Delegated Byzantine Fault Tolerance (dBFT)

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Delegated Byzantine Fault Tolerance (dBFT) is a sophisticated algorithm meant to facilitate consensus on a blockchain. Although it is not in common use as of yet, it represents an alternative to simpler proof of stake, proof of importance, and proof of work methods. https://www.techopedia.com/definition/33598/delegated-byzantine-fault-tolerance-dbft

Delegated Byzantine Fault Tolerance (dBFT) consensus was introduced by NEO, often called the “Ethereum of China”. This Chinese blockchain plans to achieve the “smart economy” by digitizing assets and providing smart contracts on the blockchain.

According to its creators, the voting system of dBFT allows large-scale participation, in a similar way to the Delegated Proof-of-Stake consensus. This allows the holder of a NEO token to support a specific ‘bookkeeper’ through a vote. The selected group of bookkeepers then use the Byzantine Fault Tolerance mechanism to reach a consensus and generate more blocks.

One of the strongest points of using the dBFT mechanism is its absolute finality. After final confirmation, a block can not be bifurcated, so the transaction can’t be revoked or rolled back. However, this irrevocability is a two-edged sword if and when a bifurcation is needed.

The finality of dBFT is somehow guaranteed because NEO is not a wholly distributed network. Despite NEO’s efforts to take this direction, there are currently just seven nodes and a few delegates operating on the blockchain. The majority of these are connected to the NEO council.1) Christina Comben, Coin Rivet, 14 March 2019, Accessed 18 July 2021, https://coinrivet.com/delegated-byzantine-fault-tolerance-dbft-explained/