this need, this paper proposes a blockchain-based solution built on the Ethereum platform, which ensures the integrity, traceability, and long-term accessibility of such records, preserving the professional achievements of teachers across their careers. Although most research has focused on securing highly valuable documents on blockchain, such as diplomas, certificates, and micro-credentials, this study highlights the importance of extending blockchain solutions to school-issued attestations, as they carry significant weight in teacher evaluation and the development of professional portfolios. Full article
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26 pages, 1627 KB  
Article
RVR Blockchain Consensus: A Verifiable, Weighted-Random, Byzantine-Tolerant Framework for Smart Grid Energy Trading
by Huijian Wang, Xiao Liu and Jining Chen
Computers 2025, 14(6), 232; https://doi.org/10.3390/computers14060232 - 13 Jun 2025
Viewed by 895
Abstract
Blockchain technology empowers decentralized transactions in smart grids, but existing consensus algorithms face efficiency and security bottlenecks under Byzantine attacks. This article proposes the RVR consensus algorithm, which innovatively integrates dynamic reputation evaluation, verifiable random function (VRF), and a weight-driven probability election mechanism [...] Read more.
Blockchain technology empowers decentralized transactions in smart grids, but existing consensus algorithms face efficiency and security bottlenecks under Byzantine attacks. This article proposes the RVR consensus algorithm, which innovatively integrates dynamic reputation evaluation, verifiable random function (VRF), and a weight-driven probability election mechanism to achieve (1) behavior-aware dynamic adjustment of reputation weights and (2) manipulation-resistant random leader election via VRF. Experimental verification shows that under a silence attack, the maximum latency is reduced by 37.88% compared to HotStuff, and under a forking attack, the maximum throughput is increased by 50.66%, providing an efficient and secure new paradigm for distributed energy trading. Full article
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25 pages, 4460 KB  
Systematic Review
Rethinking Blockchain Governance with AI: The VOPPA Framework
by Catalin Daniel Morar, Daniela Elena Popescu, Ovidiu Constantin Novac and David Ghiurău
Computers 2025, 14(10), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/computers14100425 - 4 Oct 2025
Viewed by 335
Abstract
Blockchain governance has become central to the performance and resilience of decentralized systems, yet current models face recurring issues of participation, coordination, and adaptability. This article offers a structured analysis of governance frameworks and highlights their limitations through recent high-impact case studies. It [...] Read more.
Blockchain governance has become central to the performance and resilience of decentralized systems, yet current models face recurring issues of participation, coordination, and adaptability. This article offers a structured analysis of governance frameworks and highlights their limitations through recent high-impact case studies. It then examines how artificial intelligence (AI) is being integrated into governance processes, ranging from proposal summarization and anomaly detection to autonomous agent-based voting. In response to existing gaps, this paper proposes the Voting Via Parallel Predictive Agents (VOPPA) framework, a multi-agent architecture aimed at enabling predictive, diverse, and decentralized decision-making. Strengthening blockchain governance will require not just decentralization but also intelligent, adaptable, and accountable decision-making systems. Full article
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49 pages, 552 KB  
Systematic Review
Ethereum Smart Contracts Under Scrutiny: A Survey of Security Verification Tools, Techniques, and Challenges
by Mounira Kezadri Hamiaz and Maha Driss
Computers 2025, 14(6), 226; https://doi.org/10.3390/computers14060226 - 9 Jun 2025
Viewed by 3714
Abstract
Smart contracts are self-executing programs that facilitate trustless transactions between multiple parties, most commonly deployed on the Ethereum blockchain. They have become integral to decentralized applications in areas such as voting, digital agreements, and financial systems. However, the immutable and transparent nature of [...] Read more.
Smart contracts are self-executing programs that facilitate trustless transactions between multiple parties, most commonly deployed on the Ethereum blockchain. They have become integral to decentralized applications in areas such as voting, digital agreements, and financial systems. However, the immutable and transparent nature of smart contracts makes security vulnerabilities especially critical, as deployed contracts cannot be modified. Security flaws have led to substantial financial losses, underscoring the need for robust verification before deployment. This survey presents a comprehensive review of the state of the art in smart contract security verification, with a focus on Ethereum. We analyze a wide range of verification methods, including static and dynamic analysis, formal verification, and machine learning, and evaluate 62 open-source tools across their detection accuracy, efficiency, and usability. In addition, we highlight emerging trends, challenges, and the need for cross-methodological integration and benchmarking. Our findings aim to guide researchers, developers, and security auditors in selecting and advancing effective verification approaches for building secure and reliable smart contracts. Full article
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