Active External Calls for Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies: Debunking cited inability of Blockchain and DLT to make external calls

TL;DR

This paper challenges the common belief that blockchains cannot initiate external calls, demonstrating a feasible and efficient method for blockchains to directly interact with external systems, thus expanding their practical capabilities.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel approach that enables blockchains to initiate external calls, debunking the misconception of their inability to interact with outside systems.

Findings

External calls can be directly initiated from blockchain networks.

The proposed method is feasible and efficient.

This approach broadens blockchain application possibilities.

Abstract

Blockchain and other distributed ledger technologies have enabled peer-to-peer networks to maintain ledgers with an immutable history and guaranteed computation, all carried out without the need of trusted parties. In practice, few applications of blockchain are closed i.e. do not interact with the world outside the blockchain, and various techniques have been proposed and used to handle such interaction. One problem is that it is widely accepted that, due to the decentralised nature of blockchain networks and constraints to ensure trust and determinism, such communication can only flow into the blockchain, and that blockchain systems cannot initiate and execute calls to external systems or services. In this paper we show that this misconception is preconceived by building on our previously presented solution to demonstrate that such calls can be directly initiated from the blockchain itself in a feasible and efficient manner.