A Review of Research on Information Traceability Based on Blockchain Technology

Abstract

Blockchain technology, as an emerging distributed ledger technology, has gradually shown great potential in the field of information traceability due to its characteristics of decentralization, non-tamperability, and transparency. Through blockchain technology, the production, circulation, and consumption of products can be recorded and verified to ensure the authenticity and credibility of the data. This article reviews the application of blockchain in information traceability, focusing on analyzing its practice and effects in food safety, drug traceability, supply chain management, and energy industry traceability. Through a systematic review of existing literature, this article summarizes the research status, main results, and technical challenges of blockchain information traceability, points out its significant advantages in improving transparency and trust, and also discusses the implementation complexity, limitations in terms of cost, and performance. Finally, this article proposes future development trends, including multi-chain integration and the combination of blockchain with other technologies. The research in this article provides important reference and guidance for the further development of blockchain technology in information traceability.

1. Introduction

With the rapid development of information technology and the continuous advancement of globalization [1], the importance of information traceability has become more and more prominent [2]. It is an important way to ensure quality and safety by ensuring information traceability in the fields of food safety [3], drug supply chain, supply chain management [4], the authenticity of document data [5], etc. However, traditional traceability methods face many challenges, including the high risk of data tampering [6], low information transparency [7], weak trust mechanisms [8], etc., which have seriously restricted the effectiveness and reliability of information traceability systems.

Blockchain technology, as an emerging distributed ledger technology, has gradually been considered an effective method to solve the information traceability problem due to its characteristics of decentralization, non-tamperability, and transparency [9]. Blockchain technology realizes the secure storage and credible transmission of data through core technologies such as distributed storage, encryption algorithms, consensus mechanisms [10], etc., which significantly improves the security and transparency of information traceability systems.

For example, in the food industry, the application of blockchain technology enables each link from farm to table to be accurately tracked, effectively reducing the occurrence of food fraud and enhancing consumers’ trust in product quality [11].

In terms of drug traceability, blockchain technology also shows unique advantages. By recording all information about drug production, storage, transportation and sales on the blockchain, it can effectively prevent counterfeit drugs from entering the market and ensure the safety and quality of drugs. Such systems achieve transparent management of all links in the supply chain through the combination of distributed ledgers and smart contracts, providing a solid guarantee for the quality of drugs [12].

In addition, blockchain technology has also been widely used in supply chain management. Every transaction and every process node in the supply chain can be recorded and tracked in real time through the blockchain, thereby greatly improving operational efficiency and transparency. For complex global supply chains, blockchain technology provides strong support for improving coordination, reducing risks, and enhancing anti-counterfeiting capabilities [13].

The research on blockchain information traceability is one of the hot spots in academia and industry at present. A large number of domestic and foreign studies are devoted to exploring blockchain technology applied to information traceability, acquiring many important achievements [14]. Blockchain technology will encounter performance bottlenecks when processing a large number of transactions, such as extended transaction confirmation times and reduced system throughput [15]. At the same time, with the increase in users and transaction volume, the system’s scalability problems have become significant [16], and network and data storage needs have surged, affecting system stability and efficiency. The high implementation and maintenance costs of blockchain technology, including hardware, software, network bandwidth, and power consumption [17], also limit its widespread application. In addition, the lack of standardization and regulation construction of blockchain technology in different fields restricts its wide application and promotion [18].

This article aims to systematically review the research status and application progress of blockchain technology in information traceability, analyzing the typical application cases in different areas, discussing the main technological challenges and solutions of existing research, and exploring the future development direction. Through this review, we hope to provide valuable reference and guidance for relevant researchers and practitioners and promote the in-depth application and development of blockchain technology in information traceability.

2. Technological Implications

2.1. Blockchain

The concept of blockchain technology [19] was first proposed by Satoshi Nakamoto in the “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System” in 2008. In 2009, Bitcoin was officially released as the first cryptocurrency to use blockchain technology [20]. Bitcoin blockchain [21] as a public ledger is used to record all Bitcoin transactions to ensure the transparency and non-tamperablity of transactions.

In the subsequent development process, the blockchain 1.0 stage [22] is represented by Bitcoin and mainly applied to cryptocurrency, which promotes the emergence of other cryptocurrencies such as Litecoin and Ripplecoin. The blockchain 2.0 stage [23] is represented by Ethereum and introduces smart contracts that expand the blockchain application scopes and make it play a role in the fields of finance, supply chain management, voting systems, etc. The blockchain 3.0 stage [24] has begun to be applied to more fields like the Internet of Things (IoT), medical health, governance, energy management, etc., to solve performance and interoperability problems such as Hyperledger, EOS, Polkadot, etc. In the future, blockchain technology will pay more attention to privacy protection, compliance, integration with other technologies, and cross-chain interoperability, and promote digital transformation and innovative development [25].

2.2. Information Traceability

Information traceability [26] refers to tracking the entire information circulation process from the source to the end users to ensure that information maintains its authenticity and reliability during the transmission path. By recording and monitoring the generation, transmission, processing, and using of information, information traceability can verify the reliability of information sources effectively, ensure the accuracy of information contents, and provide transparency of information transmission paths [27]. The procedures of information traceability include identifying the original information source, recording the flow of information in each link, and verifying the authenticity and accuracy of information [28]. Information traceability can not only ensure legitimacy and integrity but also improve information transparency and credibility in this way.

There are several significant characteristics of information traceability. The first is source identification, which evaluates the information reliability by determining the creator and released time. The second is path recording [29], which ensures the information has not been tampered by recording each transmission node and processing the process of the information from the source to the end users in detail. The third is content authentication, which ensures the accuracy of information content by comparing the information from different sources, consulting original data, and referring to authoritative references. In addition, another important characteristic of information traceability is technical support, including using blockchain technology to record the changes in information and improving traceability efficiency via big data analysis and artificial intelligence technology [30]. The last is legal and ethical compliance, which makes the processing and transmission of information conform to the relevant regulations and ethical standards and safeguards information legitimacy and user privacy.

However, traditional information traceability methods have many flaws that limit their effectiveness in ensuring the authenticity and reliability of information. In terms of information recording and management, traditional methods rely on centralized systems, which easily leads to the risk of information tampering and loss. Due to the possibility of a single point of failure in a centralized system, information may not be traceable or data may be lost, thus affecting the integrity and reliability of the information. When it comes to information sharing and transparency issues, the path records of traditional traceability methods are usually simplified, and they cannot record the changes in information of various delivery nodes and processing processes in detail, which results in a lack of transparency of information flow and difficulty in accurately tracking the actual circulation path of information. In terms of content verification, traditional methods rely on manual review and comparison of the original data, which is inefficient, inferior, and susceptible to human error. The lack of automated data comparison and verification mechanisms makes it more difficult to ensure the accuracy of information content. In summary, traditional information traceability methods have many shortcomings in ensuring the authenticity and reliability of information. These shortcomings urgently need to be improved through advanced technologies and methods.

2.3. Blockchain and Information Traceability

There are many characteristics of blockchain technology, the most representative of which are decentralization, non-tamperability, transparency, and security. These characteristics are also related to traceability technology [31].

The first is decentralization [32], which means the data in the blockchain network are stored on multiple nodes. This way, it eliminates a single point of failure, enhances the security and stability of the system, and ensures the availability of traceability technology. At the same time, the decentralized structure also ensures the credibility of the traceability data. The second is non-tamperabilty, which means that once the data are written to the blockchain [33], they cannot be easily modified or compared with external data and can only be verified through a specific consensus mechanism. This immutability ensures the integrity and reliability of the data, thus providing a solid foundation for traceability and verification [34]. In addition, the transparency of the blockchain means that all participants can view and verify transaction records, which enhances data transparency and establishes mechanism. Blockchain technology also achieves automated transaction execution using smart contracts that improve the efficiency and precision of transactions. The last benefit is high security. Encryption technology is used to protect data security. Transactions pass via encryption signature and consensus verification to ensure the security of data transmission and storage and effectively prevent data leakage and tampering.

In the end, the application of blockchain technology in information traceability can achieve rapid transaction settlement without the participation of intermediate institutions, which reduces the transaction costs and time and improves the efficiency and precision of data processing. This provides new traceability solutions and develops opportunities for various industries, especially in the fields of finance, supply chain management, digital asset trading, etc. Through information traceability, blockchain technology can not only improve the transparency and security of various industries but also make a positive impact on the development of the digital economy and social progress in the future, further promoting the development and application of information traceability technology.

2.4. Research Methods

This study uses a systematic literature review method to explore the application and development of blockchain-based traceability systems. The research method is divided into the following stages:

1.

Research planning and scope definition

This research focuses on the application of blockchain technology in information traceability, especially in the fields of food safety, pharmaceutical supply chain, and energy management. The purpose of this paper is to reveal how blockchain technology can solve traceability problems in these fields and improve transparency and trust through a systematic analysis.

2.

Literature search strategy

We used multiple authoritative databases (such as Scopus, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore) to search for relevant literature, and we used multiple keyword combinations related to blockchain and information traceability, such as “blockchain traceability”, “supply chain management”, “food safety blockchain”, “pharmaceutical traceability”, etc. By refining the search terms and combining Boolean logic operators, we screened 92 high-quality documents, focusing on the practical application of blockchain technology in traceability systems and avoiding limited theoretical discussions.

3.

Literature screening criteria

In the literature analysis process, thematic content analysis was used to systematically code each document to identify the application scenarios, advantages, and challenges of blockchain technology in areas such as food safety, pharmaceutical supply chain, and energy management. By comparing the commonalities and differences of different application scenarios horizontally and analyzing the development trend of technology vertically, we summarized the key breakthroughs and future potential of blockchain technology in information traceability in the past decade. Finally, through a combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis, we summarized the contributions of blockchain technology in improving transparency, security, and efficiency and pointed out the technical bottlenecks and solutions in scalability, privacy protection, and standardization.

4.

Summary and Report of Results

Through a detailed narrative review, we systematically summarize the research results and conduct in-depth discussions and analyses. We summarize the common problems and technical challenges in blockchain traceability systems and look forward to future development trends. More importantly, we identify gaps in the current research and point out directions for future research. Our report not only summarizes existing research results but also puts forward valuable insights and suggestions, aiming to promote the further development and application of blockchain technology in the field of information traceability. Based on the analysis results of the literature, this paper classifies and summarizes the application of blockchain technology in information traceability and proposes solutions to existing technical bottlenecks and future research directions. Based on a multi-angle analysis method, this paper demonstrates the application potential of blockchain technology in multiple fields, especially its contribution in transparency, security, and efficiency improvements. It also points out the challenges of global blockchain traceability systems in scalability, privacy protection, and standardization. Finally, the possibility of future research is prospected, aiming to provide valuable reference for subsequent academic research.

3. Application of Blockchain in Information Traceability

The core characteristics of blockchain technology—decentralization, data immutability, automatic execution of smart contracts, and high transparency—have built a solid technical foundation for many fields. Decentralization avoids single points of failure and enhances the security and stability of data. It is particularly critical in food supply chain tracking and drug logistic quality assurance and promotes the improvement of transparency in all links. The immutability ensures that data cannot be changed once recorded through encryption and consensus mechanisms, effectively preventing fraud and forgery, and it has far-reaching significance for food safety protection, drug traceability, and other fields.

At the same time, smart contract technology has significantly improved system efficiency and traceability transparency due to its ability to automatically execute preset conditions. It is widely used in scenarios such as full-process records of food production and sales and complex operations in the drug supply chain, and it realizes efficient and transparent information management. The transparency of the blockchain allows all participants to view and verify data in real time through an openly distributed ledger, which enhances the trust and cooperation efficiency between food safety, drug traceability, and various links in the supply chain, promoting the healthy development of the entire industry.

3.1. Food Safety Traceability

Through blockchain technology, food production, processing, and transportation can be traced to ensure food safety and prevent food fraud and low-quality food from entering the market.

In the field of food safety traceability, researchers generally focus on how to improve the transparency and credibility of the traceability system. Li et al. [35] proposed a construction strategy by improving the organic food traceability system. These studies have jointly promoted improvements in transparency and efficiency in the field of food traceability and provided theoretical support for future system optimization. In response to the current situation of traceability of exported food, including cumbersome tracking information, easy tampering and falsification of information, and lack of a unified supervision platform, Wang et al. [36] proposed a full-chain quality and safety traceability system for exported food involving customs, local regulatory departments, breeders, production and processing enterprises, consumers, and other parties. Xu et al. [37] addressed the problem of data trust and efficient intercommunication in the whole chain of the grain and oil industry, built a whole chain architecture, classified key information, and ensured the security of cross-chain information interactions and traceability of the whole process by designing a traceability model and chain network connector architecture. Yang et al. [38] adopted the “database + blockchain” on-chain and off-chain data dual storage structure, providing a new method for agricultural product traceability. Wang et al. [39] proposed an agricultural food supply chain traceability framework based on smart contracts and blockchain technology that tracks and traces the workflow of the agricultural food supply chain through alliance chain and smart contracts, realizes the traceability and sharing of the supply chain, breaks information islands between enterprises, and improves the integrity, reliability, and security of transaction records. In addition to food traceability applications in Asia, blockchain technology is also widely used in Europe and the United States to ensure food safety. For example, Walmart in the United States uses IBM’s blockchain technology to achieve full tracking of food from farm to store, ensuring the transparency of the supply chain. This system has been put into use in many food supply chains in the United States, effectively reducing food fraud and improving consumer trust.

In summary, compared with traditional drug traceability and supply chain management solutions, the application of blockchain technology has shown significant advantages and improvements. Traditional food traceability systems rely on barcodes, QR codes, manual records and audits, electronic data interchange (EDI), and centralized databases. Although they can track the production, processing, and sale processes of food, they have many limitations. Information islands are common, updates are delayed, they are easily tampered with, and they are inefficient. Real-time data sharing and updating between different systems has become a problem, which has increased the complexity of food source traceability and flow management. The introduction of blockchain technology has brought revolutionary changes to the food traceability system, with its decentralized, tamper-proof, and highly transparent characteristics. This technology can seamlessly cover the entire chain, from the production source to the consumer terminal, ensuring full transparency of food quality and safety issues. The integration of smart contracts has realized the automated management of the traceability process, greatly improving the operating efficiency and reliability of the system. In addition, blockchain solutions often use the dual storage architecture of “database + blockchain” and advanced encryption technology, which not only reduces the system burden but also effectively protects the privacy and security of personal information. Compared with traditional models, blockchain technology has significant advantages in improving security, transparency, and traceability, providing a more efficient solution for data management and information sharing.

By deeply integrating blockchain technology into the food supply chain management system, these studies have not only significantly improved the level of food traceability but also made significant progress in reducing food safety risks. The decentralized architecture and data immutability of blockchain technology have given unprecedented transparency and authenticity to data in key links such as food production, processing, and transportation. This change has enabled all participants in the supply chain—from regulators to manufacturers and end consumers—to work together with unprecedented efficiency, effectively curbing food fraud and greatly enhancing consumer confidence in food safety.

These research results not only provide a valuable technical blueprint for future food safety management but also inject strong impetus into the digital transformation of the entire industry. They demonstrate the great potential of blockchain technology in improving food safety management, promoting supply chain transparency, and enhancing consumer trust, laying a solid foundation for building a safer, more efficient, and more reliable food supply chain system.

However, the widespread application of blockchain technology also faces challenges, including high implementation costs, complexity of technical implementation, and difficulties in data storage and management. At the same time, the lack of uniform standards between different blockchain platforms and solutions may cause compatibility issues. Therefore, in the process of promoting the in-depth application of blockchain technology, we need to actively respond to these challenges and seek innovative solutions to promote the healthy development of technology and the widespread popularization of industry applications.

Blockchain technology demonstrates its advantages of immutability and transparency in food safety traceability, ensuring that every link from food production to consumption can be traced. Through the analysis of the above literature, we propose the existing applications, potential risks, and future application prospects of blockchain traceability in food safety scenarios. The details are shown in the following table. With the continuous development of technology, the application of blockchain technology in the food supply chain will be more extensive and efficient in the future through the optimization of distributed storage and smart contracts. The analysis of various aspects of food traceability applications is shown in

Table 1. Analysis of various aspects of food traceability applications.

Application Scenario	Potential Risks	Future Prospects
Blockchain records every step in production, processing, and transportation to ensure transparency.	The data storage volume is large and the processing cost is high.	Reduce costs and improve efficiency through distributed storage and smart contracts.
Blockchain ensures that food information cannot be tampered with, reducing the risk of food fraud.	System transparency may reveal business secrets.	Introduce privacy protection technologies, such as zero-knowledge proof, to ensure data security.

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3.2. Drug Traceability

The application of blockchain traceability technology in the pharmaceutical industry provides unprecedented transparency and security for the pharmaceutical supply chain. By improving the transparency of the supply chain, enhancing anti-counterfeiting capabilities, and ensuring compliance management, blockchain technology can effectively prevent the circulation of counterfeit and inferior drugs and ensure the authenticity and safety of drugs.

In the field of drug traceability, blockchain technology is being integrated into all aspects of the drug supply chain to enhance the transparency and security of the supply chain. The EU’s “Anti-Counterfeit Drugs Directive” is a typical example, which uses blockchain technology to track every step of drug transport, from production to sales, thereby ensuring the safety, reliability, and authenticity of drugs. This system has been widely promoted and applied throughout the European pharmaceutical industry. In the field of drug traceability, research focuses on improving the transparency and security of the supply chain. Chen et al. [40] took the lead in building a full-process drug traceability system. With the help of blockchain technology, every link in drug production was recorded in detail, thereby significantly enhancing the transparency of the supply chain. Huo [41] discussed the application advantages of blockchain technology in pharmaceutical cold chain logistics and proposed a construction plan for a digital platform for pharmaceutical cold chain logistics based on blockchain technology, integrating distributed ledgers, smart contracts, and data security. Technologies such as verification mechanisms realize multi-stage tracking management from drug production, storage, and logistics to distribution. These research results jointly drew a grand blueprint for the application of blockchain technology in the field of drug safety and pointed out a direction for the future development of the industry. Kumar [42] proposed that blockchain technology can combine large amounts of heterogeneous data from multiple sources to effectively track drug fraud, providing the ability to track medical supplies, prescription drugs, and even monitor temperatures in the drug supply chain. Musamih et al. [43] used the Ethereum blockchain, smart contracts, and decentralized off-chain storage to solve the problems of data privacy, transparency, and authenticity in the existing supply chain and improve the reliability of drugs in the medical supply chain. At the same time, the decentralized characteristics of the blockchain are used to improve the problem of data concentration and improve data credibility. Chen et al. [44] summarized the effective application of blockchain technology in food packaging, electronic certificates, and prescription drug traceability, emphasizing its advantages in solving the unreliability of anti-counterfeiting labels and the incompleteness of traceability information, as well as how to use distributed storage and timestamps to ensure data authenticity and integrity.

Compared with traditional drug traceability and supply chain management methods, blockchain-based solutions have shown incomparable advantages and significant improvements. Traditional methods mostly rely on paper documents and basic database systems. Although they can track the production, circulation, and sales of drugs, they are often restricted by inefficiency and regulatory complexity. The introduction of blockchain technology has brought revolutionary changes to the field of drug traceability. Its decentralized, data-unalterable, and highly transparent characteristics have greatly enhanced the security and credibility of the system. On the blockchain platform, the full life cycle information of drugs can be updated in real time, and any changes are strictly prohibited, thereby ensuring the full traceability of drug quality and safety. In addition, the integrated application of smart contracts has further promoted the automated management of the traceability process and improved decision-making transparency and execution efficiency.

More importantly, blockchain-based solutions also integrate multi-stage tracking management and advanced data privacy protection technology to deeply optimize overall supply chain management. This series of innovations not only effectively makes up for the shortcomings of traditional solutions but also achieves a qualitative leap in the efficiency and reliability of drug traceability and supply chain management.

It can be seen that the above research deeply reveals the application value of blockchain technology in the pharmaceutical supply chain. It not only greatly improves the transparency of the entire process of drugs, from the production source to the consumer terminal, but also significantly enhances the ability to prevent counterfeit and inferior drugs. By integrating RFID technology with the blockchain, every circulation link in the pharmaceutical supply chain is accurately recorded, building a solid line of defense for the quality and safety of drugs. Smart contracts, as self-executing programs embedded in the blockchain, can automatically execute contract terms when predetermined conditions are met, reduce manual intervention, and ensure the transparency and accuracy of transactions, thereby promoting the real-time processing of logistics orders and other operations in the supply chain. Automated execution improves management efficiency. At the same time, its integrated application also significantly promotes the automated management of traceability processes, improving decision-making transparency and execution efficiency. The use of smart contracts has greatly improved the execution efficiency of drug recall and management and opened up a new path for the innovation and development of drug safety supervision systems. The integrated application of these advanced technologies has not only promoted the standardized management process of the pharmaceutical industry but also built a more reliable and secure drug supply system for consumers, effectively protecting the health rights and interests of the public.

Blockchain technology plays a vital role in the field of drug traceability, especially in curbing the flow of counterfeit drugs into the market and ensuring the transparency of the drug supply chain. Through an in-depth analysis of relevant literature, we summarize the existing application examples, potential risks, and future development prospects of blockchain traceability in the scenario of safe drug circulation, as shown in the following table. Although blockchain technology has shown significant results in improving drug safety and transparency, its high implementation cost and technical complexity are still the main obstacles currently faced. Looking ahead, with the continuous advancement of standardization technology and the widespread application of multi-chain mechanisms, the application of blockchain technology in the drug supply chain is expected to be further promoted and popularized. The analysis of various aspects of drug traceability applications is shown in

Table 2. Analysis of various aspects of drug traceability applications.

Application Scenario	Potential Risks	Future Prospects
Track the entire process of drug production, logistics, and sales to ensure that the source of the drugs is authentic.	High implementation costs and technical complexity.	Promote technology standardization and use multi-chain mechanisms to improve implementation efficiency and reduce costs.
Use the blockchain to track drug information and prevent counterfeit drugs from entering the market.	Inadequate data privacy protection may lead to the leakage of sensitive data.	Adopt alliance chain or private chain technology to protect sensitive data and ensure privacy and security.

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3.3. Supply Chain Management Traceability

In the global supply chain system, emergencies such as regional conflicts and natural disasters often threaten the stability and resilience of the supply chain. Take the recent unrest in Libya as an example. Such incidents not only directly affect local production and transportation activities but also disrupt the global supply chain of energy and important materials through chain reactions, highlighting the shortcomings of traditional supply chains in information transparency and the ability to respond to emergencies. In this case, blockchain technology can reduce supply chain disruptions caused by information opacity by recording the transportation conditions of each link and providing transparent tracking data. Supply chain management studies how to improve the transparency and efficiency of the supply chain through blockchain technology. Zhou et al.’s research [45] demonstrated how the blockchain can significantly improve the traceability of the clothing supply chain through its transparent data characteristics, ensuring that every step of the product, from its design to arriving in the hands of consumers, is clear and traceable. The potential of blockchain technology in responding to emergencies is also emphasized while improving the risk resistance of the supply chain. Chen et al.’s work [46] further introduced this technology into the beef supply chain, achieving full tracking from the source of breeding to the sales terminal, greatly enhancing the transparency of the supply chain and consumer trust. Zhu et al. [47] discussed the blockchain’s application and optimization strategy in logistics supply chain management. The case analysis showed how a logistics company applied blockchain technology to optimize its logistics supply chain management, including establishing a logistics supply chain management platform, using intelligent contracts to automate logistics orders, and achieving collaboration among supply chain participants through the blockchain. At the same time, Marchese et al. [48] proposed a distributed management method based on a decentralized blockchain structure, which effectively alleviated the information island phenomenon that is prevalent in the supply chain and promoted information sharing and collaborative operations between different links. These studies not only deepen our understanding of the application potential of blockchain technology in supply chain management but also provide valuable practical experience and theoretical support for promoting the improvement of the overall transparency of the supply chain and the optimization of collaborative efficiency. Cocco et al. [49] proposed a traceability system based on blockchain technology so that each participant in the Carasau bread supply chain could verify the quality of the product and meet hygiene specifications. Wu et al. [50] first studied and proposed an efficient blockchain supply chain traceability method that defined the traceability problem as a graph search problem on the blockchain and proposed a parallel search strategy based on the maximum matching algorithm, copying records in multiple data blocks and using the maximum matching algorithm to improve time efficiency.

Research shows that the application of blockchain technology in the field of supply chain management has significantly enhanced the transparency and efficiency of each link. Traditional supply chain traceability prefers to adopt a centralized supply chain management system. A centralized supply chain management system is used to track information, but this method often relies on a single management entity, which may lead to problems such as data opacity and low system integration. This technology realizes real-time tracking of product flow throughout the supply chain, ensuring that every step, from raw material procurement to final product delivery, is highly authentic and tamper-proof. This change not only deepens the transparency of the supply chain but also effectively solves the information island problem that is prevalent in the traditional model by optimizing operational processes and promoting cross-departmental collaboration. The application of blockchain technology has opened up a new path for supply chain management innovation, laid a solid technical foundation for the industry’s digital transformation and management optimization, and thus improved the operational efficiency and risk management capabilities of the entire industry.

The blockchain-based supply chain traceability solution has shown significant advantages in improving transparency, traceability, and management efficiency, and it is a significant improvement compared to traditional solutions. These solutions use blockchain technology to achieve full chain traceability from raw material procurement to finished product sales, significantly improving the transparency and credibility of the supply chain. The decentralization and non-tamperability of the blockchain ensures the authenticity and reliability of information, while the application of smart contracts automates management processes, improves operational efficiency, and promotes collaboration among supply chain participants. In addition, combining IoT technology with the blockchain further enhances the ability to verify product quality and ensure that it meets health and safety regulations. However, these schemes also face several challenges, including high implementation costs and technical complexity, which may limit their widespread application. At the same time, the data storage and processing capabilities of blockchain technology may encounter bottlenecks when dealing with large-scale data, and compatibility issues that may result from the lack of unified standards may also affect the interoperability of the system. Therefore, in order to achieve wider and efficient application of these blockchain traceability solutions, these challenges need to be addressed during the promotion and implementation process.

Blockchain technology plays a pivotal role in the field of supply chain management, which significantly enhances the transparency of information and the anti-counterfeiting capabilities of products. By carefully recording every step of the product process from raw material procurement to final product delivery, blockchain technology effectively reduces potential risks in the supply chain. Based on an in-depth study of the above-mentioned literature, we summarized the practical application cases of blockchain traceability in the field of drug safety circulation, possible risks, and future development trends. The specific contents are shown in the table below. However, the high cost and scalability challenges of current blockchain technology still hinder its widespread application. Looking to the future, with the deep integration of blockchain technology with 5G and IoT technologies, the efficiency and intelligence level of supply chain traceability will be significantly improved, making the supply chain more flexible and reliable. The analysis of various aspects of supply chain applications is shown in

Table 3. Analysis of various aspects of supply chain applications.

Application Scenario	Potential Risks	Future Prospects
Record the entire process of products from raw material procurement to finished product delivery to ensure transparency and credibility.	Data delays and regulatory differences can lead to untimely supply chain management.	Combine 5G networks and cross-chain technologies to improve the real-time and compliance of the supply chain.
Blockchain ensures product anti-counterfeiting authentication through smart contracts and improves the anti-counterfeiting capabilities of the supply chain.	The technical complexity and cost can make it unaffordable for small businesses.	Automating the authentication process through smart contracts reduces operating costs and improves applicability.

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3.4. Energy Industry Traceability

The application of blockchain traceability technology in the energy industry has significantly improved the transparency and efficiency of energy production and distribution, supported the management of distributed energy systems, promoted the transparent management of carbon emissions and the development of carbon trading markets, and also improved the management level of energy equipment and assets. With the continuous maturity and promotion of technology, the application prospect of blockchain in the energy industry will be broader, which provides strong support for the realization of a green, intelligent, and sustainable energy system.

Zhang et al. [51] proposed a green power trading system based on blockchain technology, which adopts the decentralization and non-tampering characteristics of the blockchain and realizes the automatic execution and consensus for both parties through smart contracts. At the same time, encryption technology and digital signatures are used to ensure the security of transactions and the authenticity of user identity. Di Silvestre et al. [52] discussed the application of blockchain technology in microgrid energy transactions, including the use of blockchain technology to deal with energy loss allocation in microgrids, and they defined a new transaction time to deal with established energy transactions and their losses, which helps to improve the transparency, security, and efficiency of energy transactions. Gong et al. [53] discussed the application of blockchain technology in the traceability of offshore crude oil trade information. It was proposed to combine blockchain technology with the internet of things and jointly protect traceability data through multiple parties to achieve information on-chain processing and reduce the possibility of tampering. Meanwhile, they utilized time stamps, digital signatures, etc., to improve the efficiency and authenticity of data supervision. To solve the problem of data access verification and traceability in energy and power scenarios, Li et al. [54] proposed a blockchain-based energy and power data verification and traceability model. The system uses access control and identity authentication to verify and store data on the chain, and it automatically provides authorization for the use of data to users with specific permissions through smart contracts to achieve information exchange between relevant participating roles and effective data traceability.

The above research shows that the in-depth application of blockchain technology in the energy industry not only significantly enhances the transparency of energy production and distribution processes but also provides strong support for the management of distributed energy systems. Especially in carbon emission management and in terms of the carbon trading market, its contribution is particularly outstanding. The decentralized nature of blockchain technology and the smart contract mechanism jointly promote the transparency and efficiency of the energy trading process, effectively reducing the complex intermediate links in traditional transactions, thereby achieving a significant reduction in transaction costs. This change not only optimizes the operational efficiency of the energy market but also lays a solid foundation for promoting green and low-carbon energy transformation.

Compared with traditional solutions, blockchain-based solutions have significant advantages. Traditional solutions often rely on centralized data storage and management. Although the risk of information tampering and loss can be reduced through data mirroring, backup, and other technologies, they still rely on centralized management, which has the possibility of single point failure and data tampering and abuse. In contrast, the above solutions use the decentralization, data security, automated execution, and improved verification mechanisms of blockchain technology to overcome the main defects of traditional solutions, ensure the transparency and immutability of information, and fundamentally improve the security and reliability of the system.

The application of blockchain technology in the energy industry has significantly enhanced the transparency of energy production, distribution, and carbon emission management, especially in distributed energy systems and carbon trading markets, showing its indispensable value. After an in-depth exploration of the relevant literature, we summarized the practical application, potential risks, and future development trends of blockchain traceability technology in the field of drug safety circulation. The details are shown in the table below. However, current blockchain technology still encounters performance limitations when processing huge datasets, and its data storage and processing capabilities urgently need to be improved. Looking to the future, the integration of blockchain technology, smart contracts, and IoT technology will further optimize the transparency and efficiency of energy transactions and inject new impetus into the development of green energy. The analysis of various aspects of energy industry traceability applications is shown in

Table 4. Analysis of various aspects of energy industry traceability applications.

Application Scenario	Potential Risks	Future Prospects
Blockchain improves the transparency of the energy production process and ensures supervision of data by all parties.	Limited data storage and processing capabilities may lead to system bottlenecks.	Introduce distributed storage technology and smart contracts to improve system processing capabilities.
Blockchain supports transparent management in the carbon trading market and ensures the reliability of carbon emission data.	The amount of data is too large, and the storage and processing costs are high.	Reduce energy consumption and data processing pressure and improve efficiency through multi-chain mechanisms and IoT technology.

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4. Technical Challenges and Solutions

In the field of information traceability, blockchain technology has brought significant advantages due to its non-tamperable, transparent, and decentralized characteristics. However, it also faces some technical challenges.

4.1. Scalability and Performance Issues

In the field of information traceability, blockchain technology faces bottlenecks in performance and scalability when dealing with large-scale transactions due to its decentralized characteristics [55]. Each node needs to process and store all transaction data, which limits the throughput and response speed of the system. To solve this problem, slicing technology [56] can be used to improve the overall processing capacity by dividing the blockchain network into multiple fragments, each fragment processing part of the transaction. In addition, the second-layer extension schemes, such as the lightning network [57] and the status channel, reduce the transaction load on the chain by performing a large number of transactions outside the chain and only recording the final results on the chain. Another effective solution is optimizing the consensus mechanism [58]. By optimizing consensus mechanisms, such as Proof of Stake (PoS) and Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT), transaction confirmation time and resource consumption can be reduced. Proof of stake is a mechanism that determines the node verification rights based on the number of tokens held, reducing energy consumption and hardware requirements, while Byzantine fault tolerance ensures that the system can maintain normal consensus and stability of the network, even if some nodes fail or behave maliciously, thereby improving the performance and scalability of the system.

For example, Li et al. [59] proposed a blockchain fragmentation algorithm called the Frequency-considered Blockchain Transaction Sharding algorithm (FBTS). The core FBTS algorithm is based on the correlation and transaction frequency of transaction accounts. By analyzing and preprocessing transaction data, transaction accounts are assigned to different fragments to reduce the occurrence of cross-fragment transactions and optimize blockchain performance. Chen et al. [60] proposed a blockchain fragment-matching algorithm based on matching theory for the node allocation problem of blockchain fragment systems in distributed energy transactions. Through the preference of nodes for the electrical distance between nodes, the number of transactions within the fragment in distributed energy transactions, as well as the node reputation value, the energy transmission loss, and transaction costs, are reduced, and the security of the fragment is ensured. Jiang et al. [61] improved the practical Byzantine fault-tolerant algorithm by utilizing the verifiable delay function, which realized the distributed election of the master node, ensured the reliability of the master node, and improved the efficiency of data sharing by using the lightning network technology to construct the off-chain anonymous communication transaction channel. Aiming at the scalability problem of blockchain technology in processing large amounts of data, Hader et al. [62] proposed a new method that combines blockchain and big data technology to fill the large-scale requirements of decentralized systems.

Blockchain technology has encountered significant challenges in terms of performance and scalability when faced with large-scale data processing and multi-node participation scenarios. In order to deal with these challenges, people have proposed a variety of solutions, including the use of sharding technology, second-layer scaling solutions (such as lightning network), and optimized consensus mechanisms (such as proof of stake and Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) mechanisms). To a certain extent, the performance and scalability of the blockchain are improved. Through in-depth analysis and understanding of the relevant literature, we not only summarized the current main problems in scalability and performance of blockchain technology and their existing solutions, but also combined other research materials to look forward to the development prospects of these technologies. In the future, as these technologies continue to advance, the processing efficiency and scalability of blockchain systems are expected to be greatly improved, enabling them to more effectively support large-scale data processing and cross-chain operations. The scalability and performance issue solutions and future directions is shown in

Table 5. Scalability and performance issue solutions and future directions.

Issue	Solution	Future
Performance bottleneck	Sharding technology is used to reduce the amount of data that each node needs to process and improve overall processing capabilities.	Sharding technology will continue to be optimized to achieve efficient processing in larger-scale networks.
Lack of scalability	Use second-layer scaling solutions such as the lightning network to reduce on-chain transaction burden.	The second-layer expansion solution will gradually mature, further improving transaction efficiency and reducing costs.
Efficiency of the consensus mechanism	Optimize consensus mechanisms such as PoS and BFT to reduce resource consumption and transaction confirmation time.	The consensus mechanism will be more efficient, reduce energy consumption, increase processing speed, and adapt to more application scenarios.

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4.2. Data Privacy and Security

Although blockchain technology improves data transparency, there are still some challenges in processing sensitive data and protecting privacy [63]. The data on the public chain are publicly visible, which poses a severe test for data privacy protection. For this reason, privacy protection technologies such as zero-knowledge proof, homomorphic encryption, and ring signature are widely used. These technologies can verify the authenticity and integrity of data without data content leakage [64]. In addition, the use of alliance chains and private chains can limit access rights in scenarios that require high privacy protection, allowing only authorized participants to view and verify data [65]. Through data fragmentation and encryption, sensitive data are fragmented and encrypted to ensure that only specific key users can access and decrypt the data, further ensuring data security [66].

For example, Wang et al. [67] proposed blockchain technology and a privacy data encryption sharing method using threshold proxy re-encryption. By generating a re-encryption key, only authorized third-party data visitors can decrypt and access these private data, thereby protecting commercial secrets and intellectual property rights. It provides important technical support for the development of the prefabricated food industry and the improvement of food safety. Li et al. [68] proposed a secure access authentication method for multi-source network big data based on blockchain technology. Through blockchain technology, they established data security access contracts, data access attributes, and transaction ciphertexts, then compressed the data into corresponding attributes, aiming to solve the problem of data security and privacy protection in multi-source network big data interaction and storage. Zhang et al. [69] introduced proxy re-encryption technology to achieve authorization query for the needs of private data sharing, which effectively protects the security of privacy data and allows authorized users to securely query.

Through an in-depth understanding and analysis of the above literature, we summarize the main problems currently faced by blockchain technology in the field of data privacy and security and outline several existing solutions. On this basis, combined with other advanced technologies and research results, we look forward to the future development prospects of blockchain technology. Although blockchain technology has greatly improved the transparency of data, data privacy protection remains a major challenge when it comes to sensitive data processing. To this end, advanced technologies such as zero-knowledge proof and homomorphic encryption have emerged, which can verify the authenticity of data without exposing the specific content of the data. In addition, the deployment of consortium chains and private chains also provides more effective data management methods for scenarios that require high privacy protection. Looking to the future, with the deep integration of privacy protection and blockchain technology, data security will be further improved, thus providing solid protection for applications across more industries. The table of data privacy, access control solutions, and future directions is shown in

Table 6. Data privacy, access control solutions, and future directions.

Issue	Solution	Future
Data transparency and privacy protection	Zero-knowledge proof and homomorphic encryption technology are used to ensure data privacy while verifying authenticity.	With the advancement of encryption technology, data privacy protection will be more reliable and applicable to more sensitive scenarios.
Data access permission control	Use consortium chains and private chains to limit access rights and only allow authorized users to access data.	Consortium chains and private chains will be more widely used in industries with high privacy requirements.

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4.3. Data Management and Storage

With the development of blockchain networks, the amount of data grows continuously, and nodes need to store a large amount of historical data, which brings storage pressure and data synchronization problems [70]. To solve these problems, distributed storage networks such as IPFS [71] can be used to store large-scale data off-chain, only recording the hash value and verification information of the data on the chain to reduce the on-chain storage pressure [72]. Cutting and archiving historical data, only retaining the necessary verification information and the latest data, can also effectively reduce the storage burden. In addition, the introduction of dynamic nodes can dynamically adjust the storage and computing resources of nodes according to specific requirements, which can improve the flexibility and scalability of the system, allowing it to cope with the challenges of data management and storage [73].

For example, Liu et al. [74] designed a hybrid storage engine that designed a data storage mode based on data types and used the Merkel B+ tree storage mechanism to meet the requirements of lightweight node verification and realize efficient access to blockchain data. At the same time, to solve the problem of data query, the index database was built. The key information is stored in the index database by using the pluggable storage engine. The key content is mapped through special ID identification, enabling fast indexing of business data and achieving efficient hybrid storage and fast data retrieval of traceability data. These methods have significantly improved efficiency in food safety traceability applications. Li et al. [75] designed a service-oriented manufacturing supply chain traceability information storage model based on leader–follower multi-chain technology to improve data storage capacity and query efficiency. Aiming to address the shortcomings of the existing Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance algorithm (PBFT), such as large communication overhead, low consensus efficiency, and lack of dynamic mechanisms, a new practical Byzantine fault tolerance algorithm based on service quality integral (SPBFT) is proposed. SPBFT has better consensus efficiency and reduces communication overhead, which provides effective technical support for the traceability of a service-oriented manufacturing supply chain. Li et al. [76] proposed an improved hybrid dual-chain traceability data storage method based on blockchain technology, which reduced the amount of traceability data in the main chain by dividing the traceability data into two types: private data and queryable data. They also constructed a hybrid dual-chain blockchain data storage structure, thereby improving the storage efficiency.

Through in-depth analysis and a summary of the above literature, we have summarized the main problems of current blockchain technology in data management and storage and outlined several existing solutions. At the same time, combined with the research results of other related literature, we look forward to the future development prospects of blockchain technology in this field. With the continuous growth of data volume in blockchain networks, data storage and synchronization issues have become increasingly prominent. In order to alleviate the pressure of on-chain data storage, distributed storage networks (such as IPFS) and strategies for cutting and archiving historical data can be adopted. In addition, by introducing a dynamic node mechanism, the storage and computing resources of nodes can be flexibly adjusted according to actual needs. Looking to the future, further optimization of distributed storage technology and dynamic node management will effectively improve the efficiency of blockchain technology in data management and storage. The table of data management and storage solutions and future directions is shown in

Table 7. Data management and storage solutions and future directions.

Issue	Solution	Future
Data storage pressure	Use distributed storage networks such as IPFS to reduce the on on-chain data storage pressure.	Distributed storage technology will become more mature, reducing the storage burden of blockchain systems.
Historical data storage and synchronization	Historical data are pruned and archived, retaining only necessary verification information.	Trimming and archiving technologies will optimize data management and improve data retrieval efficiency.
Node storage resource management	Introduce dynamic nodes to dynamically adjust storage and computing resources.	Dynamic resource management will become popular in large-scale blockchain networks, improving system elasticity and scalability.

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5. The Development Trend of Information Traceability Based on Blockchain Technology

The development trend of blockchain technology in the field of information traceability shows its powerful innovation potential and wide application prospects. Through the combination of multi-chain integration mechanisms with other technologies, blockchain technology can not only improve the efficiency and reliability of information traceability but also promote the reform of supply chain management, cross-border trading, financial services, and other fields. With the continuous progress of technology and the deepening of applications, blockchain is expected to become one of the core technologies of information traceability, providing more transparent, efficient, and reliable solutions for various industries.

5.1. Multi-Chain Integration Mechanism

With the increasing application of blockchain technology in information traceability, single-chain solutions are gradually experiencing increasing difficulty in meeting the needs of complex scenarios. Therefore, the multi-chain integration mechanism has become an important direction of current development.

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Development of cross-chain technology

Cross-chain technology is the key to realizing multi-chain integration. Through the interoperability between different blockchains, cross-chain technology enables data to be seamlessly transmitted and verified on multiple blockchains. For example, cross-chain frameworks such as Cosmos and Polkadot are actively promoting interoperability between different blockchain ecosystems and providing a technical basis for multi-chain integration. Interoperability has made remarkable progress as an important development direction of blockchain technology since 2020. The core goal of interoperability is to achieve data and function exchange between different blockchain networks and solve isolated problems in the blockchain ecosystem. Shao et al. [77] proposed an identity-based encryption (IBE) cross-chain communication mechanism, IBE-BCIOT, which is used to solve the problem of blockchain security authentication and cross-chain communication in the Internet of Things (IoT) environment. By electing the proxy node of each blockchain and transmitting the corresponding private key securely through the IBE mechanism, the mechanism can achieve secure and efficient communication between different blockchains. Li et al. [78] introduced the cross-chain framework and cross-chain transactions of the fusion protocol in detail by analyzing the blockchain cross-chain transaction architecture, cross-chain transaction governance mechanism, and cross-chain privacy protection scheme. The process is divided into transaction verification and transaction process. There are three stages of confirmation and transaction recording. By proposing integration protocols, we promote the universality and compatibility of cross-chain technology, making it more suitable for diversified business scenarios and applications.

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The practical application of multi-chain interconnection

Multi-chain interconnection has broad application prospects in the fields of supply chain management, cross-border trading, and financial services. For example, in supply chain management, participants in different segments can record and verify data based on their respective blockchain systems, realize the transparent traceability of the whole chain through cross-chain technology, and improve the collaborative efficiency and trust of the supply chain. By analyzing the process and data characteristics of each segment in the grain and food supply chain, Li et al. [79] designed a PLEW consensus mechanism based on Raft + the improved PoW algorithm for the leader chain and a CI-PBFT consensus mechanism based on trust information for the follower chain. The leader chain and the follower chain are anchored to each other through hash-locking, and they upload and query data through smart contracts. Jin et al. [80] designed a traceability model including a master chain and multiple slave chains, which improves the efficiency of data query by separating the data of each segment and utilizing multi-chain transactions. Han et al. [81] used three innovative designs to solve the problem of untrue transactions and inefficiency in existing blockchain query schemes in cross-chain business transactions. The core of Vassago is an adaptive two-tier framework, including the dependent blockchain (DB) and transaction blockchain (TB) groups, which not only improves the efficiency of cross-chain query but also reduces storage overhead and has comparable transaction processing capabilities.

5.2. The Combination of Blockchain and Other Technologies

Although blockchain technology has significant advantages in information traceability, it is difficult to cover all needs when applied separately. Therefore, the combination with other technologies has become an important trend to improve the function and efficiency of traceability systems.

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The combination of blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT)

IoT technology collects data in real-time through devices such as sensors and RFID tags and records these data on the blockchain to achieve accurate and real-time traceability. For example, in cold chain logistics, IoT devices can monitor the temperature and humidity of goods in real-time and upload data to the blockchain to ensure the safety and quality of food and medicine during transportation.

Guo et al. [82] proposed a food traceability system framework based on IoT and blockchain. The framework uses the alliance blockchain as the basic network. The blockchain provides data management functions, and IoT devices are used to monitor crop health and generate information to support farmers’ decision-making. The machine learning algorithms are used to provide in-depth insight information to help improve irrigation systems to improve system reliability and credibility. Zhang et al. [83] proposed a new traceability system (BIOT-TS) based on blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT) to improve the safety, transparency, and reliability of frozen aquatic products in cold-chain logistics. Li et al. [84] integrated blockchain technology and internet of things technology into the information resource management of the coal industry. Data traceability and intelligent mine construction can be effectively carried out by utilizing the internet of things for data collection, transmission, processing, and application and utilizing blockchain technology for secure and immutable data storage. Zhang et al. [83] deeply analyzed the shortcomings of traditional traceability systems and proposed an agricultural product traceability and anti-counterfeiting system including an internet of things monitoring sub-platform, a two-dimensional code identification sub-platform, and a blockchain network sub-platform, aiming to improve traceability efficiency and data security through technology integration. It is also innovatively developed to use the DEMATEL-AMIS fusion model to divide the blockchain structure of “leader-chain + follower-chain” and store each follower-chain in different databases to reduce storage pressure and improve data access efficiency.

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The combination of blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI)

Artificial intelligence technology can analyze and process the massive amounts of data stored on the blockchain and mine potential values and patterns. For example, in supply chain management, AI can optimize inventory management and logistics paths by analyzing blockchain data to improve overall supply chain efficiency. At the same time, the blockchain can provide AI with reliable data sources to ensure the authenticity and integrity of data.

Shahbazi et al. [85] proposed a product traceability model based on blockchain technology, machine learning, and fuzzy logic. The model can predict the shelf life and quality of products. The introduction of fuzzy logic helps to deal with uncertainty and ambiguity in the supply chain, utilizing blockchain technology to ensure data security and traceability. Karadgi et al. [86] introduced an intelligent supply chain framework integrating blockchain and artificial intelligence, enhancing the intelligence of the supply chain by implementing blockchain records of key control data in each link of the supply chain and using AI to extract insights from the data. Zawish et al. [87] used a fully convolutional neural network (FCN) model for biomass estimation and generated multiple task-specific models with different resource–accuracy trade-offs through iterative pruning techniques. At the same time, the introduction of blockchain technology provides a decentralized and non-tampering trading platform for agricultural supply chains, which enhances the transparency and auditability of transactions.

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The combination of blockchain and big data technology

Big data technology can process and analyze large amounts of complex data, and blockchain technology can ensure the authenticity and traceability of the data. By combining big data technology, the blockchain can provide more comprehensive and in-depth data analysis in information traceability. For example, in agricultural production, the combination of big data and blockchain technology can track and analyze the whole process of agricultural products from production to sales, improving agricultural production efficiency and food safety.

Zhang et al. [84] proposed a secure storage model for coal industry data combining blockchain and IPFS. They also developed a traceable and revocable Ciphertext Policy Attribute Based Encryption (CP-ABE). The policy realizes accurate tracking of malicious user identity through white-box traceability and supports indirect revocation of users and attributes without updating keys or ciphertexts, which improves the efficiency and security of coal traceability.

6. Conclusions

Blockchain technology has demonstrated its significant benefits of information traceability in different fields. In this paper, we conducted a systematic literature review on blockchain traceability technology in various fields. Through reasonable search strategies and classification methods, we conducted specific research and analysis including food safety, drug traceability, supply chain management, and energy industry traceability. This paper not only studies the research status, main research achievements, technical challenges, and future development direction in these fields but also innovates research methods. Compared with the traditional literature review method, we adopt a multi-angle integration approach, horizontal comparison, and deep integration of blockchain traceability technologies in different fields in order to identify the commonalities and differences between various fields. By combining the interdisciplinary perspective and comparative analysis of blockchain technology in different application fields, we are able to propose a new and systematic theoretical framework to explain and predict the application trend of blockchain traceability technology in various industries.

In the future, the deepening application of blockchain technology will continue to focus on continuous innovation at the technical level, especially the optimization of system performance, the reinforcement of privacy protection mechanisms, and the response to data storage challenges. We actively explored the broad application potential of blockchain technology in more industries, providing strong support for the digital transformation and innovative development of various industries and jointly moving towards a more transparent, secure, and efficient digital economy era.