Blockchain-Based Chain of Custody in Digital Forensics: Ensuring Integrity and Legal Admissibility of Evidence

Abstract

The chain of custody represents one of the most fundamental principles in digital forensic investigations, as it guarantees that electronic evidence remains authentic, untampered, and admissible in judicial processes. In many investigations, however, conventional approaches to maintaining the chain of custody rely on centralized logs and manual documentation, which can be vulnerable to manipulation, human error, or unauthorized access. Even small inconsistencies in the documentation of evidence handling may result in serious challenges to its admissibility in court, thereby weakening the overall credibility of an investigation. In response to these persistent limitations, blockchain technology has emerged as a promising mechanism to reinforce forensic practice. Its inherent properties of immutability, decentralization, and transparency align closely with the requirements of reliable and trustworthy evidence management. This research explores the integration of blockchain technology into digital forensics by evaluating blockchain-based chain of custody frameworks in comparison with traditional documentation systems. The study emphasizes the extent to which blockchain can enhance integrity assurance, establish verifiable audit trails, and strengthen confidence in evidence handling across the entire investigative process. To further illustrate this integration, a case simulation is presented in which blockchain is applied to record evidence transfers during a cybercrime investigation. The findings indicate that blockchain-based chain of custody models improve the reliability of forensic reporting and contribute to legal admissibility. At the same time, the study acknowledges unresolved challenges related to scalability, privacy concerns, and judicial recognition across different jurisdictions.