An extensive multivocal literature review of blockchain technology: Evolution, challenges, platforms, security, and interoperability

Blockchain technology has gained enormous interest from industry and academia recently. Technology enthusiasts are exploring its use case beyond cryptocurrencies and claim that blockchain technology can overcome the inefficiencies of centralized systems. In this study, we continue the work of previous authors, aiming to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the technical aspects of blockchain. This study is the first of its kind to review and analyze the current status of different technical aspects of blockchain technology influencing its adoption. We performed an extensive multivocal review to (i) demonstrate the progress of blockchain, (ii) discuss the challenges related to the wide-scale adoption of the technology, (iii) present a detailed analysis of blockchain platforms, (iv) highlight security and interoperability issues followed by the solutions proposed in the literature. We have considered 259 peer-reviewed research papers and the gray literature related to 40 blockchain platforms to provide an in-depth analysis of blockchain technology. In conclusion, this comprehensive survey provides a holistic view of blockchain technology's progress. It identifies challenges, trends, and future research directions, serving as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners seeking to navigate the dynamic blockchain landscape. © 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.