Please Unblock the User! Transparent Authentication and Payment in Blockchain Platforms

Enterprise systems are increasingly adopting blockchain technology. However, ensuring that every user has the expertise to conduct blockchain-based interactions, such as keeping a wallet and securely performing transactions with it, is a significant roadblock. This paper presents a system for transparent user authentication and blockchain interaction, tested in one of the largest European projects addressing the green and digital transformation of logistics. The user submits transaction data alongside a signed message, which verifies the authenticity of the request and ensures that the user is indeed the one authorizing the data transfer to a relayer, which covers the transaction fees typically associated with public blockchain operations. This system reduces end-user friction, eliminating the need for in-depth blockchain knowledge. Our work contributes to blockchain usability in enterprise-grade blockchain implementations. Practitioners may find our results helpful in developing more friendly blockchain systems that eliminate the need for an individual wallet for each user.