WSEAS Transactions on Systems and Control
Print ISSN: 1991-8763, E-ISSN: 2224-2856
Volume 20, 2025
Stackelberg Games for Blockchain Malware Detection: A Multi-Dimensional Viability Framework
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Abstract: While blockchain technology offers promising solutions for malware detection through decentralized
signature sharing, the strategic interactions between malicious actors and security agencies create complex adversarial
dynamics that traditional viability assessment methods fail to capture. This paper presents a novel gametheoretic
framework that combines multi-dimensional viability analysis with Stackelberg equilibrium theory to
evaluate blockchain-based malware detection systems. We model the interaction between certified security agencies
(leaders) and potential attackers (followers) as a two-stage Stackelberg game, where agencies strategically
choose their signature publication policies while attackers respond by optimizing their malware deployment strategies.
Our main contribution is the Blockchain Security Equilibrium Theorem, which proves the existence and
uniqueness of Nash-Stackelberg equilibrium in this adversarial setting. Through theoretical analysis and empirical
validation using the original multi-dimensional framework data, we demonstrate that our framework provides
more accurate viability predictions compared to existing methodologies, offering critical insights for designing
robust blockchain-based security solutions.
Keywords:
Blockchain security, Malware detection, Stackelberg games, Game theory, Multi-dimensional analysis, Cybersecurity
Pages: 370-375
DOI: 10.37394/23203.2025.20.39