BSHR‐FA: A Blockchain‐Enabled Secure Hierarchical Routing Using Firefly Algorithm for VANETs

ABSTRACT Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) are integral to Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), requiring efficient and secure communication. This study presents Blockchain‐Enabled Secure Hierarchical Routing using the Firefly Algorithm (BSHR‐FA) to enhance scalability, routing efficiency, and security in VANETs. The proposed approach integrates the Firefly Algorithm (FA)‐based clustering to optimize network topology and blockchain technology to safeguard routing against cyber threats such as blackhole and sinkhole attacks. The methodology follows a two‐phase process: (1) Clustering vehicles using FA to reduce transmission delay, network overload, and hop count, and (2) employing blockchain to ensure data integrity and trust. Simulation results in NS2 demonstrate improved Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR), reduced End‐to‐End Delay (EED), and enhanced network resilience. The BSHR‐FA framework contributes to reliable, scalable, and secure VANET communication, making it a promising solution for future ITS applications. The security analysis shows that the proposed scheme consistently provides improved resilience against Sybil, denial of service (DoS), eavesdropping, and tampering attacks compared to traditional encryption techniques. With an encryption time of about 1 ms and impressive decryption efficiency, it emphasizes its practicality for real‐time VANET applications.