Proof-of-concept blockchain application for P2P messaging service

Abstract

Blockchain applications provide immutability and security without dependencies from third party. Leveraging on the use of peer-to-peer network, it allows for decentralization of information storage within the network. Conventional messaging service uses a centralized server for managing secured communication channel between peers and storage of information. This allows for possible vector of attacks on the central server itself. This project explores the feasibility of using blockchain as a underlying technology for hosting messaging service providing peer-to-peer connection eliminating the need of a central server. This project also aims to understand the benefits from using this approach through development of a proof-of-concept used as a baseline for comparison. The proof-of-concept simulates a working blockchain environment, applicable to major blockchain technologies. With the open source library, libp2p serving as an abstraction layer for the network communication in the blockchain, it allows us to demonstrate how it is possible for messaging service hosted on blockchain network to be capable of maintaining secured communication and additionally immutability and privacy of information.