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Uncovering Vulnerabilities: A Comprehensive Survey of Blockchain Ecosystems

This comprehensive report by Springer Nature provides a high-level, interdisciplinary survey of vulnerabilities across the entire blockchain ecosystem, ranging

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Abstract

This comprehensive report by Springer Nature provides a high-level, interdisciplinary survey of vulnerabilities across the entire blockchain ecosystem, ranging from the core protocol layer to the user-facing interface. The text synthesizes findings from various research domains—computer science, cryptoeconomics, and social engineering—to present a holistic view of the threat landscape. It covers critical vulnerabilities such as governance attacks, validator collusion, and the systemic risks posed by bridged architectures between different blockchain networks. The report emphasizes that security is not solely a technical problem but also an economic one, as incentive alignment in consensus mechanisms often dictates the network’s resilience against attacks. By examining recent high-profile incidents across the industry, the study illustrates how technical failures frequently cascade into economic ones. Its significance lies in its breadth, connecting disparate threads of blockchain security into a unified narrative. It serves as a vital resource for policymakers, researchers, and engineers, arguing that as the blockchain ecosystem matures, the focus must shift from purely technical code audits to robust, system-wide economic and governance risk assessments. Authors: Springer Nature Publication: Technical Report Publication date: 2024-01-01

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Key findings

  • Blockchain vulnerabilities are increasingly driven by economic incentive misalignment.
  • Bridged architectures introduce new systemic risks that are often underestimated.
  • Governance attacks represent a maturing and significant threat vector in DAO structures.
  • Security must be evaluated holistically, encompassing both code and protocol economics.

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Citation

Springer Nature (2024). Uncovering Vulnerabilities: A Comprehensive Survey of Blockchain Ecosystems. Technical Report. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-96-9248-4_22
Canonical knowledge ID: research:uncovering-vulnerabilities-a-comprehensive-survey-of-blockchain-ecosystems