# A Study of Blockchain Oracles

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2004.07140 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2004.07140/

## Key facts

- Cited by 3 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 19 Mar 2020.

## Built on by (most cited first, 3 of 3)

- [Autonomous Agents on Blockchains: Standards, Execution Models, and Trust Boundaries](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2601.04583/) (2026)
- [Blockchain Transaction Fee Forecasting: A Comparison of Machine Learning Methods](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.08105/) (2023)
- [Can Artificial Intelligence solve the blockchain oracle problem? Unpacking the Challenges and Possibilities](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.02125/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

The limitation with smart contracts is that they cannot access external data which might be required to control the execution of business logic. Oracles can be used to provide external data to smart contracts. An oracle is an interface that delivers data from external data outside the blockchain to a smart contract to consume. Oracle can deliver different types of data depending on the industry and requirements. In this paper, we study and describe the widely used blockchain oracles. Then, we elaborate on his potential role, technical architecture, and design patterns. Finally, we discuss the human oracle and his key role in solving the truth problem by reaching a consensus about a certain inquiry and tasks.