Enhancing Data Trustworthiness in IoT Applications through a Decentralized Blockchain-based Trust Framework

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) applications has introduced significant challenges in ensuring data trustworthiness, integrity, and authenticity. Traditional centralized trust management systems are not only vulnerable to single points of failure but also struggle to scale effectively with the exponential growth of IoT devices. To address these limitations, this paper proposes a novel decentralized blockchain-based trust framework to enhance data trustworthiness in IoT ecosystems. Leveraging blockchain technology, the framework ensures secure, tamper-proof storage of IoT data and associated trust scores, while smart contracts automate trust computations and policy enforcement. Simulation results, conducted using BlockSim and real-world IoT datasets, demonstrate the framework’s ability to detect malicious nodes with high accuracy, maintain robust trust levels for honest participants, and significantly improve overall data reliability. This work provides a scalable and secure foundation for deploying trustworthy IoT systems across diverse domains, from smart cities to industrial automation.