University of Reading

Critical-Chains is a 3-year research and innovation programme funded with the support of the European Commission Horizon 2020 Programme with a focus on IOT & Blockchain-Enabled Security Framework for Fintech Integrated New Generation Cyber-Physical Systems to support the Financial Sector. The Critical-Chains Consortium represents a strong chemistry of relevant expertise and an inclusive set of stakeholders comprising end-users (customers), CERTS, the financial sector (Banks & CCPs) and the Insurance sector. The mission is to deliver a novel triangular accountability model and integrated framework supporting accountable, effective, accessible, fast, secure and privacy-preserving financial contracts and transactions to protect against illicit transactions, illegal money trafficking and fraud on FinTech e-operations. This is an innovative cloud-based “X-as-a Service” solution stack including several layers: - Data integrity checking by involving financial institutions in the distributed Blockchain network; - Transaction and financial data flows analytics, modelling and mining; - Threat Intelligence & Predictive Modelling for Inter-Banks and Internet Banking, insurance and financial market infrastructures; - Multilateral Biometric-based and Role-based Authorisation & Authentication; - Hardware Security Module (HSM) enabled Cyber-Physical Security, embedded systems & IoT security for secure access using Security-Privacy-Contexts Semantic Modelling; - Secure and smart use of Blockchain based on keyless signature infrastructure and hybrid (a)symmetric cryptography utilising truly random key generation.