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What is a Permissioned Blockchain?
A permissioned blockchain is a type of blockchain network that restricts access to certain nodes, or participants, in the network. These nodes must be granted permission to join the network and participate in the consensus process, unlike public blockchains like Bitcoin or Ethereum, where anyone can join and participate in the consensus process.
In a permissioned blockchain, only authorized nodes can validate transactions and add them to the blockchain. The network’s governance rules are typically established and enforced by a central authority or a group of trusted entities. This allows for faster transaction processing and greater control over the network, but it also means that permissioned blockchains are less decentralized and less secure than public blockchains.
Permissioned Blockchain Benefits
There are several benefits of using a permissioned blockchain:
- Increased security: By restricting access to the network to only authorized nodes, permissioned blockchains can reduce the risk of malicious actors attempting to compromise the network.
- Faster transaction processing: Because only a limited number of authorized nodes participate in the consensus process, permissioned blockchains can process transactions more quickly than public blockchains.
- Greater scalability: With fewer nodes in the network, permissioned blockchains can handle more transactions per second.
- Improved governance: In a permissioned blockchain, the network’s governance rules are established and enforced by a central authority or group of trusted entities. This can lead to a more efficient and effective decision-making process.
- Compliance with regulations: Some industries are heavily regulated, and permissioned blockchain can be used in a way that allows them to comply with these regulations.
- Increased privacy: Permissioned blockchains can be designed to keep certain data private and only share it with authorized parties.
- Better control over the network: In a permissioned blockchain, the central authority can control which nodes are allowed to participate and remove any nodes acting maliciously.
Permissioned Blockchain Downsides
While permissioned blockchains have several benefits, there are also some downsides to consider:
- Reduced decentralization: Because only a limited number of authorized nodes participate in the consensus process, permissioned blockchains are less decentralized than public ones. This can make them more vulnerable to control by a central authority or a small group of powerful entities.
- Lack of trust: In a permissioned blockchain, the trust is placed on a central authority or a group of trusted entities to govern the network and make decisions. This lack of trust in a decentralized network can be a downside for some users.
- Limited accessibility: Permissioned blockchains are typically only accessible to a select group of individuals or organizations, which can limit the technology’s potential use cases and impact.
- Increased regulatory compliance: Permissioned blockchains must comply with existing regulations, which can be costly and time-consuming for organizations.
- Dependence on Central Authority: If a central authority cannot govern the network properly, it can lead to the failure of the entire network.
- Complexity: Implementing and maintaining a permissioned blockchain can be complex, which could lead to higher costs and difficulties in getting all parties involved to agree on the network’s governance rules.
- Limited interoperability: Permissioned blockchains often operate in isolation, making it difficult to interact with other or external systems.
Examples of Permissioned Blockchains
- Hyperledger: An open-source project that aims to advance cross-industry blockchain technologies. It provides a framework for building private blockchain networks and has several modules, including Hyperledger Fabric and Hyperledger Sawtooth, that can be used to create customized blockchain solutions.
- R3 Corda: A private blockchain platform specifically designed for use in the financial industry. R3 Corda provides a secure and private environment for financial institutions to conduct transactions and share information.
Permissioned vs. Private Blockchain
Permissioned and private blockchains are similar in many ways, but there are some key differences between the two.
Permissioned blockchains are blockchain networks that restrict access to certain nodes, or participants, in the network. These nodes must be granted permission to join the network and participate in the consensus process. This allows for faster transaction processing and greater control over the network, but it also means that permissioned blockchains are less decentralized and less secure than public blockchains.
On the other hand, private blockchains are similar to permissioned blockchains in that they restrict access to the network. Still, they are typically owned and operated by a single organization or consortium. This provides even greater control and security but also means that private blockchains are even less decentralized than permissioned blockchains.
In summary
Permissioned blockchains allow a limited set of authorized nodes to participate in the network. In contrast, private blockchains are typically only accessible to a single organization or consortium and are not accessible to the public.