ASPMi: An Adaptable SPAM Protection Mechanism for IoT Scenarios

The rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem, coupled with advancements in Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLTs), is transforming numerous industries such as smart cities, remote healthcare, and connected homes. However, integrating resource-constrained IoT devices with a DLT remains a significant challenge, particularly when low latency is critical. Permissionless DLTs, such as IOTA, offer a promising framework for secure and transparent data exchange in IoT environments. Nevertheless, their SPAM protection mechanism based on Proof of Work (PoW) imposes a computational burden that is often unaffordable for battery-powered and low-power IoT devices. This paper introduces ASPMi, an adaptable SPAM protection mechanism that allows devices to perform PoW or delegate it to the network in exchange for a fee, ensuring flexibility and security. Our evaluation demonstrates that ASPMi significantly improves transaction validation time and reduces energy consumption. Future research will focus on optimizing the delegation mechanism and exploring alternative incentives, aiming to develop a robust system for IoT data management in DLTs and enhance IoT-DLT integration in real-world applications.