Epidemic Consensus for Scalable, Decentralized Blockchain Networks ∞ Research

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Briefing

The core research problem addressed is the inherent limitation of existing blockchain consensus protocols in achieving scalability, efficient resource utilization, and robust fault tolerance within large and dynamic network environments. This paper proposes the Blockchain Epidemic Consensus Protocol (BECP), a foundational breakthrough built upon epidemic information dissemination and decentralized data aggregation, operating without fixed roles such as validators or leaders. BECP achieves probabilistic convergence, efficient message propagation, and resilience to network delays through lightweight, random neighbor interactions. The most significant implication of this new theory is its validation as a highly effective and scalable architectural paradigm for next-generation blockchain systems, fundamentally altering how global information can be consistently and efficiently managed in extreme-scale distributed ledgers.

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Context

Prior to this research, the prevailing theoretical limitation in blockchain systems centered on the trade-offs between decentralization, security, and scalability, often summarized as the “blockchain trilemma.” Traditional consensus mechanisms, including classic protocols like PAXOS, RAFT, and PBFT, alongside newer probabilistic approaches such as Avalanche and Snowman, faced substantial challenges. These protocols exhibited increasing message complexity and slow convergence as network size grew, thereby restricting their applicability in large-scale, dynamic decentralized environments and hindering the widespread adoption of blockchain technology.

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Analysis

The paper’s core mechanism, the Blockchain Epidemic Consensus Protocol (BECP), fundamentally differs from previous approaches by embracing a fully decentralized, leaderless model rooted in epidemic communication principles. Instead of relying on a fixed set of validators or a leader, BECP achieves consensus through nodes communicating with randomly selected neighbors. This light-weight interaction facilitates efficient message dissemination and decentralized data aggregation.

The protocol’s design inherently offers probabilistic convergence, robust message delay tolerance, and a significant reduction in communication overhead. BECP is composed of three interconnected sub-protocols ∞ the System Size Estimation Protocol (SSEP), the Node Cache Protocol (NCP), and the Phase Transition Protocol (PTP), which operate in parallel to ensure consistency and agreement across the network.

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Parameters

Core Concept ∞ Blockchain Epidemic Consensus Protocol (BECP)
Key Authors ∞ Abdi, S. et al.
Publication Venue ∞ arXiv (2025 IEEE 7th International Conference on Blockchain Computing and Applications)
Consensus Paradigm ∞ Epidemic Information Dissemination
Key Performance Gains ∞ Throughput, Consensus Latency, Message-Passing Efficiency
Comparative Benchmarks ∞ PAXOS, RAFT, PBFT, Avalanche, Snowman
Decentralization Model ∞ Fully Decentralized, Leaderless

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Outlook

This research opens significant avenues for advancing blockchain architecture, particularly in scenarios demanding extreme scalability and resilience. The principles demonstrated by BECP could unlock real-world applications within 3-5 years, including highly decentralized global payment networks, large-scale IoT data aggregation systems, and robust supply chain management platforms that require consistent state across millions of nodes. Future research will likely focus on formalizing the probabilistic guarantees of convergence under various adversarial models and exploring adaptive mechanisms for dynamic network topologies, further solidifying epidemic consensus as a cornerstone for future decentralized systems.

This research decisively establishes epidemic consensus as a viable, high-performance paradigm for achieving robust scalability and decentralization in future blockchain systems.

Signal Acquired from ∞ arXiv.org