Enabling Deletion in Append-Only Blockchains (Short Summary / Work in Progress)
Michael Kuperberg

TL;DR
This paper proposes a novel blockchain architecture that allows for controlled deletion of data within specific contexts, addressing privacy and data management needs while maintaining core blockchain qualities.
Contribution
It introduces a tree of context chains with simultaneous validity, enabling context-specific deletion without compromising blockchain integrity.
Findings
Supports GDPR compliance through context-based deletion
Enables truncation and data rollover
Maintains blockchain security and consistency
Abstract
Conventional blockchain implementations with append-only semantics do not support deleting or overwriting data in confirmed blocks. However, many industry-relevant use cases require the ability to delete data, especially when personally identifiable information is stored or when data growth has to be constrained. Existing attempts to reconcile these contradictions compromise on core qualities of the blockchain paradigm, as they include backdoor-like approaches such as central authorities with elevated rights or usage of specialized chameleon hash algorithms in chaining of the blocks. In this technical report, we outline a novel architecture for the blockchain ledger and consensus, which uses a tree of context chains with simultaneous validity. A context chain captures the transactions of a closed group of entities and persons, thus structuring blocks in a precisely defined way. The…
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Taxonomy
TopicsBlockchain Technology Applications and Security · Cryptography and Data Security · Cloud Data Security Solutions
