Blockchain-enabled anti-counterfeiting solutions in supply chains: a bibliometric and thematic analysis

Blockchain technology has emerged as a critical application for supply chain anti-counterfeiting, offering decentralized and traceable solutions to enhance transparency and trust. This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 273 publications indexed in the Scopus database from 2017 to 2025 to clarify the core knowledge structure and developmental trends of the field. Using CiteSpace software, Bibliometrix and Biblioshiny to process the data, the study examines collaboration networks, keyword trends, timeline maps, citation bursts and co-citation patterns. The analysis investigates the prominent authors, institutions and countries contributing to the field, identifying seven major research clusters and evolutionary trends. The findings highlight the research hotspots and current state of blockchain technology in supply chain anti-counterfeiting, while identifying existing research challenges and future directions to facilitate widespread adoption.