ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an introduction to blockchain technologies, Bitcoin, and Smart Contracts and provides a high-level case study example of integration between Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Contracts, and blockchain. As the IoT continues to grow rapidly, sensors and devices are becoming more and more used to communicate information. In food supply chain networks, where data such as location, temperature, humidity, or other property need to be shared among different stakeholders, a blockchain is a natural solution for creating a tamper-evident record.
A Smart Contract would specify the conditions that must be met during the shipment of a good from the factory to the selling point (e.g., a supermarket), and all parties must adhere to the terms of the contract. In this way, it would be possible to check if the contractual obligations have been met throughout the supply chain. A blockchain would allow all the stakeholders to access the same data without requiring central control.
