Blockchain-enabled identity management for IoT: a multi-layered defense against adversarial AI

Abstract The growing deployment of the Internet of Things (IoT), especially in critical infrastructure, has increased the need for identity systems that are scalable and robust against attacks. However, existing centralized systems have fundamental weaknesses, especially where adversaries use artificial intelligence (AI)-based techniques, such as generative spoofing, model poisoning, and deepfakes to create fake identities. In this paper, we present a novel blockchain-based IoT security system that combines decentralized identity verification, zero-knowledge proofs, Byzantine-resistant federated learning, and formal verification of smart contracts. The proposed architecture eliminates single points of trust, allows device registration while preserving privacy, and provides defense against AI-driven attacks through formally modeled state transitions. Experimental results show that this method shows significant improvements over previous frameworks, including a 48% reduction in false acceptance rate during GAN-based spoofing and speedup the ZKP verification. This work provides a blockchain-enabled identity management system for IoT to encounter AI-based threats and maintain a balance between performance and security with the help of adversarial simulation, symbolic execution, and threshold cryptography.