PoQ: A consensus protocol for private blockchains using intel SGX

Golam Dastoger Bashar, Alejandro Anzola Avila, Gaby G. Dagher

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

In blockchain technology, consensus protocols serve as mechanisms to reach agreements among a distributed network of nodes. Using a centralized party or consortium, private blockchains achieve high transaction throughput and scalability, Hyperledger Sawtooth is a prominent example of private blockchains that uses Proof of Elapsed Time (PoET) (SGX-based) to achieve consensus. In this paper, we propose a novel protocol, called Proof of Queue (PoQ), for private (permissioned) blockchains, that combines the lottery strategy of PoET with a specialized round-robin algorithm where each node has an equal chance to become a leader (who propose valid data blocks to the chain) with equal access. PoQ is relatively scalable without any collision. Similar to PoET, our protocol uses Intel SGX, a Trusted Execution Environment, to generate a secure random waiting time to choose a leader, and fairly distribute the leadership role to everyone on the network. PoQ scales fairness linearly with SGX machines: the more the SGX in the network, the higher the number of chances to be selected as a leader per unit time. Our analysis and experiments show that PoQ provides significant performance improvements over PoET.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSecurity and Privacy in Communication Networks - 16th EAI International Conference, SecureComm 2020, Proceedings
EditorsNoseong Park, Kun Sun, Sara Foresti, Kevin Butler, Nitesh Saxena
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages141-160
Number of pages20
ISBN (Print)9783030630942
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020
Event16th International Conference on Security and Privacy in Communication Networks, SecureComm 2020 - Washington, United States
Duration: 21 Oct 202023 Oct 2020

Publication series

NameLecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, LNICST
Volume336
ISSN (Print)1867-8211

Conference

Conference16th International Conference on Security and Privacy in Communication Networks, SecureComm 2020
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityWashington
Period21/10/2023/10/20

Keywords

  • Blockchain
  • Consensus
  • Fairness
  • Permissioned
  • SGX

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