SecureXChain: A decentralised blockchain-based chain of custody system for secure and transparent asset management
Reddy P. Santosh, B. Rohith, B. S. Abhiram, Sujay G. Kaushik · 2025
The chain of custody (CoC) process in legal and forensic asset management requires a secure, transparent, and tamper-proof system to maintain evidence integrity. Traditional CoC methods, relying on centralised databases and manual documentation, are prone to manipulation, inefficiencies, and unauthorised access, compromising legal proceedings. This paper presents a blockchain-based CoC framework leveraging decentralised ledger technology (DLT) for immutable, verifiable, and automated evidence management. Smart contracts facilitate secure asset registration, controlled custody transfer, and full traceability, ensuring reliable documentation across each phase of custody. To address scalability challenges and high transaction costs, the system integrates interplanetary file system (IPFS) for decentralised storage and optimises on-chain and off-chain data handling. Secure hashing and zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) enhance data integrity, accessibility, and compliance by enabling evidence verification without exposing sensitive data. A case verification mechanism enables judicial authorities to authenticate evidence using blockchain records, while an automated logging and reporting module generates a comprehensive “Consolidated Case Report” detailing FIR data, evidence metadata, and verification statuses. By addressing privacy concerns, storage efficiency, and operational scalability, this framework advances the reliability, security, and transparency in managing evidence, reducing reliance on manual verification and strengthening legal forensics.