ISSN 2996-8223
International Journal of Computer Science and Technology | Vol. 4, No. 5, May 2023 | pp. 1–8
DOI: 10.46882/2023/IJCST/000220
Article Type: Original Research Paper
Title: Decentralized Provenance Auditing for Supply Chains Using Smart Contracts and Zero-Knowledge Proofs
Names of Authors: Liam O'Donnell¹, Yuki Tanaka²
Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Software Architecture, Dublin Research Institute, Dublin, Ireland; ²Logistics Technology Infrastructure Division, Tokyo Systems Corp, Tokyo, Japan
Abstract: Global enterprise supply chains require verifiable product tracking mechanisms to combat counterfeiting and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. Traditional centralized databases are vulnerable to internal data tampering and lack transparency across independent suppliers. This paper presents a decentralized provenance auditing framework that combines public blockchain smart contracts with zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs). The smart contracts log item transformations and custody transfers across production lines sequentially. To protect corporate privacy and trade secrets, the framework uses non-interactive zero-knowledge proofs (zk-SNARKs). This layer allows suppliers to verify regulatory compliance and product origins without revealing proprietary recipes, pricing structures, or specific logistics paths. We deployed and tested the cryptographic protocol on an enterprise Ethereum network setup. The validation tests confirm that creating an authenticity verification proof requires an average processing time of 84 ms. The smart contract transaction gas usage remained highly cost-effective for high-volume logistics tracking operations. The framework provides an absolute defense line against counterfeit data entries while maintaining corporate confidentiality.
Keywords: Supply Chain Provenance, Blockchain, Smart Contracts, Zero-Knowledge Proofs, Data Privacy, Auditing Systems
Manuscript Timeline: Received: June 15, 2022; Revised: July 22, 2022; Accepted: August 10, 2022; Published: May 07, 2023
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