Double‐layer Byzantine fault‐tolerant grouping consensus algorithm based on raft

Abstract Addressing the scalability issues, excessive communication overhead, and challenges in adapting to large‐scale network node environments faced by the Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT) consensus algorithm currently employed in consortium blockchains, this paper proposes a Double Layer Consensus Algorithm Based on RAFT and PBFT Consensus Algorithms (DLCARP). The nodes in the blockchain are initially divided into several groups to form the lower‐layer consensus network. Subsequently, the leaders of these groups constitute the upper‐layer consensus network, creating a dual‐layer consensus network structure. Within the lower‐layer consensus network, the PBFT consensus algorithm is employed for consensus among the groups, while the primary accountants form the upper‐layer RAFT consensus network. The algorithm incorporates a supervision mechanism and a reputation mechanism to enhance the security of the consensus network. Additionally, a grouping mechanism is introduced to transform the consensus network into a dynamic structure. Experimental results analysis demonstrates that compared to traditional PBFT consensus algorithms, DLCARP reduces consensus latency by two orders of magnitude and improves throughput by one order of magnitude in a scenario with 100 nodes. Furthermore, it exhibits significant advantages over other improved algorithms. Thus, the DLCARP consensus algorithm exhibits excellent scalability and can be widely applied in various scenarios within consortium blockchains.