Decentralized Identity Management for Internet of Things (IoT) Devices Using IOTA Blockchain Technology

Tamai Ramírez-Gordillo, Antonio Maciá-Lillo, Francisco A. Pujol, Nahuel García-D’Urso, Jorge Azorín-López and Higinio Mora ()
Additional contact information
Tamai Ramírez-Gordillo: Department of Computer Technology and Computation, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Antonio Maciá-Lillo: Department of Computer Technology and Computation, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Francisco A. Pujol: Department of Computer Technology and Computation, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Nahuel García-D’Urso: Department of Computer Technology and Computation, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Jorge Azorín-López: Department of Computer Technology and Computation, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Higinio Mora: Department of Computer Technology and Computation, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain

Future Internet, 2025, vol. 17, issue 1, 1-35

Abstract: The exponential growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) necessitates robust, scalable, and secure identity management solutions to handle the vast number of interconnected devices. Traditional centralized identity systems are increasingly inadequate due to their vulnerabilities, such as single points of failure, scalability issues, and limited user control over data. This study explores a decentralized identity management model leveraging the IOTA Tangle, a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG)-based distributed ledger technology, to address these challenges. By integrating Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs), Verifiable Credentials (VCs), and IOTA-specific technologies like IOTA Identity, IOTA Streams, and IOTA Stronghold, we propose a proof-of-concept framework that enhances security, scalability, and privacy in IoT ecosystems. Our implementation on resource-constrained IoT devices demonstrates the feasibility of this approach, highlighting significant improvements in transaction efficiency, real-time data exchange, and cryptographic key management. Furthermore, this research aligns with Web 3.0 principles, emphasizing decentralization, user autonomy, and data sovereignty. The findings suggest that IOTA-based solutions can effectively advance secure and user-centric identity management in IoT, paving the way for broader applications in various domains, including smart cities and healthcare.

Keywords: decentralized identity management; IOTA Tangle; Internet of Things (IoT); Web 3.0; security (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/17/1/49/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/17/1/49/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jftint:v:17:y:2025:i:1:p:49-:d:1571976

Access Statistics for this article

Future Internet is currently edited by Ms. Grace You

More articles in Future Internet from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().