On the application of clique problem for proof-of-work in cryptocurrencies

Samiran Bag, Sushmita Ruj, Kouichi Sakurai

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this work we propose a scheme that could be used as an alternative to the existing proof of work(PoW) scheme for mining in Bitcoin P2P network. Our scheme ensures that the miner must do at least a non-trivial amount of computation for solving the computational problem put forth in the paper and thus solving a PoW puzzle. Here, we have proposed to use the problem of finding the largest clique in a big graph as a replacement for the existing Bitcoin PoW scheme. In this paper, we have dealt with a graph having O(230) vertices and O(248) edges which is constructed deterministically using the set of transactions executed within a certain time slot. We have discussed some algorithms that can be used by any Bitcoin miner to solve the PoW puzzle. Then we discuss an algorithm that could perform this task by doing O(280) hash calculations. We have also proposed an improvement to this algorithm by which the PoW puzzle can be solved by calculating O(270.5) hashes and using O(248) space. This scheme is better than the existing proof of work schemes that use Hashcash, where a lucky miner could manage to find a solution to the proof of work puzzle by doing smaller amount of computation though it happens with very low probability. Bitcoin incentivizes the computing power of miners and hence, it is desirable that miners with more computing power always wins. Also, the Bitcoin PoW scheme only incentivizes computing power of miners but our PoW scheme incentivizes both computing power and memory of a miner. In our proposed scheme only the miner cannot randomly find a largest clique without knowing the clique number of the graph.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInformation Security and Cryptology - 11th International Conference, Inscrypt 2015, Revised Selected Papers
EditorsDongdai Lin, Xiao Feng Wang, Moti Yung
PublisherSpringer Verlag
Pages260-279
Number of pages20
ISBN (Print)9783319388977
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016
Event11th International Conference on Information Security and Cryptology, Inscrypt 2015 - Beijing, China
Duration: Nov 1 2015Nov 3 2015

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume9589
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Other

Other11th International Conference on Information Security and Cryptology, Inscrypt 2015
Country/TerritoryChina
CityBeijing
Period11/1/1511/3/15

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Theoretical Computer Science
  • Computer Science(all)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'On the application of clique problem for proof-of-work in cryptocurrencies'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this