Blockchain in Dynamic Networks

TL;DR

This paper investigates the challenges of implementing blockchain in dynamic networks, establishing conditions for decision problems and proposing algorithms under specific knowledge assumptions.

Contribution

It introduces the Blockchain Decision Problem, analyzes its solvability, and presents two algorithms for its resolution under different network knowledge conditions.

Findings

Necessary conditions for blockchain decision problem existence

Proving the general impossibility of solutions without additional knowledge

Performance evaluation of proposed algorithms

Abstract

We consider blockchain in dynamic networks. We define the Blockchain Decision Problem. It requires miners that maintain the blockchain to confirm whether a particular block is accepted. We establish the necessary conditions for the existence of a solution. We, however, prove that the solution, even under these necessary conditions is, in general, impossible. We then present two algorithms that solve the Blockchain Decision Problem under either the knowledge of the maximum source pool propagation time or the knowledge of the source pool membership. We evaluate the performance of the two algorithms.