The recent advancements in the research area have significantly shifted towards leveraging decentralized technologies and blockchain solutions to address critical challenges in data privacy, security, and governance. A notable trend is the integration of blockchain with smart contracts to enhance accountability and transparency in various systems, including healthcare, voting protocols, and identity management. In healthcare, the focus is on developing systems that ensure informed consent for accessing health records, using blockchain's immutability to guarantee the integrity of consent processes. In voting protocols, trust-centric frameworks are being introduced to quantify security and maturity, providing standardized criteria for evaluating internet voting systems. Additionally, novel network architectures are being proposed to address the inherent defects in the current internet design, aiming to enhance global cyberspace security and governance. Data sharing in the metaverse is also being revolutionized by incorporating decentralized encryption methods that ensure key abuse resistance and authority accountability. Lastly, identity management solutions are exploring the use of permanent storage networks like Arweave to offer self-sovereign identity frameworks that prioritize user control and privacy. These developments collectively represent a transformative shift towards more secure, transparent, and user-centric systems across multiple domains.