Abstract

The rapid proliferation of IoT devices and the development of smart cities necessitate robust identity management systems to address trust and security challenges in interconnected environments. This paper explores integrating blockchain technology and zero-trust principles as a transformative approach to identity management in IoT ecosystems. Blockchain’s decentralized and immutable architecture ensures secure data exchange and identity verification, while zero-trust principles enforce continuous authentication and granular access control. The review highlights current frameworks, identifies scalability, privacy concerns, and integration complexities, and examines emerging solutions, including lightweight consensus mechanisms, AI-driven enhancements, and interoperability standardization. Recommendations are provided to guide the implementation of these technologies, and research directions are outlined to address existing gaps. By leveraging the synergy between blockchain and zero-trust, this paper envisions a secure and sustainable framework for the future of smart cities and IoT networks.