Trends in the Application of Blockchain Technology to the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)

Abstract

The integration of blockchain technology with the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) has seen many changes and evolutions, with the last couple of years really witnessing an upward trajectory in growth and innovation. This paper offers a detailed review of the most recent trends in this area, with a focus on how blockchain technology is solving some of the long-standing problems of IoMT like data privacy, interoperability, security, and scalability. Some key trends discussed are lightweight blockchain architecture, integration of federated learning with blockchain, off-chain and distributed storage systems based on IPFS, and emerging post-quantum cryptographic tools for enhanced security. The review also captures current research trends in academia and industry, including healthcare edge computing, energy-efficient consensus, and smart contract automation. This paper offers a timeline for development, thematic analysis of trends, and areas for productive investigation into the realization of secure, scalable, and interoperable IoMT systems.