BlockSDN: Towards a High-Performance Blockchain via Software-Defined Cross Networking optimization

TL;DR

BlockSDN addresses blockchain synchronization bottlenecks caused by inefficient P2P propagation by introducing an SDN-enabled, cross-layer architecture. The framework integrates a graph engine into the SDN control plane to model both blockchain overlays and physical network states, enabling macro–micro neighbor selection and hierarchical broadcasting. Empirical results from a dedicated simulator show BlockSDN achieving up to 55–65% reductions in block propagation latency and notable throughput and scalability gains compared with Gossip and Mercury across diverse topologies. This cross-layer optimization has practical implications for scalable, low-latency blockchain deployments in large, distributed networks.

Abstract

The scalability of blockchain systems is constrained by inefficient P2P broadcasting, as most existing optimizations focus only on the logical layer without considering physical network conditions. To address this, we propose BlockSDN, the first SDN-based integrated architecture for blockchain. BlockSDN employs a distributed control plane for a global network view, a graph engine for hierarchical clustering, and a hybrid macro-micro neighbor selection with hierarchical broadcasting. A dedicated simulation platform shows that BlockSDN reduces global block synchronization time by 65% and 55% compared to Gossip and Mercury, respectively.These results highlight the potential of SDN-enabled cross-layer coordination to significantly enhance blockchain scalability and performance.

Figures (10)

• Figure 1: Integrated Architecture of Blockchain Network Based on SDN
• Figure 2: Integrated Architecture of Blockchain Network Based on SDN
• Figure 3: Block propagation time under varying node reception ratios
• Figure 4: Average delay for transaction propagation across the entire network
• Figure 5: Block transmission time for different block sizes