When Blockchain Meets IoT: Challenges and Potentials

Dear Colleagues,

The combination of distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) and the IoT has the potential to revolutionize various industries by providing enhanced data security and transparency. In addition to leveraging DLTs to record and protect digital traces for auditing and pretesting, it is of high importance to use blockchain and DLTs to create new frameworks for device-onboarding and user authentication. DLTs can contribute to create advanced governance schemes for edge computing and Industry 4.0. In this regard, identity plays a core role. First, device fingerprinting and remote attestation can pave the way for new paradigms used in identity management. Second, the association between device–user should be controlled in a way that enables for accountability but also the protection of users’ privacy. Third, efficiency is a must for all proposals to achieve dependable IoT systems for device and identity management. The limited number of sensors and other elements in IoT networks represents in many cases a limitation for the adoption of advanced cryptographic protocols. DLTs and blockchain are applied to the design and implementation of new architectures for the delegation of management, data and control planes in IoT networks.

This Special Issue aims to bring together the latest research on recent developments in the application of DLTs and blockchain in the IoT ecosystem. We welcome novel research articles, comprehensive reviews and survey articles. Extended conference papers are also welcome. They should contain at least 50% new material, e.g., in the form of technical extensions, more in-depth evaluations, or additional use cases.

Topics of interest include but are not limited to:

• Lightweight cryptography for the IoT;
• Post-quantum cryptography for blockchain;
• Signature schemes for enhanced blockchain security;
• Blockchain-based auditability and confidentiality;
• Low-energy blockchain footprint;
• Independent blockchain federation schemes;
• Open hardware attestation;
• New applications for blockchain and the IoT.

Dr. Andres Marin Lopez
Dr. David Arroyo
Guest Editors

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