Abstract:
The peer-to-peer (P2P) network of blockchain used to transport its transactions and blocks has a high impact on the efficiency and security of the system. The P2P network...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
The peer-to-peer (P2P) network of blockchain used to transport its transactions and blocks has a high impact on the efficiency and security of the system. The P2P network topologies of popular blockchains such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, therefore, deserve our highest attention. The current Ethereum blockchain explorers (e.g., Etherscan) focus on the tracking of block and transaction records but omit the characterization of the underlying P2P network. This work presents the Ethereum Network Analyzer (Ethna), a tool that probes and analyzes the P2P network of the Ethereum blockchain. Unlike Bitcoin that adopts an unstructured P2P network, Ethereum relies on the Kademlia DHT to manage its P2P network. Therefore, the existing analytical methods for Bitcoin-like P2P networks are not applicable to Ethereum. Ethna implements a novel method that accurately measures the degrees of Ethereum nodes. Furthermore, it incorporates an algorithm that derives the latency metrics of message propagation in the Ethereum P2P network. We ran Ethna on the Ethereum Mainnet and conducted extensive experiments to analyze the topological features of its P2P network. Our analysis shows that the Ethereum P2P network possesses a certain effect of small-world networks, and the degrees of nodes follow a power-law distribution that characterizes scale-free networks.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Network Science and Engineering ( Volume: 8, Issue: 3, 01 July-Sept. 2021)
Funding Agency:
College of Electronics, and Information Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
Taotao Wang (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, in 2008, the M.S. degree in information and signal processing from the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, China, in 2011, and the Ph.D. degree in information engineering from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, in 2015. From 2...Show More
Taotao Wang (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, in 2008, the M.S. degree in information and signal processing from the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, China, in 2011, and the Ph.D. degree in information engineering from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, in 2015. From 2...View more
College of Electronics, and Information Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
Chonghe Zhao (Graduate Student Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in electronics and information engineering from Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China in 2018. He is currently working toward the master's degree in electronics and communications engineering with Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China. His research focuses on the performance and topology of Blockchain networks.
Chonghe Zhao (Graduate Student Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in electronics and information engineering from Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China in 2018. He is currently working toward the master's degree in electronics and communications engineering with Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China. His research focuses on the performance and topology of Blockchain networks.View more
College of Electronics, and Information Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
Qing Yang (Member, IEEE) received the B.E. degree (advanced class) from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China, in 2010 and the Ph.D. degree from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, in 2015. In 2018, he joined the Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China, as an Assistant Professor with the College of Electronics and Information Engineering. He is also the Principal Researcher with Blockcha...Show More
Qing Yang (Member, IEEE) received the B.E. degree (advanced class) from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China, in 2010 and the Ph.D. degree from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, in 2015. In 2018, he joined the Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China, as an Assistant Professor with the College of Electronics and Information Engineering. He is also the Principal Researcher with Blockcha...View more
College of Electronics, and Information Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
Shengli Zhang (Senior Member, IEEE) received the B. Eng. degree in electronic engineering and the M. Eng. degree in communication and information engineering from the University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China, in 2002 and 2005, respectively, and the Ph.D. from the Department of Information Engineering, The Chinese University University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, in 2008. After that, he joined the Communica...Show More
Shengli Zhang (Senior Member, IEEE) received the B. Eng. degree in electronic engineering and the M. Eng. degree in communication and information engineering from the University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China, in 2002 and 2005, respectively, and the Ph.D. from the Department of Information Engineering, The Chinese University University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, in 2008. After that, he joined the Communica...View more
Department of Information Engineering, Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong
Soung Chang Liew (Fellow, IEEE) received the B.S., M.S., E.E., and Ph.D. degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA. From 1984 to 1988, he was with the MIT Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems, where he investigated Fiber-Optic Communications Networks. From March 1988 to July 1993, he was with Bellcore (now Telcordia), where he engaged in Broadband Network Research. Since 1993, h...Show More
Soung Chang Liew (Fellow, IEEE) received the B.S., M.S., E.E., and Ph.D. degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA. From 1984 to 1988, he was with the MIT Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems, where he investigated Fiber-Optic Communications Networks. From March 1988 to July 1993, he was with Bellcore (now Telcordia), where he engaged in Broadband Network Research. Since 1993, h...View more
Contents College of Electronics, and Information Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
Taotao Wang (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, in 2008, the M.S. degree in information and signal processing from the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, China, in 2011, and the Ph.D. degree in information engineering from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, in 2015. From 2015 to 2016, he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Institute of Network Coding, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. From 2015 to 2016, he was a Postdoc Research Fellow with the Institute of Network Coding, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. In 2016, he joined the College of Information Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China, where he is currently a tenured Associate Professor. He was the recipient of the Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship Scheme Award in 2011, the Star of Tomorrow Award at the Microsoft Research Asia in 2012, and the Excellent Reviewer Award from IEEE Wireless Communications Letters in 2016. He was a TPC Member of IEEE/CIC ICCC 2019, IEEE ICCC 2020 and an Associate Editor of IEEE TENCON 2020.
Taotao Wang (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, in 2008, the M.S. degree in information and signal processing from the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, China, in 2011, and the Ph.D. degree in information engineering from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, in 2015. From 2015 to 2016, he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Institute of Network Coding, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. From 2015 to 2016, he was a Postdoc Research Fellow with the Institute of Network Coding, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. In 2016, he joined the College of Information Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China, where he is currently a tenured Associate Professor. He was the recipient of the Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship Scheme Award in 2011, the Star of Tomorrow Award at the Microsoft Research Asia in 2012, and the Excellent Reviewer Award from IEEE Wireless Communications Letters in 2016. He was a TPC Member of IEEE/CIC ICCC 2019, IEEE ICCC 2020 and an Associate Editor of IEEE TENCON 2020.View more
College of Electronics, and Information Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
Chonghe Zhao (Graduate Student Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in electronics and information engineering from Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China in 2018. He is currently working toward the master's degree in electronics and communications engineering with Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China. His research focuses on the performance and topology of Blockchain networks.
Chonghe Zhao (Graduate Student Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in electronics and information engineering from Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China in 2018. He is currently working toward the master's degree in electronics and communications engineering with Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China. His research focuses on the performance and topology of Blockchain networks.View more
College of Electronics, and Information Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
Qing Yang (Member, IEEE) received the B.E. degree (advanced class) from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China, in 2010 and the Ph.D. degree from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, in 2015. In 2018, he joined the Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China, as an Assistant Professor with the College of Electronics and Information Engineering. He is also the Principal Researcher with Blockchain Technology Research Center, Shenzhen University. His research interests include blockchain technology, intelligent energy in smart grid, and IoT networking.
Qing Yang (Member, IEEE) received the B.E. degree (advanced class) from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China, in 2010 and the Ph.D. degree from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, in 2015. In 2018, he joined the Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China, as an Assistant Professor with the College of Electronics and Information Engineering. He is also the Principal Researcher with Blockchain Technology Research Center, Shenzhen University. His research interests include blockchain technology, intelligent energy in smart grid, and IoT networking.View more
College of Electronics, and Information Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
Shengli Zhang (Senior Member, IEEE) received the B. Eng. degree in electronic engineering and the M. Eng. degree in communication and information engineering from the University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China, in 2002 and 2005, respectively, and the Ph.D. from the Department of Information Engineering, The Chinese University University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, in 2008. After that, he joined the Communication Engineering Department, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China, where he has been a Full Professor since 2016. From 2014.3 to 2015.3, he was a Visiting Associate Professor with Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. He is the pioneer of Physical-layer network coding. His research interests include blockchain, wireless network, and physical layer network coding.
Shengli Zhang (Senior Member, IEEE) received the B. Eng. degree in electronic engineering and the M. Eng. degree in communication and information engineering from the University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China, in 2002 and 2005, respectively, and the Ph.D. from the Department of Information Engineering, The Chinese University University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, in 2008. After that, he joined the Communication Engineering Department, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China, where he has been a Full Professor since 2016. From 2014.3 to 2015.3, he was a Visiting Associate Professor with Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. He is the pioneer of Physical-layer network coding. His research interests include blockchain, wireless network, and physical layer network coding.View more
Department of Information Engineering, Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong
Soung Chang Liew (Fellow, IEEE) received the B.S., M.S., E.E., and Ph.D. degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA. From 1984 to 1988, he was with the MIT Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems, where he investigated Fiber-Optic Communications Networks. From March 1988 to July 1993, he was with Bellcore (now Telcordia), where he engaged in Broadband Network Research. Since 1993, he has been a Professor with the Department of Information Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong. He is currently the Division Head of the Department of Information Engineering and a Co-Director of the Institute of Network Coding, CUHK. He is also a Board Member of Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Institute. His research interests include wireless networks, Internet of Things, intelligent transport systems, Internet protocols, multimedia communications, and packet switch design. He is the holder of 15 U.S. patents and a Fellow of IET and HKIE. He was the recipient of the first Vice-Chancellor Exemplary Teaching Award in 2000 and the Research Excellence Award in 2013 at The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Soung Chang Liew (Fellow, IEEE) received the B.S., M.S., E.E., and Ph.D. degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA. From 1984 to 1988, he was with the MIT Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems, where he investigated Fiber-Optic Communications Networks. From March 1988 to July 1993, he was with Bellcore (now Telcordia), where he engaged in Broadband Network Research. Since 1993, he has been a Professor with the Department of Information Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong. He is currently the Division Head of the Department of Information Engineering and a Co-Director of the Institute of Network Coding, CUHK. He is also a Board Member of Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Institute. His research interests include wireless networks, Internet of Things, intelligent transport systems, Internet protocols, multimedia communications, and packet switch design. He is the holder of 15 U.S. patents and a Fellow of IET and HKIE. He was the recipient of the first Vice-Chancellor Exemplary Teaching Award in 2000 and the Research Excellence Award in 2013 at The Chinese University of Hong Kong.View more
