A Survey of Smart Contract Formal Specification and Verification

Abstract

A smart contract is a computer program which allows users to define and execute transactions automatically on top of the blockchain platform. Given the significance of smart contracts in supporting important activities across industry sectors including supply chain, finance, legal and medical services, there is a strong demand for verification and validation techniques. Yet, the vast majority of smart contracts lack any kind of formal specification, which is essential for establishing their correctness. In this survey, we investigate formal models and specifications of smart contracts presented in the literature and present a systematic overview in order to understand the common trends. We also discuss the current approaches used in verifying such property specifications and identify gaps with the hope to recognize promising directions for future work.