# Blockchain Consensus Protocols in the Wild

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1707.01873 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1707.01873/

## Key facts

- Cited by 6 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 6 Jul 2017.

## Built on by (most cited first, 6 of 6)

- [SoK: Blockchain-Based Decentralized AI (DeAI)](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2411.17461/) (2024)
- [Social Choice Around the Block: On the Computational Social Choice of Blockchain](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.07777/) (2022)
- [A review of Federated Learning in Intrusion Detection Systems for IoT](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2204.12443/) (2022)
- [Consensus learning: A novel decentralised ensemble learning paradigm](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.16157/) (2024)
- [Proof-of-Spiking-Neurons(PoSN): Neuromorphic Consensus for Next-Generation Blockchains](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2511.02868/) (2025)
- [Resilient Byzantine Agreement with Predictions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.19452/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

A blockchain is a distributed ledger for recording transactions, maintained by many nodes without central authority through a distributed cryptographic protocol. All nodes validate the information to be appended to the blockchain, and a consensus protocol ensures that the nodes agree on a unique order in which entries are appended. Consensus protocols for tolerating Byzantine faults have received renewed attention because they also address blockchain systems. This work discusses the process of assessing and gaining confidence in the resilience of a consensus protocols exposed to faults and adversarial nodes. We advocate to follow the established practice in cryptography and computer security, relying on public reviews, detailed models, and formal proofs; the designers of several practical systems appear to be unaware of this. Moreover, we review the consensus protocols in some prominent permissioned blockchain platforms with respect to their fault models and resilience against attacks. The protocol comparison covers Hyperledger Fabric, Tendermint, Symbiont, R3~Corda, Iroha, Kadena, Chain, Quorum, MultiChain, Sawtooth Lake, Ripple, Stellar, and IOTA.