Accelerating Block and Transaction Propagation: A Survey on Broadcast Protocols in Blockchain Networks

Blockchain, a groundbreaking technology known for its distributed ledger system, records digital transactions and information in a decentralized manner. Broadcast protocols, fundamental components of computer networks, play a crucial role in disseminating information effectively. Blockchain networks often exhibit lower throughput rates compared to centralized payment systems due to the intricate node verification process during data propagation. Improving blockchain performance requires mitigating transaction and block propagation delays within network dissemination processes. This study delves into the development and significance of blockchain broadcast protocols, exploring their applications within blockchain networks. We introduce various broadcast protocols designed to optimize performance metrics such as energy efficiency, fault tolerance, and consistency. A comprehensive analysis, including detailed comparisons through tables, sheds light on the strengths and weaknesses of these protocols. In addition, the evolution of broadcast protocols in the context of Blockchain and the Web 3.0 era is explored, highlighting their emerging characteristics and associated challenges. Lastly, we address potential future challenges and directions for the evolution of broadcast protocols in the blockchain ecosystem.