ABSTRACT
The evolving fifth generation (5G) technologies will enable the pervasive deployment of Internet-of-Things (IoT) systems because of their advantages of massive connectivity, wide coverage, low latency and high throughput. However, the 5G-enabled IoT systems still face several critical challenges such as IoT device management, Big Data analytics and storage, and privacy and security protection. Blockchain technology is among the most promising solutions to address the related challenges. Specifically, blockchain is a decentralized database that can record and validate all the peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions executed in a distributed information and communication technology (ICT) system without relying on any central authority or third party for verification. The decentralized, secure and autonomous characteristics of blockchain technology make it possible to improve the performance of IoT systems through the introduction of many new mechanisms such as smart property trading, asset tracking, distributed data storage, and privacy and security management. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of how blockchain technology could facilitate IoT systems. The fundamental principle of blockchain technology is first presented. Existing applications of blockchain technology on strengthening the IoT systems are then surveyed. Finally, the main challenges of integrating blockchain technology into IoT applications are analyzed and future research directions of related areas are also identified.
