New Consensus Protocol Enhances IoT Blockchain Efficiency

A new era of blockchain technology for the Internet of Things (IoT) is underway as researchers introduce the Proof of Action (PoAct) consensus protocol. This innovative framework aims to tackle long-standing issues related to energy efficiency, scalability, and fairness within blockchain networks.

The Proof of Action consensus protocol, developed for Hierarchical IoT Blockchain (HIoTB), takes advantage of Merkle tree structures to validate nodes without the need for collateral. Traditional consensus methods, such as Proof of Work (PoW), require high energy consumption and introduce barriers to participation due to collateral requirements. This can be particularly burdensome for smaller or less capable nodes such as those commonly found within the IoT environment.