THE ROLE AND POTENTIAL OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY IN SECURING IOT DEVICES

Аннотация

Theexponential growth ofthe Internet of Things (IoT) has introduced unprecedented convenience and interconnectivity, but also significant security vulnerabilities. Traditional security architectures are increasingly inadequate for thedecentralized and resource-constrained nature of IoT networks. This article explores the integration of blockchain technology as a robust solution for enhancing IoT security. We discuss the architecture, potential applications, and current limitations of blockchain-based security frameworks in the IoT ecosystem. Real- world usecases in smart cities, healthcare, and industrial IoT are alsopresented. Keywords: IoT security, blockchain, distributed ledger, device authentication, smart contracts, cybersecurity The Internet of Things (IoT) has become a core driver of digital transformation, enabling a vast network of interconnected devices to collect, exchange, and analyze data in real-time. However, the proliferation of IoT devices also expands the attack surface, making them attractive targets for cyber threats such as spoofing, data tampering, DDoS attacks, and unauthorized access1. Conventional centralized security models are often inadequate for IoT ecosystems, where devices typically have limited computing power and operate in decentralized environments. In this context, blockchain technology, with its decentralized, immutable, and transparent nature, offers apromising paradigm for enhancing IoT security2.  Overview ofBlockchainTechnology Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology (DLT) that maintains a continuously growing list of records, called blocks, that are securely linked using cryptographic hashes. The core attributes of blockchain—immutability, consensus, transparency, and decentralization—make it highly suitable for applications requiring integrity, traceability, and trust3. In a blockchain network, all transactions are verified through consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Work (PoW), Proof of Stake (PoS), or Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT), and stored in a decentralized manner, thereby eliminating singlepoints offailure4. 1Weber, R. H. (2010). Internet of Things–Newsecurity and privacy challenges. ComputerLaw &Security Review, 26(1), 23–30.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clsr.2009.11.008 2Christidis, K., & Devetsikiotis,M. (2016). Blockchains and SmartContracts fortheInternet of Things. IEEE Access, 4,2292–2303.https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2016.2566339 3Nakamoto, S.(2008). Bitcoin: APeer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System. https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf 4Zheng,Z., Xie, S.,Dai, H., Chen, X., & Wang, H. (2017). An overview ofblockchain technology: Architecture, consensus, and future trends. IEEE International Congress onBig Data. https://doi.org/10.1109/BigDataCongress.2017.85 253 INTERNATIONAL MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL FOR RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT SJIF2019:5.2222020:5.5522021:5.6372022:5.4792023:6.5632024:7,805 eISSN:2394-6334 https://www.ijmrd.in/index.php/imjrd Volume12,issue07(2025)  Challengesof IoTSecurity IoT devices often operate autonomously and are deployed in untrusted environments. Key security challenges include: Weak authentication and authorization protocols o Insecuredata transmissionand storage o Lackof centralized monitoring and response mechanisms o Firmwarevulnerabilities and unpatched software5 o Furthermore, due to resource limitations, many IoT devices are incapable of implementing robust cryptographic operations.  Blockchainas aSolutionforIoTSecurity  Decentralized Device Authentication Blockchain enables decentralized authentication, allowing IoT devices to verify their identities using cryptographic keys and digital signatures without relying on centralized certificate authorities6. Projects like IBM’s ADEPT (Autonomous Decentralized Peer-to-Peer Telemetry) havedemonstrated theuse ofblockchain for M2M (machine-to-machine)authentication.  DataIntegrity and Tamper Resistance Blockchain’s immutability ensures that data recorded by IoT sensors cannot be altered retroactively, enabling trustworthy logs and audit trails7. This is critical in applications like medical monitoring or industrial automation, where data integrity can have life-threatening implications.  SmartContracts forAutonomous Execution Smart contracts—self-executing code stored on a blockchain—can automate responses to specific IoT events, such as triggering alarms, initiating firmware updates, or performing routine diagnostics8. This adds programmability and intelligence to IoT systems while reducing human error. 5Sicari, S., Rizzardi, A., Grieco, L. A., & Coen-Porisini,A. (2015). Security, privacy and trust inInternet ofThings: The road ahead. ComputerNetworks, 76,146–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comnet.2014.11.008 6Novo,O. (2018). Blockchain meets IoT: An architecture forscalable access management in IoT. IEEE Internet of Things Journal, 5(2), 1184–1195. https://doi.org/10.1109/JIOT.2018.2812239 7 Reyna, A.,Martín,C., Chen,J., Soler, E., & Díaz, M. (2018). On bloc