RBFT: Resilience-Oriented Blockchain Consensus Protocol

Abstract

Blockchain resilience is the capacity of a blockchain system to proactively adapt to and recover from disruptions. A resilient blockchain remains operational and effective even in the face of unexpected challenges such as security breaches, system failures, or other unforeseen events. Moreover, consensus protocols play a fundamental role in blockchain networks by providing transparency, traceability, and trust, thereby addressing fundamental system weaknesses. However, before adopting these protocols in real-world applications, it is crucial to evaluate their specific features and how they influence the resilience of blockchain. In this study, a new consensus protocol that is resilience-oriented is developed. To achieve this, a comprehensive analysis of existing consensus protocols is conducted, focusing on identifying key metrics essential for evaluating blockchain resilience and ensuring long-term sustainability. The proposed RBFT protocol has demonstrated enhanced resilience within the blockchain network, primarily due to three key mechanisms: a weak coordinator model, weighted validation, and tolerance for late nodes. Furthermore, RBFT outperformed existing consensus protocols in both latency and throughput, showcasing its robustness against increasing numbers of faulty nodes and confirming its scalability under growing network demands. This research aims to assist managers and organizations in adopting blockchain technology, particularly by integrating suitable consensus protocols, improving the resilience of blockchain, as well as its adoptive networks.