Skip to main content
Log in

Trends in publishing blockchain surveys: a bibliometric perspective

  • Regular contribution
  • Published:
International Journal of Information Security Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A large number of survey papers are being published in blockchain since the first survey appeared in 2016. A person entering into the field of blockchain is faced with the issue of which blockchain surveys to read and why?, Who is publishing these surveys and what is the nature of these surveys?, Which of the publishers are publishing more such surveys and what are the lengths of the published surveys?, Which kind of survey is getting more citations?, Which of the authors is collaborating on such surveys?, etc. All these questions motivated us to analyze the trends in publishing blockchain surveys. In this paper, we have performed a bibliometric analysis on 1088 surveys and review papers published in the field of blockchain in the last six years. We have analyzed the papers with respect to the publication type, publishers and venue, references, citations, paper length, different categories, year, countries, authors, and their collaborations and found interesting insights. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind and hope to provide better understanding of the field.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

The dataset generated during and/or analyzed during this study is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Notes

  1. https://clarivate.com/webofsciencegroup/essays/impact-factor/

  2. https://ieeeaccess.ieee.org/

References

  1. Nakamoto, Satoshi: Bitcoin: a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. Decent. Bus. Rev. 1, 1–9 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Shrier, David, Weige, Wu., Pentland, Alex: Blockchain & infrastructure (identity, data security). Massachusetts Inst. Technol. Connect. Sci. 1(3), 1–19 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Fan, Kai, Wang, Shangyang, Ren, Yanhui, Li, Hui, Yang, Yintang: Medblock: efficient and secure medical data sharing via blockchain. J. Med. Syst. 42(8), 1–11 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Zhang, Aiqing, Lin, Xiaodong: Towards secure and privacy-preserving data sharing in e-health systems via consortium blockchain. J. Med. Syst. 42(8), 1–18 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Liu, Yiming, Yu, F Richard, Li, Xi., Ji, Hong, Leung, Victor CM.: Blockchain and machine learning for communications and networking systems. IEEE Commun. Surv. & Tutorials 22(2), 1392–1431 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Kim, Hyun-Woo., Jeong, Young-Sik.: Secure authentication-management human-centric scheme for trusting personal resource information on mobile cloud computing with blockchain. HCIS 8(1), 1–13 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Yohan, Alexander, Lo, Nai-Wei.: Fotb: a secure blockchain-based firmware update framework for iot environment. Int. J. Inf. Secur. 19(3), 257–278 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Dorri, Ali, Kanhere, Salil S, Jurdak, Raja: Towards an optimized blockchain for iot. In Proceedings of the 2017 IEEE/ACM second international conference on internet-of-things design and implementation (IoTDI), pages 173–178. IEEE, (2017)

  9. Dorri, Ali, Kanhere, Salil S, Jurdak, Raja: Blockchain in internet of things: challenges and solutions, (2016). arXiv preprint arXiv:1608.05187

  10. Lee, Tian-Fu., Li, Hong-Ze., Hsieh, Yi-Pei.: A blockchain-based medical data preservation scheme for telecare medical information systems. Int. J. Inf. Secur. 20(4), 589–601 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Hölbl, Marko, Kompara, Marko, Kamišalić, Aida, Nemec Zlatolas, Lili: A systematic review of the use of blockchain in healthcare. Symmetry 10(10), 470 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. McGhin, Thomas, Choo, Raymond: Blockchain in healthcare applications: research challenges and opportunities. J. Net. Comput. Appl. 135, 62–75 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Tuli, Shreshth, Mahmud, Redowan, Tuli, Shikhar, Buyya, Rajkumar: Fogbus: A blockchain-based lightweight framework for edge and fog computing. J. Syst. Softw. 154, 22–36 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. AlShamsi, Mohammed, Salloum, Said A, Alshurideh, Muhammad, Abdallah, Sherief: Artificial intelligence and blockchain for transparency in governance. In Artificial intelligence for sustainable development: theory, practice and future applications, pages 219–230. Springer, (2021)

  15. Chamola, Vinay, Hassija, Vikas, Gupta, Vatsal, Guizani, Mohsen: A comprehensive review of the Covid-19 pandemic and the role of iot, drones, ai, blockchain, and 5G in managing its impact. IEEE Access 8, 90225–90265 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Ghorbel, Amal: Accountable privacy preserving attribute-based access control for cloud services enforced using blockchain. Int. J. Inform. Secu. 21(3), 1–20 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Ourad, Abdallah Zoubir, Belgacem, Boutheyna, Salah, Khaled: Using blockchain for IoT access control and authentication management. In proceedings of the international conference on internet of things, pages 150–164. Springer, (2018)

  18. Ouaddah, Aafaf, Abou Elkalam, Anas, Ouahman, Abdellah Ait: Towards a novel privacy-preserving access control model based on blockchain technology in iot. In Europe and MENA cooperation advances in information and communication technologies, pages 523–533. Springer, (2017)

  19. Firdaus, Ahmad, Razak, Ab., Faizal, Mohd: The rise of “blockchain’’: bibliometric analysis of blockchain study. Scientometrics 120(3), 1289–1331 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Guz, Alexander N., Rushchitsky, J.J.: Scopus: a system for the evaluation of scientific journals. Int. Appl. Mech. 45(4), 351 (2009)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  21. Guo, Yi-Ming., Huang, Zhen-Ling., Guo, Ji., Guo, Xing-Rong., Li, Hua, Liu, Meng-Yu., Ezzeddine, Safa, Nkeli, Mpeoane Judith: A bibliometric analysis and visualization of blockchain. Futur. Gener. Comput. Syst. 116, 316–332 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Clarivate analytics. Web of science. https://mjl.clarivate.com/search-results/, (2017). [Available Online]

  23. Chen, Chaomei: Citespace II: detecting and visualizing emerging trends and transient patterns in scientific literature. J. Am. Soc. Inform. Sci. Technol. 57(3), 359–377 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Eck, Nees Jan Van., Waltman, Ludo: Software survey: vosviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping. Scientometrics 84(2), 523–538 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Zeng, Shuai, Ni, Xiaochun, Yuan, Yong, Wang, Fei-Yue: A bibliometric analysis of blockchain research. In Proceedings of the 2018 IEEE intelligent vehicles symposium (IV), pages 102–107. IEEE, (2018)

  26. Engineering Index. Ei compendex. https://www.elsevier.com/solutions/engineering-village/content/compendex/. [Available Online]

  27. cnki.net. China knowledge infrastructure. https://oversea.cnki.net/index/. [Available Online]

  28. Ante, Lennart: Smart contracts on the blockchain-a bibliometric analysis and review. Telematics Inform. 57, 101519 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Merediz-Solà, Ignasi, Bariviera, Aurelio F.: A bibliometric analysis of bitcoin scientific production. Res. Int. Bus. Financ. 50, 294–305 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Ante, L., Steinmetz, F., Fiedler, I.: Blockchain and energy: a bibliometric analysis and review. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 137, 110597 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Müßigmann, Benjamin, von der Gracht, Heiko, Hartmann, Evi: Blockchain technology in logistics and supply chain management-a bibliometric literature review from 2016 to January 2020. IEEE Trans. Eng. Manage. 67(4), 988–1007 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Google.inc. Google scholar. https://scholar.google.com/. [Available Online]

  33. Moosavi, Javid, Naeni, Leila M., Fathollahi-Fard, Amir M., Fiore, Ugo: Blockchain in supply chain management: a review, bibliometric, and network analysis. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 28, 1–15 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Tandon, Anushree, Kaur, Puneet, Mäntymäki, Matti, Dhir, Amandeep: Blockchain applications in management: a bibliometric analysis and literature review. Technol. Forecast. Soc. Chang. 166, 120649 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Kamran, Muhammad, Khan, Hikmat Ullah, Nisar, Wasif, Farooq, Muhammad, Rehman, Saeed-Ur.: Blockchain and internet of things: a bibliometric study. Comput. Electric. Eng. 81, 106525 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Anjum, Hira Fariha, Rasid, Siti Zaleha Abdul., Khalid, Haliyana, Alam, Md Moshiul, Daud, Salwani Mohd, Abas, Hafiza, Sam, Suriani Mohd, Yusof, Muhammad Fathi: Mapping research trends of blockchain technology in healthcare. IEEE Access 8, 174244–174254 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Martín-Martín, Alberto, Orduna-Malea, Enrique, Thelwall, Mike, López-Cózar, Emilio Delgado: Google scholar, web of science, and scopus: a systematic comparison of citations in 252 subject categories. J. Informet. 12(4), 1160–1177 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Casino, Fran, Dasaklis, Thomas K., Patsakis, Constantinos: A systematic literature review of blockchain-based applications: current status, classification and open issues. Telematics Inform. 36, 55–81 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Zheng, Zibin, Xie, Shaoan, Dai, Hong-Ning., Chen, Xiangping, Wang, Huaimin: Blockchain challenges and opportunities: a survey. Int. J. Web Grid Serv. 14(4), 352–375 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Bastian, Mathieu, Heymann, Sebastien, Jacomy, Mathieu: Gephi: an open source software for exploring and manipulating networks. In Proceedings of the third international AAAI conference on weblogs and social media, (2009)

  41. Yli-Huumo, Jesse, Ko, Deokyoon, Choi, Sujin, Park, Sooyong, Smolander, Kari: Where is current research on blockchain technology?-a systematic review. PLoS ONE 11(10), e0163477 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Ahmad Khan, Minhaj, Salah, Khaled.: IoT security: review, blockchain solutions, and open challenges. Future Generation Computer Systems 82, 395–411 (2018)

  43. Andoni, Merlinda, Robu, Valentin, Flynn, David, Abram, Simone, Geach, Dale, Jenkins, David, McCallum, Peter, Peacock, Andrew: Blockchain technology in the energy sector: a systematic review of challenges and opportunities. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 100, 143–174 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Li, Xiaoqi, Jiang, Peng, Chen, Ting, Luo, Xiapu, Wen, Qiaoyan: A survey on the security of blockchain systems. Futur. Gener. Comput. Syst. 107, 841–853 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Lin, Iuon-Chang., Liao, Tzu-Chun.: A survey of blockchain security issues and challenges. Int. J. Netw. Secur. 19(5), 653–659 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  46. Fernández-Caramés, Tiago M., Fraga-Lamas, Paula: A review on the use of blockchain for the internet of things. IEEE Access 6, 32979–33001 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Conoscenti, Marco, Vetro, Antonio, De Martin, Juan Carlos: Blockchain for the internet of things: A systematic literature review. In Proceedings of the 2016 IEEE/ACS 13th international conference of computer systems and applications (AICCSA), pages 1–6. IEEE, (2016)

  48. Wang, Wenbo, Hoang, Dinh Thai, Peizhao, Hu., Xiong, Zehui, Niyato, Dusit, Wang, Ping, Wen, Yonggang, Kim, Dong In: A survey on consensus mechanisms and mining strategy management in blockchain networks. IEEE Access 7, 22328–22370 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Adnan Noor Mian.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

One behalf of all authors, the corresponding author wishes to confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication.

Human or animal rights

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals.

Ethics approval

The article in part or in full has not been submitted or published anywhere.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ahmad, H., Ahsan, M.A. & Mian, A.N. Trends in publishing blockchain surveys: a bibliometric perspective. Int. J. Inf. Secur. 22, 511–523 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10207-022-00653-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10207-022-00653-z

Keywords

Navigation