**6. Conclusions**

In this chapter we have analyzed the general applicability of blockchain technology to the new paradigm of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and due to its particular peculiarities, we have made a brief analysis of the specific case of the energy sector.

Based on our analysis and experimentation, we have selected three main lines of generic application for Industry 4.0: (i) traceability, (ii) interoperability and sovereignty of industrial data, and (iii) IIoT reliability. Moreover, in the case of energy, beyond exposing any particularity linked to IIoT or energy traceability, the analysis has focused on the prosumers and the value of their data in a new decentralized energy ecosystem.

As an outstanding contribution, the conclusions on the real value of blockchain in the industry should be pointed out, where abstracting from any specific scenario, the value of blockchain technology in this sector is analyzed in a universal way. The results are four main values of the technology, which in addition to being really the core of the analyzed cases could become applicable in other sectors. These

### *Computer Security Threats*

differential features can be very useful to detect in an agile way if the application of the blockchain technology in a project contributes with a differential value in front of the rest of technologies of the state of the art.

Finally, we end with a reflection on a new paradigm that we have discovered during our research, and that may open different lines of future research, the Machine Economy.
