This study proposes BRA-PS, a Blockchain Reference Architecture for Public Sector Citizen-Centric Applications, developed from a real-world digitalization project in Quebec, Canada and validated the architecture through a case study involving a vehicle registration process between two public agencies.
Abstract
Public sector organizations are under increasing pressure to modernize service delivery while preserving transparency, interoperability, accountability, and citizen trust. Blockchain technology offers relevant capabilities for these objectives, particularly through shared ledgers, cryptographic verification, and programmable rules. However, its adoption in public sector contexts remains constrained by the lack of architectural guidance tailored to inter-organizational services. This study proposes BRA-PS, a Blockchain Reference Architecture for Public Sector Citizen-Centric Applications, developed from a real-world digitalization project in Quebec, Canada. The architecture organizes components into six layers (presentation, business, communication, smart contract, blockchain, and data) with cross-cutting concerns addressing governance, access control, security, and monitoring. A key design principle is the public–private workflow separation, which enables inter-organizational collaboration while preserving each organization’s operational autonomy and data confidentiality. We validated the architecture through a case study involving a vehicle registration process between two public agencies, supported by a proof-of-concept implementation using Hyperledger Fabric. An Architecture Trade-off Analysis Method (ATAM) evaluation, conducted with a panel of five domain experts, identified six architectural risks, including InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) confidentiality exposure and smart contract inflexibility, six non-risks, six sensitivity points, and six trade-offs across three key quality attributes: autonomy, collaboration, and functional suitability. The results show that BRA-PS can support implementation decisions, clarify stakeholder responsibilities, and expose relevant architectural trade-offs. The recommendations derived from the evaluation provide practical guidance for the adoption of blockchain in citizen-centric public sector services.
An up-to-date survey of blockchain-based data-sharing solutions in government and NSO contexts, reviewing studies published between 2018 and 2026 and adopting the Five Safes framework as a unifying analytical lens.
I. Sandyawan, Fatih Sigmanova, Zoey Ziyi Li et al.· Mathematics· 0 citations
This work offers a comprehensive framework of the policymaker and system architect and researcher aiming to operationalize blockchain in a public-sector setting by nexus-linking technical design with institutional governance requirements.
J. Carter· International Journal of Eme...· 0 citations
Global supply chains face problems such as poor transparency, unequal access to information, counterfeit products, and weak coordination among stakeholders. These issues reduce efficiency and consumer trust. Blockchain technology, originally developed for cryptocurrencies, has emerged as a disruptive framework for enhancing transparency, trust, and efficiency in supply chain systems. This study examines blockchain's role as a transformative architecture for achieving end-to-end visibility and operational integrity across global supply chains. Through a structured review of literature and comparative case analyses, this research evaluates how decentralized ledgers, smart contracts, and the convergence of Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) address persistent challenges such as record inconsistency, counterfeiting, and limited stakeholder coordination. Key findings indicate that blockchain ensures provenance tracking, automates workflows, and establishes shared accountability, with significant applications in food safety, pharmaceutical logistics, and luxury goods authentication. Furthermore, the integration of IoT devices and AI algorithms amplifies blockchain's capacity for real-time monitoring and predictive decision-making. Despite challenges of scalability, energy costs, and regulatory uncertainty, this study contributes a conceptual framework that positions blockchain as a scalable, integrable, and privacy-preserving trust infrastructure for global supply networks.
Rishabh Bajpai, Shreya Yadav, Khadim Moin Siddiqui· International Journal of Web...· 0 citations
This review critically evaluates how core blockchain features, including distributed ledgers, smart contracts, and cryptographic verification, enable real-time visibility, reduce information asymmetry, and strengthen institutional oversight across public sector supply chains.
A. Idowu, Abimbola Caleb Adesemoye, Esther Sydney et al.· International Journal of Mul...· 0 citations
Abstract
The increasing complexity of global financial systems has exposed the limitations of conventional centralized banking infrastructures in managing transparency, operational efficiency, security, and real-time transaction processing. Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), particularly blockchain, has emerged as a transformative digital architecture capable of addressing these structural challenges through decentralized record management, cryptographic security, and automated transaction validation. This study examines the architectural foundations and strategic viability of blockchain-enabled distributed ledger technologies within modern banking and corporate finance. Using a qualitative research approach based on an extensive review of recent scholarly literature, industry reports, and practical financial applications, the study evaluates how different blockchain architectures contribute to organizational transformation. Three representative case studies—consortium corporate lending and syndicate management, cross-border settlement systems, and decentralized Know Your Customer (KYC) identity management—are analyzed to demonstrate the practical implications of enterprise blockchain adoption. The findings indicate that permissioned and consortium blockchain architectures significantly enhance operational transparency, reduce intermediary dependence, improve data integrity, automate compliance through smart contracts, and accelerate financial transactions while strengthening governance and auditability. However, the study also identifies challenges associated with regulatory uncertainty, interoperability with legacy systems, scalability, and institutional readiness that continue to influence large-scale implementation. The research contributes to the growing body of knowledge by integrating architectural analysis with strategic business evaluation and proposes a comprehensive perspective on the role of distributed ledger technologies in reshaping banking operations and corporate financial management. The findings provide useful insights for researchers, financial institutions, technology professionals, and policymakers seeking to develop secure, efficient, and sustainable digital financial ecosystems.
Keywords: Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), Blockchain, Smart Contracts, Consortium Lending, Cryptographic Auditing, Cross-Border Clearance, Financial Disintermediation, Asymmetric Cryptography, Banking and Finance.
Prajakta Khule, K. Kumaraswamy, Puja Bhardwaj et al.· International Scientific Jou...· 0 citations
Blockchain technology has emerged as a transformative digital innovation with significant implications for business operations, organizational structures, and value creation. This comprehensive review examines the applications, benefits, and challenges associated with blockchain technology in business transformation across diverse sectors. The study synthesizes existing literature on the use of blockchain for supply chain management, financial services, smart contracts, digital identity, healthcare, logistics, intellectual property management, and decentralized business models. The review indicates that blockchain can enhance business transformation by improving transparency, traceability, data integrity, security, automation, and transaction efficiency while reducing reliance on intermediaries and associated transaction costs. Smart contracts and decentralized architectures further enable organizations to redesign conventional processes and develop innovative products and service delivery models. However, the adoption of blockchain remains constrained by scalability limitations, regulatory uncertainty, interoperability challenges, implementation costs, cybersecurity concerns, energy consumption in certain blockchain configurations, and shortages of specialized technical expertise. The findings suggest that successful blockchain-enabled transformation requires not only technological investment but also organizational readiness, appropriate governance mechanisms, regulatory alignment, and strategic integration with existing information systems. Overall, blockchain represents a significant enabler of business transformation, but its long-term organizational value depends on the ability of firms to address technical, institutional, and managerial challenges while aligning blockchain applications with clearly defined business objectives.
O. Whitmore, Charlotte Elizabeth Harrington· Journal of Computer Science...· 0 citations
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