A Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) is a decentralized log of records, the ledger, managed by multiple, usually autonomous, participants (also called users or subjects), across multiple nodes. A blockchain is a type of DLT where transactions are recorded according to an immutable order obtained by means of cryptographic hash functions that chain the blocks in which transactions are recorded. Since DLT gained attention through the diffusion of the blockchain, it is common practice to use the term blockchain even when talking about other types of DLT.
Low Transactions Throughput | High Transactions Throughput | |
---|---|---|
Low Transaction Latency | We did not find any relevant examples in this class. | This class is the most demanding in terms of blockchain technology. It includes applications in which a potentially unbounded number of IoT devices and/or human subjects transact and need a transaction receipt in an interactive manner. Examples in this class are Medicalchain [73], smart car applications [75], ElaadNL [76], Power Ledger [77], Industry Marketplace [78], and vehicle rentals [79,80]. |
High Transaction Latency | This class is the less demanding in terms of blockchain technology. It comprises applications in which the number of subjects and devices is intrinsically bounded (e.g., landowners) and payments are not interactive. An example of this class is Single.Earth [71]. | The applications in this class are characterized by a potentially unbounded number of IoT devices and subjects. However, they do not need real-time payment. Examples in this class are Helium [66,67], PlanetWatch [68,69], Fishcoin [70], SavePlanetEarth [72], and SolarCoin [74]. |
Reference | Short Description | Simplified Flow |
---|---|---|
Helium [66,67] (Pub, Unperm) | The Helium network is a decentralized wireless network that enables devices anywhere in the world to wirelessly connect to the Internet. Powering the Helium network is a blockchain with a token incentivizing a two-sided marketplace between coverage providers and coverage consumers. It employs the unique proof-of-coverage consensus. | Coverage providers (P) get a reward in HNT native tokens (R) to host gateways (T) in their premises to offer wireless connectivity—mostly LoRA—to coverage consumers (C) connecting their devices to the Helium network. |
PlanetWatch [68,69] (Pub, Unperm) | PlanetWatch leverages advanced technologies and the engagement of local communities to raise the standards of environmental monitoring. It encourages citizens to operate sensors and consequently earn token rewards for their data streams, thus having the potential of a wide coverage. | A citizen (P) gets a reward in Planet native tokens (R) to host environmental sensors (T)—mostly for air pollution—in their premises. The data produced by those sensors are of interest for service providers or government agencies (C). |
Fishcoin [70] (Pub, Unperm) | Fishcoin, with its trace protocol, provides a platform to trace, in-chain, all the steps of the fishing supply chain. Digital tokens are used as a means to incentive data sharing in a proportional way: the more you share, the more you earn. | Stakeholders in the fishing supply chain (P) host sensors (T) collecting data on fishing and fish trading all along the supply chain and get rewarded in Fish native token (R) from government agencies and decision makers (C) that currently have little data for 90% of seafood. |
SingleEarth [71] | Instead of linking carbon and biodiversity credits to the sale of raw materials such as forests, which cause CO2, Single.Earth proposes the “tokenize nature” concept. CO2-producing materials that are kept in the ground are linked to tokens that can be bought by whoever want to contribute to keeping CO2 low (for example, by regulation constraints). | Landowners (P) earn Merit native token (R) through nature conservation (T). Companies, organizations, and eventually individuals (C) will be able to purchase tokens and own fractional amounts of natural resources, rewarded with carbon and biodiversity offsets. |
SavePlanetEarth [72] (Pub, Unperm) | SavePlanetEarth (SPE) is a global initiative dedicated to developing an array of different programs to combat global warming and climate change. | SavePlanetEarth cryptocurrency (R) is offered to investors (C). A carbon credit market opens SPE as an investment for companies and individuals (P) to offset their carbon footprint (T). They can accomplish this by purchasing carbon credits and redeeming them on the blockchain, making everything transparent and verifiable. |
Medicalchain [73] (Priv, Perm) | Medicalchain enables the user to give healthcare professionals access to their personal health data. Medicalchain then records interactions with this data in an auditable, transparent, and secure way on Medicalchain’s distributed ledger, built using a dual-blockchain structure. | The Marketplace enables Medicalchain users or patients (P) to negotiate commercial terms, in MedTokens native tokens (R), with third parties and healthcare professionals (C) for the use of their personal and health records (T). |
SolarCoin [74] (Pub, Perm) | Solar energy is now the cheapest fuel in over 150 countries. SolarCoin is a cryptocurrency that incentivizes a solar-powered planet distributing SolarCoin as a reward for solar installations. | Owners (P) of solar installations (T) get a reward in SolarCoin native tokens (R) from citizens or institutions (C) willing to give an incentive for the adoption of solar energy. SolarCoin can be traded for government currencies on cryptocurrency exchanges, or spent at businesses that accept them. |
Smart car applications [75] (Pub, Unperm) | Data collection on cars and drivers experimented by Jaguar and Land Rover relying upon the IOTA infrastructure. | Drivers (P) install sensors in their car (T) to collect data on their driving habits, which are delivered to service providers and city authorities (C). Producers are rewarded in tokens (R) that can be used for paying, for instance, toll roads, electric charges, and parking fees. |
ElaadNL [76] (Pub, Unperm) | ElaadNL is a smart charging infrastructure lab founded by Dutch grid operators. It develops an autonomous self-balancing power grid using IOTA for Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication, where machines pay each other in tokens as incentive to cooperate to balance energy consumption in the grid. | Nodes that charge batteries (P) are rewarded in IOTA cryptocurrency (R) when they help in balancing the grid (e.g., charging slowly), providing an advantage to owners (C) of Power Grid nodes (T) that produce electricity. |
Power Ledger [77] (Priv, Perm) | In the era of Distributed Energy Resources (DER), Power Ledger is a trading platform, namely a network that allows consumers to sell energy to their peers in a trustless environment. The Power Ledger Platform provides a transparent governance framework that allows the ecosystem to seamlessly interface with energy markets around the globe. | Energy producers (P) realize the value of their investment in DER and POWR native token (R) by monetizing their excess energy (T) in much the same way as Uber and Airbnb allow people to monetize their cars and spare rooms by selling them to other people (C). |
Industry Marketplace [78] (Pub, Unperm) | The Industry Marketplace is a vendor- and industry-neutral platform, based on IOTA, automating the trading of physical and digital goods and services. The initiative is targeted to support Industry 4.0 projects with Machine-to-Machine (M2M) economy. | Industry 4.0 machine components (T) act as independent service providers (P) and consumers (C). Transactions are performed in IOTA cryptocurrency (R). |
Vehicles rental [79,80] | Scooter/car/bike rental in cities. | Veichles (T) are rent by renting companies (P) to people moving in the city (C) who pay the service using a cryptocurrency (R). |
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/jsan11020020