# A Blockchain-Based Auction Framework for Location-Aware Services
## 6 Conclusions  
In this paper, we have investigated the use of a blockchain-based, sealed bid, reverse auction framework. This proposed framework is designed for situations where the auctioned items represent logistics services provided by sellers. Examples of these services include renting a physical space or transportation, as the trade volume for such services is anticipated to be relatively high. Thus, scalability and a low time complexity are crucial factors in the design of the proposed framework. As discussed in the results section, these factors are addressed in the presented framework by reducing the overall number of transactions. Additionally, the architecture of such a framework is expected to increase participants' trust in the system, potentially encouraging more participants to join the auction. To further motivate participants, a user-reward distribution strategy encourages participants to make the most competitive offers in order to receive the reward. Moreover, we have demonstrated that a bidder is expected to pay around USD 5.5 to participate in an auction, a cost that is considered affordable compared to typical administrative fees in traditional e-auctions.  
As part of our future work, we plan to explore the use of blockchain to support coalitions between bidders in situations where the requested service exceeds the capability of a single bidder. In such a scenario, multiple bidders could form a coalition and submit a single joint offer. Blockchain technology could also facilitate communication among coalition members. In addition, we aim to automate the process of violation disputes by eliminating the need for a witness group. This can be achieved by integrating an IoT component to collect all necessary information related to the requested services. Consequently, a lightweight smart contract could use this collected data to automate the violation dispute process. Regarding open bid forward auction scenarios, employing our proposed framework will incur additional costs, as traders are charged for each submitted bid on a public blockchain. Therefore, we plan to explore the necessary modifications to apply our proposed framework in such an auction domain.  
**Author Contributions:** Formal analysis, K.A., M.A.A., Y.C.L., T.H.R. and A.P.; methodology, K.A., M.A.A., Y.C.L. and T.H.R.; validation, K.A., M.A.A., Y.C.L. and A.P.; supervision, K.A., Y.C.L. and T.H.R.; writing--original draft, K.A. and T.H.R.; writing--review and editing, K.A., M.A.A., Y.C.L., T.H.R. and A.P. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
**Funding:** This work was supported by the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) under grant 113611.  
**Data Availability Statement:** This study does not involve the creation of new data and therefore data sharing is not applicable.  
**Acknowledgments:** This publication was supported by grant number 113611 from Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of HCT.  
**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.