Towards a Sustainable Blockchain: A Peer-to-Peer Federated Learning based Approach

• Published in: ACM transactions on Internet technology 2024-11, Vol.24 (4), p.1-26, Article 26
• Main Authors: Agarwal, Vidushi, Mishra, Shruti, Pal, Sujata
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cryptography; Database and storage security; Network performance evaluation; Network security; Networks; Security and privacy
• ISSN: 1533-5399; 1557-6051
• DOI: 10.1145/3680544

In the rapidly evolving digital world, blockchain technology is becoming the foundation for numerous applications, ranging from financial services to supply chain management. As the usage of blockchain is becoming more prevalent, the energy-intensive nature of this technology has raised concerns about its long-term sustainability and environmental footprint. To address this challenge, we explore the potential of Peer-to-Peer Federated Learning (P2P-FL), a distributed machine learning approach that allows multiple nodes to collaborate without sharing raw data. We present a novel integration of P2P-FL with blockchain technology, aimed at enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of blockchain networks. The basic idea of our approach is the use of distributed learning mechanisms to find the optimal performance parameters of blockchain without relying on centralized control. These parameters are then used by a load-balancing mechanism that prioritizes energy efficiency to distribute loads on different blockchains. Furthermore, we formulate a non-cooperative game theory model to align the individual node strategies with the collective objective of energy optimization, ensuring a balance between self-interest and overall network performance. Our work is exemplified through a case study in the renewable energy sector, demonstrating the application of our model in creating an efficient marketplace for energy trading. The experimentation and results indicate a significant improvement in the execution times and energy consumption of blockchain networks. Therefore, the overall sustainability of the network is enhanced, making our framework practical and applicable in real-world scenarios.