Removing the Trusted Third Party in a Confidential Multiparty Registered eDelivery Protocol Using Blockchain

Abstract

Recently several proposals of blockchain-based solutions for traditional e-commerce applications have been presented, taking advantage of the fact that blockchain is a technology that offers an immutable registry of data. Among these proposals we can find solutions for certified notifications, digital signature of contracts, escrow protocols, fair payments and registered deliveries. In order to execute fair exchanges, most solutions involve trusted third parties, known as TTP, supervising the exchanges in a way or another. Until now, two solutions have been presented for Registered electronic Delivery (eDelivery) services. This service allows a user to prove that he has sent some data to a set of receivers. These protocols differ in the properties achieved and also in the use of trusted third parties. The first protocol is a blockchain-based solution without TTP for the eDelivery of non-confidential data. The second protocol allows also the eDelivery of confidential data. However, this second proposal requires the involvement of a TTP in a non-mandatory resolution phase. In this paper we present a new protocol that achieves the best properties of the previous solutions at the same time. The new protocol doesn't require the involvement of a TTP at any moment while it allows the eDelivery of confidential data, satisfying the security requirements for this service.

Keywords

• Blockchain
• notification
• smart contract
• confidentiality
• fairness
• cryptocurrencies