Exploiting Blockchain Technology for Enhancing Digital Twins’ Security and Transparency

Blockchain technology has been applied in a wide range of domains and has seen major developments in the last years, notably when integrated with other emerging technologies. In this paper, we focus on the integration of blockchain and digital twins with the aim of enhancing the capabilities of both...

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Main Authors: Alessio Ferone, Stefano Verrilli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Future Internet
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/17/1/31
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author Alessio Ferone
Stefano Verrilli
author_facet Alessio Ferone
Stefano Verrilli
author_sort Alessio Ferone
collection DOAJ
description Blockchain technology has been applied in a wide range of domains and has seen major developments in the last years, notably when integrated with other emerging technologies. In this paper, we focus on the integration of blockchain and digital twins with the aim of enhancing the capabilities of both technologies. In particular, we demonstrate how blockchain can improve critical aspects of the security and transparency of digital twins by analyzing a real-world scenario and evaluating produced experimental data. This research identifies and addresses critical vulnerabilities in digital twins, particularly data integrity and transparency, through blockchain-based validation mechanisms and smart-contract integration. Various blockchain-related and digital twin-related technologies are employed to enable the repeatability of the suggested approach. Additionally, an in-depth analysis of such integration is provided to facilitate a symbiotic relationship between these technologies by addressing key challenges, such as scalability, interoperability, and performance, along with viable solutions that could advance their co-evolution in both academic research and industrial applications.
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spelling doaj-art-a105db98b0974c5eab58962f8150e71b2025-01-24T13:33:37ZengMDPI AGFuture Internet1999-59032025-01-011713110.3390/fi17010031Exploiting Blockchain Technology for Enhancing Digital Twins’ Security and TransparencyAlessio Ferone0Stefano Verrilli1Department of Science and Technology, University of Naples Parthenope, 80143 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Science and Technology, University of Naples Parthenope, 80143 Naples, ItalyBlockchain technology has been applied in a wide range of domains and has seen major developments in the last years, notably when integrated with other emerging technologies. In this paper, we focus on the integration of blockchain and digital twins with the aim of enhancing the capabilities of both technologies. In particular, we demonstrate how blockchain can improve critical aspects of the security and transparency of digital twins by analyzing a real-world scenario and evaluating produced experimental data. This research identifies and addresses critical vulnerabilities in digital twins, particularly data integrity and transparency, through blockchain-based validation mechanisms and smart-contract integration. Various blockchain-related and digital twin-related technologies are employed to enable the repeatability of the suggested approach. Additionally, an in-depth analysis of such integration is provided to facilitate a symbiotic relationship between these technologies by addressing key challenges, such as scalability, interoperability, and performance, along with viable solutions that could advance their co-evolution in both academic research and industrial applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/17/1/31blockchaindigital twinsurveillanceEthereumsmart contract
spellingShingle Alessio Ferone
Stefano Verrilli
Exploiting Blockchain Technology for Enhancing Digital Twins’ Security and Transparency
Future Internet
blockchain
digital twin
surveillance
Ethereum
smart contract
title Exploiting Blockchain Technology for Enhancing Digital Twins’ Security and Transparency
title_full Exploiting Blockchain Technology for Enhancing Digital Twins’ Security and Transparency
title_fullStr Exploiting Blockchain Technology for Enhancing Digital Twins’ Security and Transparency
title_full_unstemmed Exploiting Blockchain Technology for Enhancing Digital Twins’ Security and Transparency
title_short Exploiting Blockchain Technology for Enhancing Digital Twins’ Security and Transparency
title_sort exploiting blockchain technology for enhancing digital twins security and transparency
topic blockchain
digital twin
surveillance
Ethereum
smart contract
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/17/1/31
work_keys_str_mv AT alessioferone exploitingblockchaintechnologyforenhancingdigitaltwinssecurityandtransparency
AT stefanoverrilli exploitingblockchaintechnologyforenhancingdigitaltwinssecurityandtransparency