Multi-Round Token Distribution via Commitment Channels
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing token distribution protocols in blockchain networks face challenges in ensuring secure, trustless, and complete token transfers without relying on centralized authorities, particularly in multi-round processes where token loss or theft can occur due to malicious or offline participant nodes.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for secure token transfer using a blockchain network that involves a set of indirect token transactions between multiple pairs of participating nodes, utilizing commitment channels and secret sharing to ensure all transactions are validated and executed, with a protocol like Indirect Anonymous Transfer Protocol (IATP) to disguise transferor-transferee relationships and prevent partial completion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multi-round token distribution is performed without centralized authority, then network decentralization and trustlessness are improved, but security and completeness of token transfers deteriorate due to potential malicious or offline participant nodes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having all participant nodes sign and commit to the transaction set before any actual token transfers occur. This advance commitment ensures that even if nodes go offline or act maliciously during execution, the pre-established signatures guarantee secure and complete token distribution across all rounds without requiring centralized authority.
2Loss of information
If indirect token transactions are used to disguise transferor-transferee relationships, then anonymity is improved, but transaction validation and execution complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex validation process is segmented into distinct phases: first validating the structure and signatures of the indirect transaction set, then executing transactions round-by-round with intermediate verification. This segmentation allows the system to maintain strong anonymity through indirect transactions while managing validation complexity through systematic, multi-stage verification rather than attempting to validate all transactions simultaneously.
3Reliability
If commitment channels are established between multiple node pairs, then token transfer security is improved, but network communication overhead and execution time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple commitment channel operations into a unified indirect transaction framework where all participant nodes contribute signatures in advance. Instead of establishing and managing separate commitment channels between each node pair throughout the multi-round process, the system combines security guarantees into a single pre-signed transaction set that is executed systematically, reducing communication overhead and execution time while maintaining token transfer security.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method to participate in a token transfer process for transferring a first quantity of token from a sender node to a recipient node using a blockchain is disclosed. The token transfer process includes a plurality of participating nodes and execution of a set of indirect token transactions between multiple pairs of the participating nodes. The method is implemented at a participating node and includes: obtaining a subset of the set of indirect token transactions, the subset including only those transactions for which the participating node is either an input node or an output node, wherein the set of indirect token transactions is generated based on the first quantity of tokens and a predefined number of transaction rounds in the token transfer process; for each indirect token transaction in the subset, collaborating with a respective second participating node included in the indirect token transaction to generate a commitment channel for the indirect token transaction between the participating node and the second participating node; and collaborating with all other participating nodes in executing the indirect token transactions of the subset using the generated commitment channels.