A Review of Blockchain-enabled Fog Computing in the Cloud Continuum Context

Abstract

This article surveys the literature in search of systems and components that use Blockchain or Smart Contracts to manage computational resources, store data, and execute services using the Cloud paradigm. This paradigm has extended from warehouse-scale data centres to the edge of the network and in between, giving rise to the domains of Edge and Fog Computing. The Cloud Continuum encompasses the three fields and focuses on the management of applications composed of connected services that span from one end to the other of the computational spectrum. Several components that are commanded by Smart Contracts are identified and compared concerning their functionality. Two important research directions are the experimental evaluation of the identified platforms and the identification of standards that can accelerate the adoption of Blockchain-based Fog platforms.