Decentralizing Smart Energy Markets - tamper-proof-documentation of flexibility market processes
(2020)
The evolving granularity and structural decentralization of the energy system leads to a need for new tools for the efficient operation of electricity grids. Local Flexibility Markets (or "Smart Markets") provide platform concepts for market based congestion management. In this context there is a distinct need for a secure, reliable and tamper-resistant market design which requires transparent and independent monitoring of platform operation. Within the following paper different concepts for blockchain-based documentation of relevant processes on the proposed market platform are described. On this basis potential technical realizations are discussed. Finally, the implementation of one setup using Merkle tree operations is presented by using open source libraries.
The set of transactions that occurs on the public ledger of an Ethereum network in a specific time frame can be represented as a directed graph, with vertices representing addresses and an edge indicating the interaction between two addresses.
While there exists preliminary research on analyzing an Ethereum network by the means of graph analysis, most existing work is focused on either the public Ethereum Mainnet or on analyzing the different semantic transaction layers using
static graph analysis in order to carve out the different network properties (such as interconnectivity, degrees of centrality, etc.) needed to characterize a blockchain network. By analyzing the consortium-run bloxberg Proof-of-Authority (PoA) Ethereum network, we show that we can identify suspicious and potentially malicious behaviour of network participants by employing statistical graph analysis. We thereby show that it is possible to identify the potentially malicious
exploitation of an unmetered and weakly secured blockchain network resource. In addition, we show that Temporal Network Analysis is a promising technique to identify the occurrence of anomalies in a PoA Ethereum network.
As economies are getting more and more interconnected, the importance of the global logistics sector grew accordingly. However, both structural challenges and current events lead to recent supply chain disruptions, exposing the vulnerabilities of the sector. Simultaneously, blockchain has emerged as a key innovative technology with use cases going far beyond the exchange of virtual currencies. This paper aims to analyze how the technology is transforming global logistics and its challenges. Therefore, six use cases, are presented to give an overview of the technological possibilities of blockchain and smart contracts. The analysis combines theoretical approaches from scientific journals and combines them with findings from real-world implementations. The paper finds that the technology can change supply chain design fundamentally, with processes and decisions being automated and power within supply chain structures changing. However, implementations also face technological, environmental, and organizational challenges that need to be solved for wide-spread adoption.
Bisher gibt es keine einwandfreie manipulationssichere Nachweisführung für klimafreundlichen „grünen“ Wasserstoff und der damit möglichen Nachverfolgung der Herkunft vom Erzeuger erneuerbarer Energien bis zum Endverbraucher, sodass die gesamte Supply Chain des „grünen“ Wasserstoffs nicht im Sinne einer ökonomischen, ökologischen und sozialen Nachhaltigkeit dargestellt und in einem sicheren und transparenten Markt abgebildet werden kann. Mit einer geeigneten Blockchain kann dieses Problem gelöst werden, die darüber hinaus weitere noch nie dagewesene Mehrwerte für die Supply Chain des „grünen“ Wasserstoffmarktes und für den nachhaltigen Strukturwandel insgesamt bietet und deren Entwicklung demnächst im Rahmen des Förderaufrufs „Technologieoffensive Wasserstoff“ innerhalb der Forschungsförderung des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz im 7. Energieforschungsprogramm der Bundesregierung startet.
Mehr als 50 Milliarden physische Objekte sollen bis 2020 mit dem Internet verbunden sein. Diese reichen von kleinen und rechenarmen RFID-Systemen bis zu komplexen Geräten wie Smartphones, intelligenten Geräten und Fahrzeugen.
Für dieses Internet of Things (IoT) bedarf es eines Systemvertrauens, da die Nutzung intelligenter Dienste über das Internet ohne menschliches Eingreifen geschieht. Heute vorhandene zentrale Vertrauensinstanzen für IoT verlieren aufgrund von Hacker- und Cyberangriffen ihr Vertrauen. Mit der Blockchain existiert eine Vertrauensarchitektur, die es dem Menschen erlaubt, einem System und seinen Komponenten, und nicht einer zentralen Instanz zu vertrauen. Kann die Symbiose von Blockchain und IoT Vertrauen generieren? Dieser Artikel präsentiert eine systematische Literaturübersicht zum Konzept Vertrauen im Kontext der Blockchain-Technologie für das IoT und deren Geschäftsmodelle.
Das Ziel dieses Beitrags ist die Darstellung der aktuellen Entwicklungen im Zusammenspiel von Blockchain und IoT, um diese als Blaupause für die Schaffung von Vertrauen in weiteren Anwendungsfeldern nutzen zu können.
A Systematic Literature Review on Blockchain Oracles: State of Research, Challenges, and Trends
(2023)
To enable data exchange between the Blockchain protocol (on-chain) and the real world (off-chain), e.g., non-Blockchain-based applications and systems, a software called Oracle is used [3]. Blockchain oracle is an important component in the use of off-chain data for on-chain smart contracts. However, there is limited scientific literature available on this important blockchain topic. Therefore, in this paper, a novel systematic literature review based on intelligent methods, e.g., information linking, topic clustering and focus identification through frequency calculations, is proposed. Thus, the current state of scientific research interest, content and challenges, and future research directions for blockchain oracles are identified. This paper shows that there is little unbiased literature that does not call oracles a problem. From the results of this new literature review framework, relevant areas of data handling and verification with blockchain oracles are identified for future research.
After creating a new blockchain transaction, the next step usually is to make miners aware of it by having it propagated through the blockchain’s peer-to-peer network. We study an unintended alternative to peer-to-peer propagation: Exclusive mining. Exclusive mining is a type of collusion between a transaction initiator and a single miner (or mining pool). The initiator sends transactions through a private channel directly to the miner instead of propagating them through the peerto-peer network. Other blockchain users only become aware of these transactions once they have been included in a block by the miner. We identify three possible motivations for engaging in exclusive mining: (i) reducing transaction cost volatility (“confirmation as a service”), (ii) hiding unconfirmed transactions from the network to prevent frontrunning and (iii) camouflaging wealth transfers as transaction costs to evade taxes or launder money. We further outline why exclusive mining is difficult to prevent and introduce metrics which can be used to identify mining pools engaging in exclusive mining activity.
In der Anfangszeit der Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT) waren die hauptsächlichen Betrachtungswinkel die der Disruption des Bank- und Finanzwesens.
Mit dem Aufkommen des Systems Ethereum im Jahr 2015, hat die Auseinandersetzung mit der Anwendung von Blockchain in weiteren Branchen, an Bedeutung gewonnen. Eine davon ist die Logistik und das Supply Chain Management (SCM). Gerade in Deutschland spielt der Logistiksektor eine große Rolle, nach der Beschäftigtenzahl ist er die drittgrößte Branche und erzielt einen Umsatz von rund 258 Milliarden Euro. Im Beitrag werden konkrete Anwendungsfelder identifiziert und gezeigt welche potentiellen Vorteile sich dort, durch den Einsatz von DLT, erzielen lassen. Ein Schwerpunkt liegt dabei auf der Einschätzung der Technologie hinsichtlich ihrer Sicherheitseigenschaften.
Im Beitrag wird den Fragen nachgegangen, ob Datensicherheit mithilfe von DLT verbessert werden kann und auf welchem Wege.
Safety, quality, and sustainability concerns have arisen from global supply chains. Stakeholders incur risk regarding these factors, given their significance and complexity. Thus, each business's supply chain risk management must prioritize product characteristics. Accordingly, an effective traceability solution that can monitor and regulate product and supply chain aspects is crucial, especially in a given scenario. This re-search paper elucidates the potential of smart contracts in blockchain to enhancing the efficacy of business transactions and ensuring comprehensive traceability within the supply chain of paper-based coffee cups The improved levels of transaction transparency and security in traditional supply chains have been achieved through the digitization of supply chain ecosystem interactions and transactions. This approach makes verifying sources, manufacturing procedures, and quality standards easier in complex supply chains. Accordingly, the integration helps stakeholders monitor and track the whole ecosystem, promoting transparency, predictability, and dependability.
Diese Studie analysiert die Verwendung von Narrativen in drei Blockchain-Projekten im Hinblick auf institutionellen Wandel. Es wird aufgezeigt, wie Blockchain-Projekte Cyberpunk-Narrative nutzen, um einen institutionellen Wandel herbeizuführen. Ein kontrastierender Fall ohne Cyberpunk-Narrative verdeutlicht die interpretative Offenheit der institutionellen Eigenschaften von Blockchain-Technologien im Wettbewerb um Deutungshoheit. Die Untersuchung vertieft das Verständnis der Rolle fiktionaler Erzählungen für das Framing von Innovationen im Kontext institutionellen Wandels und zeigt, dass Greimas' Aktantenmodell für die Frame-Analyse geeignet ist.
With the increasing usage of blockchain technology, legal challenges such as GDPR compliance arise. Especially the right of erasure is considered challenging as blockchains are tamperproof by design. Several approaches investigated
possibilities to weaken the tamperproof aspect of blockchains in favor of GDPR compliance. This paper presents several approaches, then focuses on chameleon hash functions by evaluating the possibility to use these specific functions in a private blockchain. The goal of the built system is to take a step towards the digitization of the bill of lading used in international trade. This paper describes the developed software as well as the core considerations around the system such as network design or block structure.
Dieses Paper ist eine überarbeitete Kurzfassung der Bachelorarbeit, welche 2019 von der Autorin unter dem gleichen Titel geschrieben wurde. Sie setzt sich mit der Herausforderung, kleine Zahlungen effizient mithilfe der Blockchain umzusetzen, auseinander. Ziel ist dabei, verschiedene Ansätze vorzustellen und ihr Potenzial zu prüfen. Prinzipiell hat der Einsatz von Micropayment-Schemas das Ziel, (häufige) Zahlungen von Kleinbeträgen in der Abwicklung möglichst effizient zu gestalten. Das Ungleichgewicht, dass die Kosten einer Zahlung den zu zahlenden Betrag übersteigen, gilt es insbesondere auf der Blockchain zu vermeiden. In diesem Paper werden verschiedene Ansätze für Micropayments vorgestellt und nach verschiedenen Punkten untersucht werden. Dabei wird unter anderem Wert auf die Kostenminimierung, Sicherheit und dezentrale Umsetzbarkeit gelegt. Aber auch die Anwendbarkeit und Ressourcenanforderung der verschiedenen Schemata sollen in dieser Arbeit betrachtet werden.
In dieser Forschungsarbeit wird ein Überblick darüber gegeben, wie Grafikdaten eines NFT auf der Blockchain gespeichert werden können. Es werden verschiedene Ansätze untersucht und vorhandene Projekte analysiert. Dabei werden vor allem die Aspekte Sicherheit, Ressourcen und Anwendbarkeit betrachtet. Mithilfe einer Testumgebung werden die recherchierte Ansätze vergleichbar, wobei sich in der Arbeit auf skalierbare Vektorgrafiken (SVG) konzentriert wird. Letztendlich zeigt sich, dass es für simple SVG sinnvoll ist, ihren Code als String oder auch in Base64 codiert im NFT selbst abzulegen. Für komplexere Grafiken wird ein Ansatz mit einem Smart Contract empfohlen, um die Kosten pro NFT zu reduzieren. Die Vorgehensweise, die Grafikdaten durch eine Funktion wiederherzustellen, eignet sich außerdem auch für Ansätze, die nicht auf Vektor Grafiken bauen. Es zeigt sich, dass durch einen gewissen Mehraufwand durchaus NFT und Grafikdaten auf der Blockchain abgelegt werden können und kein Risiko durch die Trennung zwischen On- und Off-Chain eingegangen werden muss.
This desk research will initiate an exploration of present and potential blockchain applications in the higher education sector of Europe. The aim of this research is to create a theoretical base for a further postgraduate research and analysis, so to create an effective model/framework to augment the integration of blockchain technology into existing organizational processes, initially in higher educational institutions, but which may be adaptable and generalizable to other specific uses. Due to the novelty of the topic, academic resources related to the research area are limited. Most studies seem to focus on blockchain-based applications in industries such as finance, healthcare, and supply chain management, and there is little evidence of the impact of blockchain technology on education. This paper discusses present and suggests some potential blockchain-based applications in education in Europe and beyond. This research provides a groundwork for education and academia stakeholders, policymakers and researchers to exploit the potential of blockchain in different functions of an education system.
This paper looks at current projects in the field of Blockchain in education, their specific areas of application, possible advantages and weaknesses. Three examples developed by the team of authors are introduced in detail. First: Gallery-Defender a Serious Game, which was adapted to serve as a demonstrator in a stand-alone version to show the possibility to carry out exams directly from within the game and store the grades and meta-data on Blockchain. Second: Art-Quiz, an e-learning tool, which can be integrated into existing LMS systems and map exam results and further data using Blockchain technologies. Both were developed following an iterative design process. And third: The results of a focus group, which simulated the assignment of grades after an oral online exam. The three examples presented here are based on the Blockchain system Ardor/Childchain Ignis, but each demonstrator has a different set of features and approaches.
In addition, the integration of various Blockchain solutions was conceptually designed to make a Multi-Chain model possible.
Digital Power of Attorney catalyzed by Software Requirements for Blockchain-based Applications
(2022)
Blockchain Technology (BT) with so-called web3 is at an inflection point between new sub-theme hypes and world-wide industrialization over last three years thanks to large companies like MicroStrategy [1], Facebook [2] and several Venture-Capital formations [3] who are already fighting over market share and community growth. Our work represents insights from Literature-based Software Requirement (SR) elicitation for a specific Blockchain-based Application, which is creation, managing and control of digital Power of Attorney (POA). The context of POA is not only a financial driven use-case it is by far a heavy weight universal legal transaction. We use a morphological box and reduced PRIMS-P to synthesis a generic specification for further Blockchain-based Application development. Formulated SRs in POA context are reflected on our core actors which are Grantor and authorized, trusted, external Entities. Proposed characteristics for relationship and effects are visualized in a reference model originally used in digital platform ecosystems [4]. This design and modelling approach facilitated closing discussion of BT and its future eCommerce perspective.
Abstract: Blockchain Technology has become an innovative, mature tool for digital transformation, disrupting more and more application areas in their business processes, values, or even economic models. This paper leverages more than 30 academic publications on prototypes and their Blockchain-based use cases to transact certificates in the context of public education. The conceptual design and guiding ideas are reflected in the practical application development for the Federal Ministry of Education and Research ECHT! project within the showcase region WIR! in Mittweida and are used for the research design. During this approach we applied agile methods and the current certificate process to propose a comprehensive disclosure of a new software prototype including a three-layered architecture with multi-stakeholder components. The artefact instantiation contributes to the practical knowledge base within Information System Research and specifically in digital certificate processes starting from creation, searching, and proofing up to revoking by consideration of an existing IT landscape as well as organizational hierarchy.
Currently, the Internet of Things (IoT) is connected to the virtual world through the Web of Things (WoT), allowing efficient utilization of real-world objects with Internet technologies. The WoT facilitates abstract interaction between applications and connected IoT devices, allowing owners to switch between devices while using multiple ones. To achieve this, virtual assets in WoT devices can be tokenized through smart contracts and transferred using hashed proof as transactions within blockchain networks that support virtual currencies. The goal of Web of Things is to establish connectivity, interoperability, and integration among IoT devices using web standards and protocols, reducing reliance on device manufacturers. This enables easy integration of Web 3.0 cryptocurrency for device management. This study proposes a solution for WoT applications involving different cryptocurrency definitions. Finally, simulation results are presented to demonstrate the tokenization-based ownership transfer in the Web of Things.
Dezentrale Kreditplattformen ermöglichen Nutzern die Aufnahme sowie die Bereitstellung von Liquidität in Form von Krypto-Token gegen Verzinsung. Dieser Teil des dynamisch wachsenden Bereichs dezentraler Anwendungen erweist sich zwar als sehr innovativ, birgt jedoch auch Risiken. Dazu zählen insbesondere Kreditrisiken, Liquiditätsrisiken, Marktrisiken und operationelle Risiken. Um diesen Risiken entgegenzuwirken existieren vereinzelt Absicherungsmechanismen. Diese Mechanismen haben durchaus Potenzial die genannten Risiken zu verringern, wenngleich dadurch keine vollumfängliche Risikobewältigung erfolgen kann. Somit verbleiben immer Restrisiken, die letztlich vor allem von den Nutzern zu tragen sind.
This paper analyses the status quo of large-scale decision making combined with the possibility of blockchain as an underlying decentralized architecture to govern common pool resources in a collective manner and evaluates them according to their requirements and features (technical and non-technical). Due to an increasing trend in the distribution of knowledge and an increasing amount of information, the combination of these decentralized technologies and approaches, can not only be beneficial for consortial governance using blockchain but can also help communities to govern common goods and resources. Blockchain and its trust-enhancing properties can potenitally be a catalysator for more collaborative behavior among participants and may lead to new insights about collective action and CPRs.