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Blockchain for decentralization of internet: prospects, trends, and challenges

This article explores the transformative potential of blockchain technology in decentralizing the existing client-server architecture of the Internet. The autho

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Abstract

This article explores the transformative potential of blockchain technology in decentralizing the existing client-server architecture of the Internet. The authors categorize current research into themes of decentralized identity, data management, and network infrastructure, analyzing how distributed ledger technology (DLT) can address inherent vulnerabilities such as single points of failure and lack of user autonomy. Through a systematic literature review, the paper evaluates the feasibility of blockchain-enabled decentralized protocols, highlighting the shift toward decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and decentralized finance (DeFi) as structural components for a Web3 ecosystem. It emphasizes the balance between performance metrics like throughput and latency versus security and decentralization, identifying scalability as the primary barrier to mainstream adoption. The authors provide a detailed taxonomy of existing frameworks and conclude with a research roadmap emphasizing interoperability and governance mechanisms required for the transition to a decentralized internet model. Authors: Zibin Zheng, Shaoan Xie, Hongning Dai, Xiangping Chen, Huaimin Wang Publication: Academic Paper Publication date: 2021-01-01

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Key findings

  • Blockchain provides a viable technological foundation for eliminating centralized intermediaries in internet infrastructure.
  • Scalability limitations remain the most significant technical hurdle for mass-market decentralized internet applications.
  • Governance models in decentralized systems require further refinement to handle complex protocol updates.
  • Interoperability between heterogeneous blockchain networks is essential for a unified decentralized internet architecture.

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Citation

Zibin Zheng, Shaoan Xie, Hongning Dai, Xiangping Chen, Huaimin Wang (2021). Blockchain for decentralization of internet: prospects, trends, and challenges. Academic Paper. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10586-021-03301-8
Canonical knowledge ID: research:blockchain-for-decentralization-of-internet-prospects-trends-and-challenges