Generative Blockchain: Transforming Blockchain from Transaction Recording to Transaction Generation through Proof-of-Merit
提出一种新型区块链——生成式区块链，通过工作量证明共识机制，让求解复杂问题的独立求解者生成并记录交易，以共享出行为例验证其可行性与性能。
This paper proposes a new type of blockchain, generative blockchain, that aims to transform the conventional blockchain from the focus of transaction-recording to transaction generation. The key to our design of generative blockchain lies in a novel consensus mechanism, proof-of-merit (PoM), that is uniquely designed for environments where businesses must solve complex problems before transactions find their place on the blockchain. PoM integrates the generation and recording of transactions within a unified blockchain system, differing fundamentally from prevailing consensus mechanisms whose primary objective is to record existing transactions. Specifically, PoM delegates the task of solving complex transaction-generating problems to a pool of independent problem solvers, whose solutions govern the generation of transactions, and selects the winning solutions based on merit. The winning solvers register these transactions onto the blockchain and are rewarded accordingly. We introduce a decentralized control parameter (DCP) to balance two key performance metrics of a generative blockchain: efficiency and equity. The applicability of our designed generative blockchain is illustrated through a ridesharing context, where a group of matchers (solvers) take on the task of matching riders with drivers. We demonstrate PoM’s performance and nuanced properties using agent-based simulation and explore how to find the proper value of DCP toward achieving a desirable balance of efficiency and equity in a generative blockchain. We also implement a prototype blockchain using PoM mechanism to validate its feasibility and evaluate its performance.