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Byzantine Fault Tolerance: What is it?

Ashesh Anand
Nov 01, 2022

Numerous alternative cryptocurrencies have been developed since the launch of Bitcoin in 2008 as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system, each with its workings. But the blockchain, as the central component of their architecture, is something that almost all cryptocurrencies have in common.

With very few exceptions, blockchains are created to be decentralized, functioning as a distributed network of computer nodes that maintains a digital record. Because of this, blockchain technology facilitated the development of trustless economic systems, enabling the execution of dependable and transparent financial transactions without the requirement for middlemen.

Considering how trust-based traditional banking and payment systems are, cryptocurrencies are being accepted as a potential substitute.

Similar to the majority of distributed computing systems, a cryptocurrency network's users must regularly reach an understanding of the blockchain's status. This is known as consensus achievement. However, achieving distributed network consensus securely and effectively is far from simple.

How then can a dispersed network of computer nodes reach a consensus if some of the nodes are prone to malfunction or engage in dishonest behavior? The core issue with the so-called Byzantine Generals' problem is this.

The Byzantine general's problem is one of the trickiest and most contentious issues when it comes to consensus debate. When Bitcoin first launched in 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto declared that the proof-of-work (PoW) consensus method would be the answer to the byzantine dilemma.

However, attaining consensus in a decentralized network only required the first step. The Byzantine issue and Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) Consensus Mechanism in Blockchain is discussed in this article.

Also Read | What is Staking in Crypto?

The Byzantine Problem:

Leslie Lamport, Robert Shostak, and Marshall Pease released a paper in 1982 that defines the Byzantine problem. The Byzantine Generals Problem was the title of the study. It alluded to the difficulties in agreeing to a decentralized system.

The issue presents itself as an army of generals preparing to strike an adversary. They encircled the adversary's citadel from four distinct angles. How would they announce their decision to simultaneously attack and retreat?

Here, a coordinated and simultaneous attack on the adversary will succeed.

The following issues could occur when passing the decision from one general to another:

While delivering the message, the messenger could be arrested.
What if the message was tampered with by an imposter?
How can a general confirm that the communication was delivered by the expected general?
What if other generals turn traitor and order an attack but then order a retreat instead?

How can the system be certain that every general will launch an attack from their specified place at the same time? Is there any other option but to fully trust one another?

Blockchain's Byzantine fault tolerance (BFT) consensus mechanism appears to overcome this issue.

Also Read | Difference between On Chain and Off-Chain Transactions

Byzantine Fault Tolerance: What is it?

Byzantine Mistake, A computer system's tolerance is its capacity to keep running even if some of its nodes malfunction or behave maliciously.

The phrase is derived from a conjecture known as the Byzantine Generals Problem. As one might imagine, a group of Byzantine generals is at the center of this logical conundrum. The generals must collectively decide whether to attack or retreat since each has an army and a position surrounding a stronghold.

They will be successful if they all decide the same thing. However, if a communication error or act of treachery results in some generals attacking while the others retreat, the fight is lost. Byzantine faults are this category of issues.

Each node in a computer system with several nodes could be regarded as a general. Byzantine Fault Tolerance measures a system's ability to continue operating even when some nodes fail or purposefully try to fool it.

Blockchain Nodes and Peers:

Blockchain-based solutions function as networks that grant each computer in the network equal access and rights. Direct communication was possible between the nodes. What then is a node? A peer or node is the name for any computer connected to the blockchain network. No peer or node has more power than other peers or nodes in a fully decentralized solution.

As a result, a blockchain lacks coordinators, directors, or managers who are responsible for enforcing regulations and identifying and penalizing bad behavior. On the other hand, the system is predicated on a fact that suggests all nodes adhere to a common protocol or set of rules when establishing an agreement.

The word consensus, which translates as "universal agreement," is what you find when you search for consensus among all nodes. The most crucial yet challenging task in a decentralized system without any authorities is reaching a consensus. To ensure the effective operation of the system or network, a majority of nodes should concur on the accuracy or validity of information or transactions.

Consensus should happen on the blockchain network regularly. However, to deal with the uncertainty of some nodes failing or acting improperly, consensus techniques like Byzantine Fault Tolerance are essential. Additionally, not all nodes may concur with the agreement reached by others. Therefore, it's critical to check that the system design can quickly address these vulnerabilities.

Also Read | Decentralized Applications (dApps)

Solutions for Achieving BFT

Proof-of-Work (PoW) and the Byzantine Generals problem:

In October 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto published the first Bitcoin whitepaper. Nakamoto effectively offered a solution to the "Byzantine generals problem," even though the term isn't used in the article, which was published in January 2009 and introduced the Bitcoin network.

To address the Byzantine general problem in a digital electronic network, Satoshi came up with a way to use public-key encryption and cryptographic security. Cryptographic security employs hashing, an encoding process, to prevent data manipulation. Through public key encryption, a network user's identity can be confirmed.

In cryptographic security, a transaction is protected in a block that is linked to other blocks by its hash value. All hashes may be traced back to an initial block, which serves as the root of all hashes. The blockchain is a technology that verifies hashes from genesis blocks using a Merkle Tree.

The genesis block, which is the first block in the network, is the source of all valid blocks. As part of a PoW consensus technique, miners produce blocks by solving cryptographic puzzles in competition with other miners.

Bitcoin resolved the Byzantine general's problem and created a clear, objective set of rules for the blockchain by using a proof-of-work consensus mechanism. A network participant must publish evidence that they put a lot of effort into creating the block to add information to the blockchain, known as a block. The creator of this work has a heavy financial burden, which encourages them to disseminate truthful information.

The objective nature of the rules prevents any disagreement or alteration of the data on the Bitcoin network. The laws governing whether transactions are valid or invalid and the system for determining who can create new Bitcoins are both goals. The history of Bitcoin cannot be changed since it is impossible to remove a block from the blockchain after it has been added.

As a result, miners—who are analogous to generals in Satoshi's blockchain—solve the Byzantine generals' dilemma. Transactions, which resemble communications sent to the generals, must be validated by each node.

Also Read | What is Proof of Work in Crypto and How does it Work?

What are the implications of Byzantine fault tolerance (BFT) for decentralized networks?

All distributed ledgers (like blockchains) that are decentralized have independent nodes that function like the byzantine generals in the scenario above.

These nodes need to reach a consensus on issues including the state of the network itself, the order in which transactions are submitted to the network, and the transactions themselves. These network nodes are probably geographically, electronically, architecturally, and occasionally even ethically apart from one another.

Therefore, to achieve consensus, nodes not only need to be able to communicate, but they also need to take into account the possibility of malicious nodes; trust is a key issue here, as some nodes may be acting dishonestly on the network:

They may have been taken over by hackers or be purposefully sending incorrect information. It is exceedingly difficult to get consensus or agreement on a choice when there is communication going on between thousands of nodes, which might happen at times.

Even if some of the participating nodes are unreliable or may even be attempting to undermine consensus, there is enormous value in knowing that the timing and order of transactions taking place on the network have been determined by consensus and that every transaction is recorded, verified, and shared by participating nodes.

This entire process has the added advantage of having a mathematical guarantee of consensus, or that the same conclusion is reached by honestly participating nodes, in a decentralized network. What genuinely distinguishes distributed ledger technology is the nodes' capacity to reach the appropriate consensus on transactions at scale without needing to trust one another.

Also Read | What is Proof of Stake in Cryptocurrency?

Byzantine Fault Tolerance: Advantages and Disadvantages

Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance has several beneficial advantages, including:

Because there aren't any miners working to solve intricate equations for each block of transactions, it doesn't require a lot of computational power or energy. Because of this, it is far more ecologically friendly than work-related proof.
Multiple confirmations are not necessary for transactions. If all of the nodes concur on a block of transactions, the block is immediately confirmed.
Since all nodes can participate, they can all benefit from the rewards. As opposed to proof of labor and proof of stake, where there might be a wide variation in which nodes receive rewards.

There is no ideal or workable answer. There are some major dangers with Byzantine Fault Tolerance as well:

It is susceptible to Sybil attacks, where one party can take control of a significant number of nodes (the name comes from a book about a lady with multiple personality disorders). It becomes increasingly difficult to mount a Sybil assault when there are more nodes.
At each stage of the procedure, nodes must communicate with one another. This takes time, which might be problematic in terms of scaling.

Also Read | Blockchain Mining: Types and Uses

To Sum Up:

In conclusion, it is abundantly obvious that Byzantine Fault Tolerance significantly contributes to the evolution of consensus methods. Applications using blockchain are gradually gaining traction in several industries. However, a lot of worries are starting to surface in contemporary blockchain networks.

Therefore, it's crucial to consider BFT as a crucial tool for guaranteeing that the network continues to operate regularly despite hostile actors. Because blockchain is open and transparent, it can draw in a lot of unwelcome people who want to advance their interests.

Therefore, a thorough understanding of improvisations like practical BFT and consensus procedures like BFT becomes essential.

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Byzantine Fault Tolerance: What is it?

The Byzantine Problem:

Byzantine Fault Tolerance: What is it?

Blockchain Nodes and Peers:

Proof-of-Work (PoW) and the Byzantine Generals problem:

What are the implications of Byzantine fault tolerance (BFT) for decentralized networks?

Byzantine Fault Tolerance: Advantages and Disadvantages

To Sum Up:

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