Blockchain and IoT: Definition, Benefits, Examples

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a network of interconnected devices created by embedding sophisticated sensors, actuators, and modules into physical devices. They are designed to interact with each other and the environment around them over the internet, adding convenience and automation to daily life in various ways. 

IoT has proven to be one of the most fascinating emerging technologies of the 21st century with profound impact across numerous industries. This technology gets even more fascinating when it is combined with blockchain, one of the biggest inventions of this digital era. The combination of IoT and blockchain is one of the latest trends that’ll help shape the future of blockchain. In this article, we’ll explore the innovative intersection between Blockchain and IoT and the numerous benefits of combining these two technologies.  

• Blockchain for IoT refers to the integration of Blockchain technology into the IoT ecosystem.
• Incorporating Blockchain in IoT enables secure and efficient management of IoT data storage and communications. 
• Blockchain in IoT has found applications across various industries including supply chains, automotive, finance and banking, gaming, and many others.

What is Blockchain for IoT Technology?

Blockchain is an innovative technology typically associated with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. However, more than just a framework for managing digital money, Blockchain technology can be used for several other things including IoT. 

Blockchain for IoT refers to the integration of Blockchain technology into the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. On its own, Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology (DLT) designed to store data in a common ledger shared across multiple nodes on a network. Data stored this way is immutable, tamper-proof, and free from the control of a centralized authority. 

Blockchain for IoT technology offers a secure and decentralized distributed ledger framework like this for IoT-connected devices, addressing many of the core challenges associated with IoT management such as security, scalability, and trust. 

Blockchain development has been implemented with IoT across various industries and applications, from simple smart home devices to more complex use cases like Automotive and Agricultural industries. By leveraging the power of Blockchain in IoT, we can create a highly secure and efficient system of interconnected devices, transforming how these devices interact with each other and with their environment. 

The Intersection of Blockchain Technology and IoT

The common denominator that ties Blockchain technology and IoT is data. By embedding sensors and actuaries into physical objects, an IoT framework creates responsive devices that can communicate (share data and instructions) with each other over the internet. As the number of these devices grows, the amount of IoT data generated grows as well, creating a need for enhanced security and improved control, which is where Blockchain shines through. 

The integration of Blockchain technology with IoT presents a decentralized and secure framework on which interconnected devices on an IoT network can interact. This promotes data integrity and security of information shared between these devices. Incorporating these two technologies can also help overcome many of the limitations caused by managing an IoT system on a centralized infrastructure. 

IoT and Blockchain Benefits

• Decentralization 
• Smoother Automation 
• Enhanced IoT Security 
• Improved Transparency and Traceability
• Cost Reduction and Efficiency

The two-pronged nature of Blockchain solutions, characterized by cryptography and a distributed digital ledger system delivers numerous benefits to IoT infrastructure. It changes how smart devices function and the way they interact with each other. The following are some of the benefits of a Blockchain-based platform. 

Decentralization 

The combination of Blockchain and IoT offers numerous benefits including the possibility of smart devices functioning autonomously with no need for a centralized authority. Traditional IoT systems typically depend on a hub-and-spoke or client-server architecture, which is a sort of centralized authority. 

When an IoT platform is built on a decentralized network provided by Blockchain technology, the system is governed by smart contracts. This eliminates the need for a central authority, potentially reducing bottlenecks and inefficiencies in the IoT system. 

Smoother Automation 

While IoT technology already supports automation, the introduction of smart contracts ensures even faster and more efficient automation. These are self-governing commands that execute once certain conditions are met. This self-executing contract framework allows smart devices to function on their own with no need for a centralized authority, ensuring faster and smoother automation of devices on the IoT network. 

Enhanced IoT Security 

Blockchain is secure by design. The system is built on a distributed ledger, with data storage and computation power spread across several devices. In addition to secure data transmission, each node stores a copy of the shared ledger, enhancing security by making it virtually impossible to alter the data. 

Blockchain also reduces the risk of single points of failure which is a common problem in IoT infrastructure. A traditional IoT system is a complex interconnected network of multiple devices. If one of these devices is compromised, it can be used to attack all the other devices on the network.  With Blockchain in IoT, a compromised device will not affect the entire IoT ecosystem as it might do with a traditional system. 

Improved Transparency and Traceability

Blockchain provides a transparent record of data, making it easier to track and trace transactions on the network. This type of transparency is what you get when you integrate Blockchain with IoT, as the Blockchain system creates a more efficient way for stakeholders to monitor the IoT network. This type of infrastructure also makes error-tracing easier.

As you might know, IoT networks can get very complex, making it difficult to detect failure patterns. Blockchain gives each IoT endpoint a unique identifying key that makes it easier to catch errors and inconsistencies in order to get them rectified. 

Cost Reduction and Efficiency

Combining IoT and Blockchain can potentially streamline business processes and help cut costs. Blockchain introduces automation through self-executing contracts, eliminating intermediaries in managing IoT systems. This advanced automation can help reduce transaction fees and enhance the overall efficiency of your IoT system. This results in major cost-savings in the long run. 

IoT and Blockchain Challenges

• Scalability Challenges
• Security 
• Privacy Concerns 
• Technical Complexity 

As discussed above, the widespread adoption of IoT and Blockchain resolves many of the problems associated with running a centralized IoT infrastructure. However, creating a Blockchain-powered IoT framework comes with some challenges as well. Some of these Blockchain IoT challenges are highlighted below: 

Scalability Concerns

Blockchain ledger systems have no issues handling a small number of transactions or data. However, if more IoT devices are added to the setup, scalability can become an issue since the system now has to process large data volumes simultaneously. 

This is a particularly significant problem with older Blockchain protocols like Bitcoin and others running on a proof-of-work mechanism. Such systems are energy-intensive, which makes them difficult to scale. To resolve this issue, Blockchain IoT developers may consider scalable solutions like sharding (splitting a larger Blockchain network into smaller parts) or using off-chain transactions.

Scalability is also less of an issue for more advanced Blockchain systems with faster transaction times. Newer consensus mechanisms like Proof of Stake (PoS) and Layer 2 solutions are actively addressing scalability challenges.

Security Risks

This sounds counterintuitive because security is one of the biggest advantages of a Blockchain-powered IoT system. Still, such a system is not completely immune to security risks. 

While decentralized Blockchain networks are difficult to hack, the smart contracts used to automate transactions can sometimes be buggy. However, the security risks primarily stem from poorly implemented smart contracts or vulnerabilities in how Blockchain is integrated with IoT, rather than from the blockchain technology itself.

Hackers sometimes look for vulnerabilities in smart contracts to gain entry into Blockchain networks. This is why you must thoroughly test smart contracts to be implemented on your specific Blockchain network to keep it tamper-proof. Regular preventive maintenance will also reduce the risk of attacks.  

Privacy Concerns 

The transparent nature of Blockchain raises concerns about data privacy, especially for a public or permission-less Blockchain solution. To combat this problem, developers are implementing innovative techniques such as homomorphic encryption and zero-knowledge proofs to protect sensitive data on Blockchain IoTs. These techniques allow for maintaining data confidentiality, while still leveraging Blockchain’s open architecture.

Technical Complexity 

Both Blockchain and IoT are relatively new technology. They’re complex individually and integrating Blockchain and IoT creates an even more complex system. To create Blockchain IoT, you need the services of experts with sufficient knowledge of both fields and how to merge them.

Unfortunately, finding technical expertise at the intersection between Blockchain and IoT can be a little difficult, especially for larger and more complex projects. Nevertheless, ongoing advancements and more accessible tools are slowly reducing these barriers.

Applications of Blockchain in IoT

The merger of Blockchain app development and Internet of Things technology presents several benefits across various industries where IoT is used. Blockchain’s decentralized and trustless characteristics make it capable of empowering IoT ecosystems with better security, efficiency, and transparency. This has given rise to a wide range of applications and use cases for Blockchain in IoT. 

Many of the more traditional applications of IoT technology such as smart home devices, healthcare industry, smart city planning, agriculture, and smart retail can be improved significantly with Blockchain. The merger of these two technologies will also introduce new use cases and opportunities for smart operations. Below are some of the most notable use cases of Blockchain technology for the Internet of Things. 

Key Use Cases of Blockchain for the Internet of Things

Financial Industry

Banks and other companies in the financial industry prioritize security and data integrity. As a result, they’re among the biggest adopters of technologies that promise enhanced security like Blockchain. Banks like the HSB, Deutsche Bank, and ING have been leading the charge by using Blockchain to create a decentralized environment for the IoT devices and applications that they use. 

Smart Homes 

IoT devices form the foundation of what is today known as smart home technology, granting users the convenience of monitoring and controlling devices in their homes using their mobile devices or even voice-activated commands. 

The combination of smart home IoT with Blockchain allows you to remotely manage your smart home devices on a decentralized Blockchain system. This reduces the risks associated with conventional centralized smart home systems, protecting sensitive information such as biometrics, and facial or voice recognition used to control IoT devices. 

Supply Chain Management

The supply chain network is a complicated system with multiple stakeholders. Such systems can benefit from the end-to-end visibility provided by Blockchain technology. As a result, many companies in the logistics industry now connect the IoT devices used to track their shipping process on a Blockchain infrastructure. This promotes the traceability of activities on these networks. 

Automotive Sector

The Automotive sector is one of the leading industries adopting IoT technology. Automated vehicles are built with IoT sensors that need to exchange information quickly and effectively to drive autonomously, find parking spaces, follow traffic controls, and even make payments.

Combining this technology with Blockchain opens up a world of possibilities. It leverages the quick and efficient node-to-node data exchange provided by Blockchain systems and also helps secure autonomous systems from malicious attacks. 

Blockchain Game Development 

Integrating IoT technologies with Blockchain game development creates immersive gaming environments. IoT-powered wearable devices use sensors to capture real-life data on player movements and their interaction with objects in the environment. This enhances gameplay and creates experiences tailored to individual players. 

Top Examples of Blockchain IoT Companies

NetObjex

NetObjex is a smart parking solutions company that combines the best of IoT technology with Blockchain infrastructure. This technology simplifies the process of locating vacant space in parking lots by using parking sensors for real-time vehicle detection.

NetObjex also automates the process of paying for this space through integrations with crypto wallets. IoT sensors calculate charges for the parking duration and charge it to the user’s crypto wallet. 

Telstra 

Telstra is one of the Blockchain companies using Blockchain infrastructure to revolutionize smart home solutions. The Australian company has created a Blockchain-powered biometric security company that ensures the integrity of sensitive biometric data captured by smart devices such as voice and facial recognition data. Once this data is collected, it is saved on the Blockchain where it cannot be modified or tampered with by malicious actors. 

Amcor

Amcor is one of the companies leading the charge in incorporating advanced technologies in the food supply chain. The intelligent packaging company creates smart packages for food products, pharmaceuticals, and household items.

One such product is a near-field communication (NFC) enabled product package powered by IoT, Artificial Intelligence, and Blockchain technologies. Beyond static information display, flexible packages produced by Amcor will allow products to collect data and interact with other devices near them. For instance, a product could send information to consumer devices when it is nearing its expiry date or inform a storekeeper when an item needs to be replenished.