Blockchain-Driven Security Models for Privacy Preservation in IoT-Based Smart Cities

Abstract

The convergence of blockchain technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a transformative paradigm for developing secure, resilient, and privacy-preserving infrastructures in smart cities. Despite the rapid adoption of IoT across urban environments, centralized data management models continue to expose significant vulnerabilities, including single points of failure and data privacy breaches. This study proposes a blockchain-driven security framework that addresses these issues through decentralized identity verification, privacy-preserving data sharing, and scalability-enhancing mechanisms. The model integrates a Proof-of-Internet-of-Things (PIoT) consensus protocol with local peer networks and double-blind consent-driven data sharing to achieve both security and efficiency. Through simulation-based evaluations and real-world case studies in healthcare, traffic, and energy management, the proposed architecture demonstrates superior performance in transaction throughput, latency reduction, and energy efficiency compared with traditional blockchain systems. The results indicate that blockchain can substantially enhance data integrity and trust while maintaining privacy compliance under urban-scale IoT deployments. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge by bridging the gap between theoretical blockchain constructs and practical, resource-constrained IoT applications, offering a scalable blueprint for secure smart city ecosystems.