Blockchain technology and its applications brings the potential to reduce or prevent email spam in a few different ways. Learn how blockchain can be used for spam prevention in this Blockchain Thoughts article.

Decentralized authentication of emails to prevent spam

Decentralized authentication systems are one of the key ways that blockchain technology could aid in the reduction of spam. It is far more difficult for spammers to send messages using fictitious or impersonated identities, thanks to these systems’ usage of blockchain to securely authenticate the identities of the sending entity.

Reputation systems and social reputation of email accounts

Using reputation systems is another way that blockchain could aid in the reduction of spam. These systems employ blockchain to track an individual’s past sending activity and rate their reputation based on that activity. Messages from users with a poor reputation are more likely to be spam, therefore email providers might use these scores to filter out their messages. Here a problem could arise for new accounts, but a reputation based on a social network proof could be a solution, where you get positive ratings from friends and family.

Smart contracts and punishment for bad behaviour

Email systems could be made more effective and secure using blockchain-based smart contracts. Messages could only be transmitted, for instance, if specific requirements are satisfied, such as the sender having a high reputation score or the recipient having explicitly agreed to receive messages from the sender. Maybe also sending a minimal amount of a cryptocurrency with the email to the other account could make spam more expensive, but punish bad actors. If the email is helpful, you can just send it back to the sender.

Blockchain Thought summary on spam

Overall, even though blockchain technology alone probably won’t be able to totally eradicate email spam, it has the potential to reduce the amount of spam that users get by offering more efficient and secure ways to identify and verify the identity of senders. As always, developing a more efficient solution is possible, but will the general public adopt it is the real question in this case.