Paper 2021/884
Blockchain Layer Zero: Characterizing the Bitcoin Network through Measurements, Models, and Simulations
Elias Rohrer and Florian Tschorsch
Abstract
In recent years, research has shown the networking layer’s significant influence on the scalability, security, and privacy of blockchain systems. Such large-scale networks however exhibit a degree of complexity that demands model-based simulations as real-world experiments are often not possible. In this work, we methodically characterize blockchain networks by reference to the paradigmatic Bitcoin peer-to-peer network, explore the state-of-the-art protocols, and emphasize this key design space. To this end, we conducted a longitudinal measurement study on the Bitcoin network, from which we extract a comprehensive network model and implement it as part of the bns network simulation framework. We validate the model in comparison to real-world measurements as well as to results from related work. Moreover, we experimentally show how network utilization and miners’ geographical location impact the block propagation characteristics.
Metadata
- Available format(s)
-
PDF
- Category
- Applications
- Publication info
- Published elsewhere. Minor revision. LCN ’21: Proceedings of the 46th IEEE International Conference on Local Computer Networks.
- Keywords
- blockchaincryptocurrencybroadcastpeer-to-peernetworking
- Contact author(s)
- elias rohrer @ tu-berlin de
- History
- 2021-06-29: received
- Short URL
- https://ia.cr/2021/884
- License
-
CC BY
BibTeX
@misc{cryptoeprint:2021/884,
author = {Elias Rohrer and Florian Tschorsch},
title = {Blockchain Layer Zero: Characterizing the Bitcoin Network through Measurements, Models, and Simulations},
howpublished = {Cryptology {ePrint} Archive, Paper 2021/884},
year = {2021},
url = {https://eprint.iacr.org/2021/884}
}