Blockchain Forensics
Blockchain Forensics
In the event that the number of Byzantine nodes on BET Chain exceeds one-third of the total, a potential security breach may arise, either manifesting as a safety violation or a liveness violation. However, the robust design of our protocol ensures that any malicious activity is tracked and that the responsible nodes face consequences.
Safety Violation and Forensic Monitoring
If an adversary manages to corrupt more than one-third of the Masternodes in a consensus committee, they could potentially compromise the network’s safety, leading to scenarios such as the creation of conflicting blockchains. Such actions require specific messages to be signed and disseminated by these nodes, which can be monitored and recorded as irrefutable evidence of misconduct. These messages become part of the blockchain and can be accessed through queries made to the Masternodes regarding the conflicting blockchains.
Our DPoS consensus mechanism features advanced safety forensics that allows for the identification of Byzantine Masternodes with minimal querying of witnesses. By executing quorum intersections—where two quorums of Masternodes, each consisting of at least two-thirds of the total, overlap—we can optimally identify multiple Byzantine nodes. Furthermore, any two honest Masternodes possessing one of the conflicting blockchains can serve as witnesses, allowing for effective monitoring of the network's integrity. Even non-Masternodes can passively contribute as witnesses. This ensures that as long as at least two honest nodes exist within the BET Chain network, the forensic capabilities remain functional against attempts to create safety violations.
Once a Masternode is identified as culpable through our forensic protocol, evidence is submitted to a governance-driven penalty mechanism (e.g., a slashing smart contract) for appropriate action.
Liveness Violation and Forensic Monitoring
Byzantine Masternodes may also undermine the blockchain's performance by failing to validate transactions, an issue known as underperformance. This can manifest in several ways, including a failure to propose blocks when designated as leaders, proposing blocks without the latest consensus data, or failing to propagate voting messages. If the number of underperforming Masternodes exceeds one-third, it could lead to a liveness violation, compromising the network's efficiency.
Unlike safety violations, liveness violations do not provide cryptographic evidence against underperforming Masternodes. Instead, addressing these issues involves a more collaborative approach: Masternodes are encouraged to send out blame messages if they suspect another Masternode is underperforming. These messages are collected and submitted to the governance mechanism, which will determine the appropriate course of action, such as excluding the suspect node from future elections or increasing their staking requirements.
Implementation
The forensic monitoring protocol is designed to integrate seamlessly with BET Chain's existing infrastructure. It comprises three key components:
Forensic Storage: A dedicated database at BET Chain nodes that maintains forensic records, linking round numbers to relevant certificates, blocks, and blame messages. This data is accessible to other network participants.
Detector: Operable by any participant within the BET Chain ecosystem, the Detector periodically queries connected nodes for information to facilitate safety and liveness forensic monitoring. If sufficient evidence of wrongdoing is gathered, it alerts the penalty mechanism.
Penalty Mechanism: A governance-driven body responsible for deciding penalties for both safety and liveness violations. This includes hard penalties, such as slashing deposits from Byzantine Masternodes, and soft penalties, like raising deposit requirements.
Through this structured approach, BET Chain ensures a secure and reliable blockchain environment, capable of holding Masternodes accountable while maintaining optimal network performance.