FORENSIC ANALYSIS OF PRIVATE BLOCKCHAINS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR: CHALLENGES, TECHNIQUES, AND FUTURE
Milan Feltovic · MEST Journal · 2025
This article explores the forensic analysis of private blockchains in the public sector, focusing on identifying challenges, describing techniques, and predicting future trends. Unlike public blockchains, private blockchains provide a higher level of access control and data protection, making them attractive for various public applications such as digital land registries, citizen identity management systems, supply chain tracking, and healthcare record management. Forensic analysis of private blockchains is a specialized discipline that combines traditional digital forensic principles with a deep understanding of blockchain technology and cryptography. The main components of this discipline are the identification, collection, preservation, analysis, and presentation of evidence. The article also examines specific aspects such as the analysis of cryptographic evidence, the examination of block structures, and data integrity verification. The importance of forensic analysis of private blockchains grows with their increasing use in the public sector. This article highlights the need for specialized tools and methodologies development, continuous education of forensic experts, and international cooperation in standardization and knowledge exchange. Future trends include the integration of artificial intelligence, the improvement of methods for preserving evidence integrity, and addressing legal and ethical challenges associated with forensic analysis in an international context. The goal of this article is to provide a comprehensive overview of the forensic analysis of private blockchains and to emphasize its key role in ensuring the integrity, transparency, and trustworthiness of digital systems in the public sector.