The constantly growing size of blockchains becomes
a challenge with the increasing usage. Especially the storage of
unwanted data in a blockchain is an issue, because it cannot
be removed naturally. In order to counteract this problem,
we present the first concept for the selective deletion of single
entries in a blockchain. For this purpose, the general consensus
algorithm is extended by the functionality of regularly creating
summary blocks. Previous data of the chain are summarized and
stored again in a new block, leaving out unwanted information.
With a shifting marker of the Genesis Block, data can be deleted
from the beginning of a blockchain. In this way, the technology
of the blockchain becomes fully transactional. The concept is
independent of a specific block structure, network structure, or
consensus algorithm. Moreover, this functionality can be adapted
to current blockchains to solve multiple problems related to
scalability. This approach enables the transfer of blockchain
technology to further fields of application, among others in the
area of Industry 4.0 and Product Life-cycle Management.
Index Terms—Blockchain, delete, erase, forgetting, oblivion,
GDPR
«The constantly growing size of blockchains becomes
a challenge with the increasing usage. Especially the storage of
unwanted data in a blockchain is an issue, because it cannot
be removed naturally. In order to counteract this problem,
we present the first concept for the selective deletion of single
entries in a blockchain. For this purpose, the general consensus
algorithm is extended by the functionality of regularly creating
summary blocks. Previous data of the chain are summari...
»