A Thirdweb-Based Smart Contract Framework for Secure Sharing of Human Genetic Data on the Ethereum Blockchain

Human genetic data, crucial for advancing personalized medicine, requires secure and privacy-preserving management solutions. Traditional approaches face challenges in scalability, security, and decentralized access control. This study proposes a blockchain-based framework leveraging Thirdweb and Ethereum smart contracts to address these issues. The framework integrates decentralized storage via IPFS for cost-efficient off-chain genetic data storage, while on-chain smart contracts manage access control, encryption, and audit trails. Utilizing Solidity for smart contract development, the system ensures role-based permissions, wallet-based authentication, and immutable transaction logging. Genetic data in FASTA format, sourced from NCBI, is encrypted and linked to IPFS hashes stored on the blockchain. The architecture supports dual interfaces—command-line for developers and a Thirdweb dashboard for end-users—enabling secure data upload, access, and monitoring. Testing demonstrated functional efficacy in data integrity, access verification, and audit capabilities. Results highlight the system’s ability to enhance privacy, eliminate intermediaries, and provide transparent data governance. The integration of Thirdweb further decentralizes operations, aligning with Web 3.0 principles. Key contributions include a scalable model for genetic data sharing, a customizable smart contract template, and a user-centric design. Future work should explore advanced encryption, real-world healthcare integration, and performance optimization under high-throughput conditions. This research bridges biotechnology and blockchain, offering a robust foundation for secure genomic data ecosystems.