In the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain-based cross-domain authentication schemes can effectively establish trust and share data across different administrative domains. However, current blockchain-based cross-domain authentication solutions often overlook dynamic node participation challenges, which is crucial for the flexible IoT environment. In this study, we propose a blockchain-based cross-domain authentication scheme that supports dynamic node participation, allowing administrative domainss to freely join or leave under legal conditions. First, we introduce an efficient blockchain-based cross-domain authentication framework. Second, we propose a blockchain consensus algorithm that supports dynamic node participation to serve the aforementioned framework. Specifically, inspired by the transmission control protocol (TCP) protocol’s piggybacking strategy, this algorithm integrates the process of node joining and leaving into the regular consensus flow to enhance efficiency. To further improve the algorithm’s efficiency, we designed compressed block and parallel chain structures to increase bandwidth utilization and throughput. Detailed correctness proofs demonstrate the algorithm’s security. Extensive experiments have been conducted to show that our scheme increases throughput by approximately 8x compared to existing approaches.

In the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystems, securing interactions among myriad devices across diverse domains is paramount. Traditional centralized authentication systems, primarily based on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), often suffer from significant drawbacks such as single points of failure, privacy invasion, and limited scalability. Addressing these concerns, this paper explores the application of blockchain technology, known for its decentralized, tamper-resistant, and transparent features, as a robust alternative. However, the integration of blockchain faces scalability challenges, particularly in storage management, as the number of devices and authentication demands escalate. This work introduces a novel blockchain data value concept and a storage optimization strategy that prioritizes critical authentication data to minimize storage demands without compromising security. We formalize this approach as an optimization problem and propose two heuristic algorithms aimed at efficient storage allocation. Our experimental results affirm the effectiveness of these strategies, significantly alleviating storage constraints and enhancing scalability in blockchain-based cross-domain authentication systems for IoT. The key contributions of this research include a pioneering storage strategy that could set a precedent for future blockchain implementations in IoT and potential broad implications for enhancing IoT security infrastructure globally. This work not only contributes to the existing body of knowledge by proposing practical solutions to recognized scalability issues but also paves the way for more resilient IoT ecosystems.

Payment channel networks (PCNs) have emerged as a leading solution to address the scalability problem of blockchain-based cryptocurrencies. Within a PCN, two parties can efficiently conduct path-based off-chain transactions using the funds held in payment channels. Intermediaries involved in transaction routing charge a fee for their services. However, since transaction routing leads to highly dynamic and irreversible changes in channel balances, the success of transaction routing is difficult to guarantee, especially in the presence of concurrent transactions. Existing solutions for PCN routing either overlook the routing of concurrent transactions or impose high fees. In this article, we propose a novel routing protocol Deter-Pay for concurrent PCNs, which improves the success rate of the transaction routing and minimizes transaction fees. Our protocol adopts the idea of the deterministic transaction request declaration and reserved balance feedback. By reserving a sufficient balance during the path probing process, we mitigate the risk of transaction failure caused by fluctuations in channel balances during transaction routing. Additionally, our protocol employs the cheapest path first strategy to select paths, thereby minimizing transaction fees. Extensive simulations show that Deter-Pay can significantly increase the successful transaction volume and reduce the transaction fee compared to the comparison algorithms.

With the rapid emergence of Internet of Things (IoT) technology, cross-domain collaboration and information sharing among IoT devices have become increasingly critical. However, the security and privacy risks associated with cross-domain communication have also escalated. Establishing efficient and secure authentication mechanisms for cross-domain collaboration among IoT devices remains a complex challenge, particularly in the context of bandwidth-constrained wide-area networks. Most recent cross-domain authentication solutions rely heavily on emerging blockchain technology. However, in bandwidth-constrained scenarios, they may suffer from efficiency losses. Consequently, an effective resolution of cross-domain authentication issues in bandwidth-limited conditions has become a pressing concern. In this article, we introduce an efficient blockchain-assisted cross-domain authentication mechanism, named EBCA, designed for bandwidth-constrained wide area IoT networks. To enhance authentication efficiency, we design a highly efficient multiblockchain architecture, which optimally leverages the underlying network bandwidth, significantly improving throughput and reducing latency for cross-domain authentication. Additionally, threshold signatures are incorporated to minimize communication overhead, further enhancing authentication efficiency. Extensive experiments have been conducted to demonstrate the efficiency of our approach. Our scheme has been shown to increase throughput by approximately 34% when compared to existing methods.

The rapid advancement of networking and manufacturing technologies has facilitated the proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices connecting to networks. Just like humans, these devices, spanning various domains worldwide, necessitate interconnection. Therefore, cross domain identity authentication becomes crucial to ensure secure communication and mitigate cyber threats. Blockchain, as an emerging decentralized ledger technology, has garnered widespread attention due to its ability to effectively address the issue of single point of failure in traditional cross-domain identity authentication solutions. However, most cross-domain identity authentication solutions based on blockchain are limited by their reliance on existing single-chain blockchain architectures, which significantly restricts the performance of cross-domain authentication. In this paper, we present a splitchain based efficient authentication mechanism for cross-domain IoT. Specifically, we design an innovative split-chain blockchain structure that enhances the efficiency of authentication through parallelization. Additionally, we have developed a consensus algorithm that guarantees the security and fairness of the authentication system. Extensive experiments have been conducted to demonstrate that our scheme increases throughput by approximately 40% compared to MCCA, one of the most recent existing cross-domain solutions.