DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A BLOCKCHAINBASED COUNTERFEIT PRODUCT DETECTION SYSTEM USING SMART CONTRACTS AND ENCRYPTED QR CODES

Abstract

Counterfeit products pose a major global challenge, affecting industries such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, and food supply chains, resulting in economic losses and safety risks. Traditional authentication methods, including barcodes and RFID tags, are vulnerable to duplication and tampering due to centralized control. This paper proposes a blockchain-based counterfeit product detection system that leverages decentralized ledger technology, smart contracts, and encrypted QR codes to ensure product authenticity. Each product is assigned a unique digital identity at the manufacturing stage, which is securely stored on the blockchain along with essential metadata. An encrypted QR code is generated to link the physical product with its digital record. Upon scanning, the system retrieves and verifies product information using smart contracts, ensuring data integrity and preventing unauthorized modifications. The system also enhances supply chain transparency by maintaining an immutable record of product movement from production to consumption. By eliminating reliance on centralized systems, the proposed approach improves security, traceability, and trust among stakeholders. This solution provides a scalable and reliable mechanism for counterfeit detection and supply chain management.