Ethereum: Why is every transaction broadcast twice on the Bitcoin network?

Understanding the Ethereum Network: Why Bitcoin Doubles

As we delve into the complexities of blockchain networks, one question has long puzzled enthusiasts and developers: why does every transaction sent to the Bitcoin network appear twice? To answer this question, let’s first understand the principles behind Ethereum’s unique architecture.

The Bitcoin Network: A Brief Overview

Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that leverages a peer-to-peer network to facilitate transactions. The network is maintained by a network of volunteer “miners” who solve complex mathematical puzzles to validate incoming transactions and add them to the blockchain. Each block, which contains multiple transactions, is sent to the network, and once confirmed, it is merged into the master blockchain.

Ethereum: A Decentralized Platform with a Custom Architecture

Ethereum, on the other hand, is a programmable blockchain platform that allows developers to create decentralized applications (dApps) using its native cryptocurrency, Ether. Ethereum’s architecture is built on different principles than Bitcoin’s, which we’ll explore below.

Double-Batching Debate

So why does every transaction sent on the Bitcoin network appear twice? The answer lies in the way Ethereum’s proof-of-work (PoW) consensus algorithm, known as Ethash, confirms transactions. In Bitcoin, miners compete to solve complex mathematical puzzles, which requires significant computing power and energy consumption.

To compensate for the high computational demands, Ethereum introduced a double-batching mechanism. Instead of sending each transaction once and then confirming it, each transaction is sent twice:

• Initial Broadcast: When a transaction first appears on the network, it is sent as is, without confirmation.

• Verification: After receiving the first transmission, miners validate the transactions using the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). If they confirm that the transactions are valid and comply with the blockchain rules, they update the EVM to mark the block as “confirmed”.

• Second transmission

  : Once the block is confirmed, it is rebroadcast to the network without further confirmation.

This double-batch process reduces the energy required for mining, making Ethereum more energy efficient than Bitcoin. However, it also means that each transaction may be transmitted twice before it is verified and included in the blockchain.

Conclusion

In summary, the double-batch mechanism used by Ethereum to handle high-frequency transactions is a conscious design choice intended to optimize network performance while ensuring the integrity of the blockchain. While it may seem inefficient compared to Bitcoin’s single-batch approach, the benefits of lower energy consumption and better scalability make Ethereum an attractive option for decentralized applications.

As we continue to explore the world of blockchain networks, understanding these unique design decisions can help us better understand the complexities and trade-offs of building secure, efficient, and scalable decentralized systems.

Categorised in: CRYPTOCURRENCY

This post was written by Munna