Protocol Layer

Understanding the Concept of Protocol Layer

The protocol layer serves as the foundation of a blockchain network. By extending this layer, developers have the ability to establish new rules for their blockchain networks. They can create innovative transactions and smart contracts that comply with the regulations of their respective blockchains.

The protocol layer consists of a collection of rules and designs that establish the following:

• The capability to transfer value from one address to another

• The capability to record transactions in a ledger

• The requirements for generating new blocks or transactions in the chain

• A mechanism for achieving consensus among network participants regarding the validity of transactions and their order

• The process of creating blocks, including the types of transactions included in each block

• The process of adding nodes to the network

• The process of mining new blocks

The protocol layer plays a crucial role in determining the rules for adding information to a blockchain, which can range from simple to complex.

One fundamental rule for adding information to a blockchain is that all network participants must unanimously agree on the information being added and the time of its addition.

The consensus mechanism integrated into the protocol layer enables network participants to reach a consensus on the information to be added and the timing of its addition. Consensus mechanisms are employed to prevent network attacks, such as double-spending, where an attacker attempts to spend funds twice by initiating two different transactions at nearly the same time.

The Bitcoin protocol utilizes proof of work as its consensus mechanism. Proof of work allows anyone with sufficient computing power to add a block of transactions to the Bitcoin blockchain. It also significantly increases the cost of attacking the network, as an attacker would need to control more than half of the network’s computing power to successfully double-spend coins.

A blockchain is composed of multiple layers, including:

Application Layer: This layer facilitates interaction with the user, whether it’s an end-user or a developer aiming to create dApps based on a specific blockchain. Examples of this layer include Ethereum Wallet and Metamask.

Contract Layer: This layer encompasses smart contracts that execute transactions and modify the state. It includes Solidity for Ethereum and Neo Contract for Neo.

Protocol Layer: This layer defines the process of adding transactions to the public ledger and how new nodes can join and synchronize with an existing blockchain network. It encompasses consensus protocols like PoW for Bitcoin and dBFT for NEO, as well as the P2P networking layer, such as TCP/IP for Bitcoin and Devp2p for Ethereum.