۱- Introduction

۲- Key management for blockchain

۳- Proposed group key management for blockchain network

۴- Conclusion

References

Abstract

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is used in Blockchain Technology to authenticate the entities and to ensure the integrity of the blockchain. Proper Protection of Bitcoin wallet is required for private keys, seeds and keys stored in external hardware in Blockchain infrastructure. In this paper, overview of Blockchain, analysis of existing PKI for Blockchain and key management for Blockchain wallet are discussed. To achieve the confidentiality of sensitive records over the Blockchain network, a Group Key Management scheme for secure group communication is also proposed.

Introduction

Blockchain Technology or decentralized secure ledger is one of the most popular technology which has the capability to eliminate the requirement of third party to validate the transactions over the Peer-to-Peer network. Using the consensus of the existing members of the network, transactions over the network are validated. In Blockchain Technology, members of the network keep the transactions’ data in form of ledger and this ledger is updated by adding of new block of transactions to maintain the integrity of the data. In year 2009, Satoshi Nakamoto proposed the Blockchain based digital currency called Bitcoin. In this Bitcoin digital currency, transactions are allowed among the peers to manage the currency. The major advantage of this digital virtual currency (Bitcoin) is that there is no need of central authority to authenticate, control or validate the transactions. Blockchain Technology is under developing phase. However, this technology has shown the potential to transform the existing business process, e-Governance services, financial services, health care services, agriculture services etc. into new dimensions where additional advantages in term of efficiency, cost, trust etc. are guaranteed [1–۱۰]. Blockchain Technology is useful in many areas which include — e-Tender through Blockchain, Blockchain for IoT Devices, Blockchain for banking, Blockchain for Insurance claim settlement, Blockchain for Taxation etc. The data structure of the Blockchain is a structured list of blocks. Blocks are connected in form of list whereas current block stores some values in its header like hash of previous block, Blockchain address of the previous block etc. Each block consists two parts: header and body. The header comprises block number, hash value of previous block to maintain the integrity of the Chain, hash of body of current block to maintain the integrity of the transaction data, time stamp, nonce, Blockchain address of block creator and other desired information. Body of the block contains one or more transactions. (See Fig. 1.)