Measuring node decentralisation in blockchain peer to peer networks
New blockchain platforms are launching at a high cadence, each fighting for attention, adoption, and infrastructure resources. Several studies have measured the peer-to-peer (P2P) network decentralisation of Bitcoin and Ethereum (i.e., two of the largest used platforms). However, with the increasing...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Blockchain: Research and Applications |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2096720922000501 |
| _version_ | 1827971492721197056 |
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| author | Andrew Howell Takfarinas Saber Malika Bendechache |
| author_facet | Andrew Howell Takfarinas Saber Malika Bendechache |
| author_sort | Andrew Howell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | New blockchain platforms are launching at a high cadence, each fighting for attention, adoption, and infrastructure resources. Several studies have measured the peer-to-peer (P2P) network decentralisation of Bitcoin and Ethereum (i.e., two of the largest used platforms). However, with the increasing demand for blockchain infrastructure, it is important to study node decentralisation across multiple blockchain networks, especially those containing a small number of nodes. In this paper, we propose NodeMaps, a data processing framework to capture, analyse, and visualise data from several popular P2P blockchain platforms, such as Cosmos, Stellar, Bitcoin, and Lightning Network. We compare and contrast the geographic distribution, the hosting provider diversity, and the software client variance in each of these platforms. Through our comparative analysis of node data, we found that Bitcoin and its Lightning Network Layer 2 protocol are widely decentralised P2P blockchain platforms, with the largest geographical reach and a high proportion of nodes operating on The Onion Router (TOR) privacy-focused network. Cosmos and Stellar blockchains have reduced node participation, with nodes predominantly operating in large cloud providers or well-known data centres. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T19:09:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f94e2e60cd914ad1a8a8727f95e38cb2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-9536 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T19:09:48Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Blockchain: Research and Applications |
| spelling | doaj.art-f94e2e60cd914ad1a8a8727f95e38cb22023-04-07T06:49:52ZengElsevierBlockchain: Research and Applications2666-95362023-03-0141100109Measuring node decentralisation in blockchain peer to peer networksAndrew Howell0Takfarinas Saber1Malika Bendechache2Blockdaemon, Los Angeles, California, CA, USALero—The Irish Software Research Centre, Limerick, V94 NYD3, Ireland; School of Computer Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, H91 TK33, IrelandLero—The Irish Software Research Centre, Limerick, V94 NYD3, Ireland; School of Computer Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, H91 TK33, Ireland; ADAPT—Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre, Dublin 2, Ireland; Corresponding author. Lero—The Irish Software Research Centre, Limerick, V94 NYD3, Ireland.New blockchain platforms are launching at a high cadence, each fighting for attention, adoption, and infrastructure resources. Several studies have measured the peer-to-peer (P2P) network decentralisation of Bitcoin and Ethereum (i.e., two of the largest used platforms). However, with the increasing demand for blockchain infrastructure, it is important to study node decentralisation across multiple blockchain networks, especially those containing a small number of nodes. In this paper, we propose NodeMaps, a data processing framework to capture, analyse, and visualise data from several popular P2P blockchain platforms, such as Cosmos, Stellar, Bitcoin, and Lightning Network. We compare and contrast the geographic distribution, the hosting provider diversity, and the software client variance in each of these platforms. Through our comparative analysis of node data, we found that Bitcoin and its Lightning Network Layer 2 protocol are widely decentralised P2P blockchain platforms, with the largest geographical reach and a high proportion of nodes operating on The Onion Router (TOR) privacy-focused network. Cosmos and Stellar blockchains have reduced node participation, with nodes predominantly operating in large cloud providers or well-known data centres.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2096720922000501BlockchainPeer-to-PeerDecentralisationNetworksBitcoinLightning Network |
| spellingShingle | Andrew Howell Takfarinas Saber Malika Bendechache Measuring node decentralisation in blockchain peer to peer networks Blockchain: Research and Applications Blockchain Peer-to-Peer Decentralisation Networks Bitcoin Lightning Network |
| title | Measuring node decentralisation in blockchain peer to peer networks |
| title_full | Measuring node decentralisation in blockchain peer to peer networks |
| title_fullStr | Measuring node decentralisation in blockchain peer to peer networks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Measuring node decentralisation in blockchain peer to peer networks |
| title_short | Measuring node decentralisation in blockchain peer to peer networks |
| title_sort | measuring node decentralisation in blockchain peer to peer networks |
| topic | Blockchain Peer-to-Peer Decentralisation Networks Bitcoin Lightning Network |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2096720922000501 |
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