A Blockchain-Based Data Sharing With Fine Grained Access Control in Decentralized Storage Systems

With the rapid growth of decentralized technologies, secure and controlled data sharing has become a critical requirement in distributed environments. This paper presents a blockchain-based framework for data sharing that integrates fine-grained access control mechanisms with InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) storage. In this system, users can upload their files to a decentralized IPFS network, ensuring content-addressable, tamper-proof, and redundant storage. Other users can discover and request access to these files, but actual access is strictly governed by the uploader’s consent through a smart contract-based authorization protocol. The blockchain acts as an immutable ledger that maintains file metadata, user identities, access control policies, and request logs, ensuring transparency and trust without relying on centralized authorities.

Smart contracts are employed to automate the request–approval–grant workflow, allowing data owners to approve or deny access based on predefined conditions. Public key encryption ensures secure data exchange between parties, and access rights are enforced dynamically without exposing the file content. This approach guarantees both privacy and auditability. The proposed framework demonstrates the feasibility of secure data sharing in decentralized ecosystems and offers a scalable solution for applications in healthcare, research, and digital collaboration where ownership, access rights, and security are paramount.

Keywords: Blockchain, IPFS, Decentralized Storage, Smart Contracts, Access Control, Data Sharing.