| Abstract [eng] |
Background: Blockchain technology, serving as the backbone for various sectors, faces challenges in sustainability and resilience. Traditional blockchain mechanisms, while secure, are not environmentally sustainable due to high energy consumption. This study introduces EcoChain, a novel blockchain architecture inspired by forest ecosystems, with the aim of addressing these challenges. Objective: To develop a sustainable, resilient, and efficient blockchain architecture drawing inspiration from the self-sustaining, adaptive, and diverse nature of forests. Methods: EcoChain integrates principles from forest ecosystems, such as diversity, symbiosis, and natural selection, into blockchain technology. The mechanism encompasses energy accumulation that is similar to photosynthesis, decomposition for node removal, symbiotic relationships for resource sharing, natural predation for security, and adaptive mechanisms to respond to environmental changes. A mathematical model is provided along with a hierarchical node structure that includes a seed, a sapling, a mycelium network, and guardian nodes. Results: The experimental evaluation demonstrates that EcoChain enhances network performance, reduces transaction latency, and improves the overall resilience of the system against attacks and failures. Conclusions: EcoChain presents a novel approach to blockchain, merging forest-inspired ecological principles with digital technology to develop sustainable, resilient, and efficient blockchain systems. |
