Blockchain Integration in the Era of Industrial Metaverse

TLDR

Blockchain, a distributed ledger technology, is increasingly central to Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 manufacturing, enabling secure data storage and inter‑organizational communication while confronting scalability, flexibility, and cybersecurity challenges amid rising cyber‑attack risks. The review aims to examine how blockchain can mitigate cybersecurity barriers in safe, intelligent manufacturing within Industry 5.0 and Society 5.0. The authors conduct a literature review of blockchain’s role in overcoming cybersecurity obstacles in Industry 5.0 manufacturing. Blockchain enhances manufacturing by protecting data validity, organizing inter‑ and intra‑organizational communication, and improving process efficiency.

Abstract

Blockchain can be realized as a distributed and decentralized database, also known as a “distributed ledger,” that is shared among the nodes of a computer network. Blockchain is a form of democratized and distributed database for storing information electronically in a digital format. Under the framework of Industry 4.0, the digitization and digitalization of manufacturing and production systems and networks have been focused, thus Big Data sets are a necessity for any manufacturing activity. Big Data sets are becoming a useful resource as well as a byproduct of the activities/processes taking place. However, there is an imminent risk of cyberattacks. The contribution of blockchain technology to intelligent manufacturing can be summarized as (i) data validity protection, (ii) inter- and intra-organizational communication organization, and (iii) efficiency improvement of manufacturing processes. Furthermore, the need for increased cybersecurity is magnified as the world is heading towards a super smart and intelligent societal model, also known as “Society 5.0,” and the industrial metaverse will become the new reality in manufacturing. Blockchain is a cutting-edge, secure information technology that promotes business and industrial innovation. However, blockchain technologies are bound by existing limitations regarding scalability, flexibility, and cybersecurity. Therefore, in this literature review, the implications of blockchain technology for addressing the emerging cybersecurity barriers toward safe and intelligent manufacturing in Industry 5.0 as a subset of Society 5.0 are presented.