Directed Acyclic Graph

Definition ∞ A Directed Acyclic Graph is a data structure where nodes represent transactions and edges show the order of operations, without any cycles. In blockchain technology, DAGs serve as an alternative to linear blockchains for recording transactions, allowing for parallel processing and potentially higher throughput. Each new transaction typically references and validates previous transactions, forming a graph where data flows in one direction. This architecture aims to resolve scalability issues present in traditional sequential block structures by removing the need for global ordering.
Context ∞ DAGs are frequently discussed in crypto news as a potential solution for the scalability and transaction fee challenges faced by many established blockchains. Projects utilizing DAG structures often claim superior transaction speeds and lower costs, appealing to applications requiring microtransactions. However, questions regarding their security guarantees and decentralization levels, compared to robust blockchain models, remain a subject of ongoing technical analysis. Their practical deployment and adoption are closely monitored within the digital asset sector.

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→Leaderless Protocol

→Permissionless Ledger

→Decentralized Scalability

Proxima: DAG-based Cooperative Ledger Enhances Scalability and Decentralization

Proxima introduces a DAG-based ledger with cooperative consensus, enabling scalable, decentralized, and energy-efficient transactions without traditional validators.

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→Public Key Cryptography

→Node Ranking

→Transaction Throughput

ADR Protocol Scales Blockchain with DAG-based Ranked Consensus

The Advanced DAG-based Ranking (ADR) protocol fundamentally redefines blockchain scalability by integrating node performance into a DAG consensus, enabling high-throughput decentralized systems.

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→Consensus Protocols

→System Architecture

→High-Performance

Bullshark on Narwhal Achieves High-Performance Byzantine Fault-Tolerant DAG Consensus

This work meticulously analyzes Bullshark on Narwhal, revealing how round-based DAGs deliver optimal Byzantine fault-tolerant consensus for scalable decentralized systems.

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→BFT SMR

→Leaderless Protocols

→Consensus Security

DAG Consensus Introduces Novel Frontrunning Attacks Requiring Architecture-Specific Mitigation

The analysis of DAG-based systems reveals three new frontrunning attack vectors, proving high-throughput architectures introduce complex, unmitigated MEV risk.

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→High Throughput Consensus

→Blockchain Architecture

→Multi-Proposer Protocol

DAG Architecture Enables Provably Fair, High-Throughput Decentralized Transaction Ordering

FairDAG integrates fairness protocols into multi-proposer DAG consensus, eliminating leader-based MEV while achieving superior throughput.

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→Blind Order-Fairness

→Decentralized Finance

→Transaction Ordering

Fino Protocol Achieves MEV Protection on High-Throughput DAG Consensus

Fino embeds blind order-fairness into DAG-BFT with zero message overhead, securing high-throughput systems against transaction reordering attacks.

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→Consensus Protocol

→Byzantine Fault Tolerance

→Distributed Systems

Uncertified DAG Consensus Achieves Sub-Second Latency in Asynchronous Networks

A novel aBFT protocol bypasses costly explicit certification using an uncertified DAG, delivering sub-second finality essential for global-scale decentralized systems.

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→Fast Commit Path

→Optimal Consensus Latency

→Byzantine Context

Mysticeti Achieves Optimal Byzantine Consensus Latency by Uncertified DAGs

This new DAG-based Byzantine consensus protocol reaches the theoretical 3-round latency limit by eliminating explicit block certification, drastically accelerating finality for high-throughput chains.

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→Asynchronous Consensus

→Common Core Primitive

→Consensus Protocol Design

Asymmetric Trust DAG Consensus Achieves Constant-Time Finality

The new common core primitive enables asynchronous DAG consensus to achieve constant-time finality under heterogeneous, asymmetric trust assumptions.

→Leaderless BFT

→Transaction Ordering Attack

→MEV Mitigation

Concurrent DAG Block Production Enables Frontrunning via Finalization Ordering Manipulation

Research exposes how leaderless DAG consensus protocols, designed for throughput, introduce a new, exploitable frontrunning vector during transaction finalization.