Blockchain-Based Authentication Schemes in Smart Environments: A Systematic Literature Review

Mustafa A. Al Sibahee, Zaid Ameen Abduljabbar, Alladoumbaye Ngueilbaye, Chengwen Luo, Jianqiang Li, Yijing Huang, Jin Zhang, Naveed Khan, Vincent Omollo Nyangaresi, Ali Hasan Ali

Abstract: This study presents a systematic literature review on blockchain-based authentication in smart environments that include smart city, smart home, smart grid, smart healthcare, smart farming and smart transportation. The review incorporated 39 articles presenting blockchain solutions for security and privacy issues through authentication mechanisms in these smart environments. Guided by three research questions to determine the main issues in smart environment, the availability of blockchain-based authentication solutions and identified research gaps and future research endeavors, this review used PRISMA method to provide insights on the use of blockchain-based authentication schemes. The research gap is that blockchain solutions are mostly at the proposal, and sometimes conceptual stage is in the reviewed articles. In addition, solutions presented in smart environments require exploration into blockchain. The findings show similar situational issues across different smart environments and the flexibility and adaptability of blockchain to provide solutions to the identified issues pertaining to security and privacy. More clearly, the authentication problem posed across different smart environments can be adapted to blockchain technology provided that it is combined with other technologies to increase efficiency, despite the existence of large-scale authentication mechanisms. Now, blockchain still has the unique, distributed feature of converting the current database into blockchain databases. This review guided future research directions which could further contribute to the sustainable management of smart environments.