Blockchain Applications for Internet of Things - A Survey

In recent years, the Internet of Things (IoT) has been shaping our lives through billions of internet based interconnected devices. However, due to the decentralized nature of these devices, security, privacy, trust, and traceability remain major concerns. Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology used across several application domains, with features such as immutability and distribution. This survey describes how blockchains can support IoT based systems. We also identify key challenges in using blockchains in IoT, such as scalability, energy consumption, data privacy and security, integration complexity, and regulatory compliance. A comparative analysis of current blockchain scalability solutions and lightweight encryption algorithms is also presented; providing research gaps that still need to be addressed.